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Minnesota SAAB Club Newsletter

November, 2006

 

Hello, all!  I hope the chilly weather hasn't caught too many of you off guard this year, however, it's not too late to make sure you have a good set of winter tires on your SAAB -- like Nokians!  This month, we will again be meeting at the newly purchased and renovated Major's Sports Cafe, formerly The Big City Tavern.  I'm happy to report that last month we had a terriffic meeting!  The program was fun to watch as Greg Abbott and Chuck Andrews shared pictures of the 2006 SAAB Convention in Lake George.  The service was spectacular, the food was great, and if that wasn't enough already, they let us convene in their coveted sky box!  Major's runs several other well managed bars/restaurants in the Twin Cities, and I anticipate a fruitful relationship with them in the years to come.  Thanks again Greg and Chuck, what a great program!  This month we will be getting hands-on with some vintage SAAB parts, along with our "mystery program".  Also, feel free to bring along your own show-and-tell items to share with the rest of the group.  Read on to learn about the latest that's going on in the SAAB world, like how to win a 2007 SAAB 9-7X.  Read a British article in The Independant about the early days of SAAB, and the one that started it all--the model 92, and learn about the new 9-7X Aero concept unveiled at the SEMA Auto Show. The Boston Globe and it's readers love vintage SAABs and Scandinavian auto design, and ...it's official!  SAAB lovers the world over will be converging in SE Michigan in 2007!   

 

Thanks to those who showed up on Saturday, October 21st for the SAAB Club Fun Day!  The weather was a little chillier than forcasted, but we still had a great bunch of folks who turned out for the adventurous day!  We had enough people for the highway clean-up despite the cold wind, and those that went for the tour on the fun twisty roads of Goodhue County had a blast!  Next year I think we'll have the highway clean-up on the first weekend of October so we don't scare anybody away because of the cold!  Also, can anyone say "Mmmm, Beeeer!"  Dean, what ever happenned with that sponsorship from Summit Brewing Company?? 

 

Win a 2007 Saab 9-7X!

Lehman Saab and the Harrisburg (PA) Choral Society are sponsoring a raffle to win a 2007 SAAB 9-7X, and only 1,000 Certificates of entry will be sold!  The odds are way better than Powerball, and the proceeds go to a good organization.  To purchase an individually prepared and numbered Certificate of Entry, contact any member of the Choral Society, or contact Mike Zerbe directly at 717-774-2736 (home), 717-815-1944 (work), or mzerbe@ycp.edu. The cost is $99 each, and checks can be made payable to Harrisburg Choral Society.  Payment can also be submitted via PayPal at www.paypal.com.  A winner will be selected in May 2007 in a drawing supervised by a respected local accounting firm. The choral society will pay applicable taxes, and you get to choose the color of your new Saab.  What a fabulous holiday gift idea! 
Harrisburg Choral Society
 www.harrisburgchoralsociety.org

Office Hours, Contact Information, Course Materials at dragon.ycp.edu/~mzerbe/

Classic Car: Saab 92

As slick as the Saab is today, the company's first car, back in 1945, was a quirky little number designed to be Sweden's VW, writes Brian Sewell

What is a Saab? The car that now locks horns with Audi, Honda, Mercedes and the lesser Jaguar in terms of engine size, price, performance, wood, leather and stylistic anonymity was once as quirky as a baby Citroën or Penhard, designed to be the cheap Volkswagen of Sweden.

In 1945, with the end of the Second World War, Saab, a firm that until then had made planes for the Swedish air force, had to branch out. The designers thought of a Swedish car for Swedes in much the same sense as Citroën thought of the Deux Chevaux for the French peasant, and with more luck and intuition than money for development, devised a vehicle that slotted neatly below Volvo's smallest car. In the code numbers for their planes they had reached 91; the code number for their first car was, therefore, 92.

Designer Sixten Sason's "Project Small Car" - how unromantic Swedes can be - was to have front-wheel drive, leaving an uncluttered cabin with a flat floor for five passengers and luggage. Construction was to be chassis-less, monocoque, and on aerodynamic aircraft principles, the parts tough, reliable and cheap.

Their prime concern seems to have been with the body - the first prototype, 92001, took six months to build in 1946, using wind- tunnel testing "to minimise fuel consumption and the need for power", but according to Saab's archivists, the mechanical components came from scrapyards. It was teardrop shaped, with all four wheels enclosed and a low wide front, the roof and wings sloping to unite elegantly in the tail, the stylistic thinking both French and Middle-European of the later Thirties.

Welded from overlapping steel pressings, it was extremely strong, but its aerodynamic efficiency was slightly spoiled by the flat glass of the windows and split screen. However, the split rear window, larger than that of the original Volkswagen, suited the rear slope handsomely.

This unique shell has much to be said for it in terms of shape, form and even charm, but Saab itself damned it as neither attractive nor practical, and set to work on a revision. A year later, in June 1947, prototype 92002 was ready for the press, essentially the same teardrop shape but with its nose and front wings raised to give it an uglier, American line. The wheels remained enclosed, but the wings were given vestigial bulges, slightly cut away to make them more accessible; the wings themselves became mud traps in the Swedish spring thaws that used to turn the country into a quagmire.

The two doors were hinged at the B-post, and luggage could only be stowed in the car's tail by swinging the back of the rear seat forward. Rear headroom was cramped, rear visibility appalling. The only colour available was a dull bottle-green. It was much the same size and weight as a Ford Prefect, but it was a very different creature from the British family saloon.

All four wheels were independently sprung, the front pair driven by a transverse engine mounted ahead of them. This was of only two cylinders of almost equal bore and stroke, its capacity 764cc (the Ford's was 1,172cc), producing 24bhp at 3,800 rpm. A two-stroke, requiring oil with every gallon of petrol, its exhaust was a pretty glaucous blue, the smell intoxicating.

Based on a pre-war DKW, it should have been reliable but, as one commentator observed, "it gave Saab engineers insoluble headaches when they tried to improve its durability in the hands of careless owners". In terms of performance, drivers at once began to think of the 92 as a sports car that could be driven for long distances at near its maximum speed of 72 mph, and by 1949, it was the car with which to rally in Scandinavia. In 1950, off it went to Monte Carlo.

Yet this was a car with only three gears, giving only 13mph per 1,000 rpm in top. No wonder they gave it a freewheeling mechanism that, on occasion, allowed momentum to replace revs. The rally driver Erik Carlsson made the car famous, driving with right foot hard on the accelerator, left on the brake, his gear changes clutchless, his sharp steering achieved by throwing the rear end into a skid. The worst criticism in its day was that drivers caught their trouser turn-ups on the handbrake.

Gaining only a boot lid and a choice of colour in 1953, the 92 stayed in production until 1955, when the 93 was introduced - virtually the same body but the engine, still a two-stroke, then of three cylinders and 748cc, smoother, quieter, faster. In 1960, this was increased to 841cc. In 1961, a German Ford V-4 engine of 1,500cc was installed, and this, the car's final manifestation, bringing it from type 92 to 96, faded away in 1979, unable to beat the challenge of a Capri 1600.

Any car as odd and idiosyncratic as the little Saab deserves a passionate following, and it has it among aesthetes who praise the purity of the design, and rheumy-eyed old drivers who muse dreamily of its performance as though recalling the wildest women of their lives. Of the variants, none deserves our affection more than the original, the 92 in bottle-green, sans boot lid, of which some 10,000 were produced.

This must surely be the answer to my opening question - a true Saab is not an Opel aping a Mercedes. It's an eccentric oddball of rare and engaging character.

What is a Saab? The car that now locks horns with Audi, Honda, Mercedes and the lesser Jaguar in terms of engine size, price, performance, wood, leather and stylistic anonymity was once as quirky as a baby Citroën or Penhard, designed to be the cheap Volkswagen of Sweden.

In 1945, with the end of the Second World War, Saab, a firm that until then had made planes for the Swedish air force, had to branch out. The designers thought of a Swedish car for Swedes in much the same sense as Citroën thought of the Deux Chevaux for the French peasant, and with more luck and intuition than money for development, devised a vehicle that slotted neatly below Volvo's smallest car. In the code numbers for their planes they had reached 91; the code number for their first car was, therefore, 92.

Designer Sixten Sason's "Project Small Car" - how unromantic Swedes can be - was to have front-wheel drive, leaving an uncluttered cabin with a flat floor for five passengers and luggage. Construction was to be chassis-less, monocoque, and on aerodynamic aircraft principles, the parts tough, reliable and cheap.

Their prime concern seems to have been with the body - the first prototype, 92001, took six months to build in 1946, using wind- tunnel testing "to minimise fuel consumption and the need for power", but according to Saab's archivists, the mechanical components came from scrapyards. It was teardrop shaped, with all four wheels enclosed and a low wide front, the roof and wings sloping to unite elegantly in the tail, the stylistic thinking both French and Middle-European of the later Thirties.

Welded from overlapping steel pressings, it was extremely strong, but its aerodynamic efficiency was slightly spoiled by the flat glass of the windows and split screen. However, the split rear window, larger than that of the original Volkswagen, suited the rear slope handsomely.

This unique shell has much to be said for it in terms of shape, form and even charm, but Saab itself damned it as neither attractive nor practical, and set to work on a revision. A year later, in June 1947, prototype 92002 was ready for the press, essentially the same teardrop shape but with its nose and front wings raised to give it an uglier, American line. The wheels remained enclosed, but the wings were given vestigial bulges, slightly cut away to make them more accessible; the wings themselves became mud traps in the Swedish spring thaws that used to turn the country into a quagmire.

The two doors were hinged at the B-post, and luggage could only be stowed in the car's tail by swinging the back of the rear seat forward. Rear headroom was cramped, rear visibility appalling. The only colour available was a dull bottle-green. It was much the same size and weight as a Ford Prefect, but it was a very different creature from the British family saloon.

All four wheels were independently sprung, the front pair driven by a transverse engine mounted ahead of them. This was of only two cylinders of almost equal bore and stroke, its capacity 764cc (the Ford's was 1,172cc), producing 24bhp at 3,800 rpm. A two-stroke, requiring oil with every gallon of petrol, its exhaust was a pretty glaucous blue, the smell intoxicating.

Based on a pre-war DKW, it should have been reliable but, as one commentator observed, "it gave Saab engineers insoluble headaches when they tried to improve its durability in the hands of careless owners". In terms of performance, drivers at once began to think of the 92 as a sports car that could be driven for long distances at near its maximum speed of 72 mph, and by 1949, it was the car with which to rally in Scandinavia. In 1950, off it went to Monte Carlo.

Yet this was a car with only three gears, giving only 13mph per 1,000 rpm in top. No wonder they gave it a freewheeling mechanism that, on occasion, allowed momentum to replace revs. The rally driver Erik Carlsson made the car famous, driving with right foot hard on the accelerator, left on the brake, his gear changes clutchless, his sharp steering achieved by throwing the rear end into a skid. The worst criticism in its day was that drivers caught their trouser turn-ups on the handbrake.

Gaining only a boot lid and a choice of colour in 1953, the 92 stayed in production until 1955, when the 93 was introduced - virtually the same body but the engine, still a two-stroke, then of three cylinders and 748cc, smoother, quieter, faster. In 1960, this was increased to 841cc. In 1961, a German Ford V-4 engine of 1,500cc was installed, and this, the car's final manifestation, bringing it from type 92 to 96, faded away in 1979, unable to beat the challenge of a Capri 1600.

Any car as odd and idiosyncratic as the little Saab deserves a passionate following, and it has it among aesthetes who praise the purity of the design, and rheumy-eyed old drivers who muse dreamily of its performance as though recalling the wildest women of their lives. Of the variants, none deserves our affection more than the original, the 92 in bottle-green, sans boot lid, of which some 10,000 were produced.

This must surely be the answer to my opening question - a true Saab is not an Opel aping a Mercedes. It's an eccentric oddball of rare and engaging character.

FOR RELEASE: 2006-10-31

All Dressed-Up: Saab 9-7X Aero Concept Debuts at SEMA

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - The sophisticated, jet-originated Saab brand gets in touch with its inner funk and is strutting its new and improved hip side, as the 9-7X Aero Concept debuts at the Specialty Equipment Manufacturer Association trade show here this week.

In a collaboration with the DUB customization company in Los Angeles, Saab's first ever SUV is decked-out with a high-level of specialized elements. Those include:

"DUB was really inspired by the Saab Aero X concept car and the 'Born from Jets' theme," says Myles Kovacs, president and co-founder of DUB Magazine and Industries. "We wanted to integrate it into a custom vehicle. The 9-7X is a great vehicle to customize. We are very pleased with the outcome. It looks hot."

The big question at the show very well may be: when will this black beauty go into production? "Shows such as SEMA provide Saab a terrific opportunity to try new things and quickly get the evolution out in front of the public," Julie Kenar, Saab Automobile USA 9-7X marketing manager explains. "This will act as a good gauge for whether this concept is one which resonates with customers."

Earlier this year, Saab announced the 9-7X Altitude Edition, of which only 500 will be produced. Beyond the extremely rich standard equipment of the 9-7X, the Altitude Edition includes 18" alloy polished wheels, side assist steps, a rear DVD player, and an exclusive carbon fiber gray metallic paint. The package will be offered at a savings of nearly $1,000 than if the items were ordered individually. The package is available on the six-cylinder 9-7X 4.2i and the 9-7X 5.3I V8 - which will bring the total vehicle price (MSRP, destination charge and Altitude package) to $42,130 and $44,130, respectively.

For 2007, OnStar-equipped 9-7X models will feature a new service called OnStar Turn-by-Turn Navigation, the first factory-installed, fully-integrated GPS navigation system from OnStar. Turn-by-Turn allows consumers to talk to a live advisor, who in turn sends complete step-by-step directions to customers' vehicles through their OnStar system. Also in 2007, a Tire Pressure Monitoring System becomes standard equipment on the 9-7X, and one new color, Crystal Blue metallic, has been added.

The Saab 9-7X, which debuted in the summer of 2005, brings unique Saab characteristics to the SUV segment, including sophisticated styling inside and out, premium quality and design features, and sporty and fun-to-drive performance. With its high-level of standard equipment, the 9-7X offers a terrific value.

Swedish Accent – The Boston Globe

Saab, Volvo fans salute Scandinavian automobile design
By Royal Ford  |  October 21, 2006

BROOKLINE -- To the staccato pop-pop-pop of its three-cylinder engine, the little car rolled across the lawn at the Lars Anderson Auto Museum, catching everyone's attention.

It was a rare 1957 Saab 93, owned by Bruce Welch of Brookfield, Vt., taking its place among a sea of Saabs and Volvos at the seventh annual Swedish Car Day last Sunday.  Welch, like many aficionados of Swedish autos, began driving Saabs in the early 1970s. "It was a dirt cheap mode of transportation and I'd never driven a car in winter that was as much fun," he said.

And as to its sound, "If they're running right [and] the engine's tight, it sounds like a popcorn popper," Welch said. He called it "organic."
Perhaps at no other car rally would you find people and vehicles spanning so many generations.

New England folk singer Bill Morrissey once boasted, in a song called "Car and Driver," that he could pick a car's driver out of a crowd. Saabs and Volvos were on his list.
"I make a lotta dough in a high-tech job;
"Yah, sure, you bet, I drive a Turbo Saab."
And:
"My Volvo wagon will seat six,
It'll run on diesel or trail mix."

All kinds of Swedish cars were on display: fast-back Saab Sonnetts from the 1960s and 1970s; Saab 93s, 96s, 99s, 900s, 9000s, 9-5 Aeros, four-stroke and two-stroke engines, energized hatchback turbos; Volvos with high-backed wagons, hot-rod sedans, off-road crawlers, and even a 1964 PV544 taxi.

Volvo owners can be as prideful a bunch as Saabophiles. That includes Holly Stump of Ipswich, who handled much of the restoration of her 1964 Volvo P210 station wagon, a tall box with a roof rack.

It came from Sweden in 1988, but was never registered in the United States by its owner. Stump bought it in 1990 and nearly drove it into the ground by 1998. But she held onto the car, restored it, and still drives it, staying true to her mother, who insisted long ago that her daughter drive Volvos because they are safe.

The rarest of cars on display was the Sonnett I sports car Saab introduced at the New York auto show in 1956. The company still owns this specimen. One of only six built, it showed the world Saab's airplane heritage and became a halo car for the safe and sensible models that would follow.

"People came to the conclusion that they were excellent in the typical weather here," said Saab spokesman Jan-Willem Vester , who pointed out that the winter weather in Sweden is similar to that of New England . Indeed, the Northeast has been key to Saab and Volvo's American success. Forty percent of all Saabs sold in the United States are sold in this region.

What early Saabs "lacked in horsepower," Vester said, "they made up for with front-wheel drive and weight balance," with the engine putting weight over the driving wheels, improving traction.

Both Saab and Volvo became iconoclastic, Saab more noted for its performance in bad weather, Volvo for the safety it aggressively promoted.
As a young reporter on the Vermont-New Hampshire border in the early 1970s, I found myself attracted to Saabs after covering several roll over accidents involving the brand and noting that even though the windshields had popped, the roofs had not collapsed.

Saab through the years went from funky to sleek and fast, bringing what were likely the first mass-produced, affordable, turbocharged cars to the country. The company peaked in the 1980s when the turbo Saab was the choice of yuppies. During that time Saab's US sales increased for 60 consecutive months.

Volvo has evolved from sensible box to a sleekness of its own and builds high-performance cars wrapped in its fabled safety -- without losing a sense of practicality.
Last Sunday, we saw the exposed roots from which both companies grew their American business, as well as their distinct characters.

The cars on display were not "garage queens," a phrase Vester used to describe vehicles that never see the road. Cars such as the 1972 Volvo P1800 belonging to Anthony Caito of Smithfield, R.I., were meant to keep moving. He's taken his sports car to California, Key West, Newfoundland, and other far away destinations.
"I just love to drive it," Caito said.

FOR RELEASE: 2006-10-17

Saab Enthusiasts Coming to Southeastern Michigan in 2007

25th North American Saab Owners' Convention Announced

DETROIT – For the first time in history, Saab owners and enthusiasts from all over North America and beyond will gather in Southeastern Michigan next year, celebrating the passion for their cars and the Saab brand. The Saab Club of North America has announced August 23-26, 2007 as the dates for the event.

The organization of the 25th annual Saab Owners’ Convention has been assigned to the Great Lakes Saab Club, with President Jim Laman serving as convention chairman. Commemorating the 60th anniversary of Saab as a car manufacturer, the 2007 Owners’ Convention will celebrate the highlights of Saab’s proud past, present and future.

“We are honored by the Saab Club of North America’s decision to choose Southeastern Michigan as the location of their Silver Jubilee convention,” said Jay Spenchian, Saab Automobile USA general manager. “We are looking forward to supporting the organizing Great Lakes Saab Club in every way possible. Beyond showcasing our flourishing Saab USA Heritage Collection and our latest array of products, including a number of special 60-Year Anniversary Editions, we are also planning on unveiling a very important new 2008 Saab production vehicle at the event.”

Continuing updates on the 2007 North American Saab Owners’ Convention, including the exact event location and program activities, will become available at www.saabconvention.org. Saab BioPower Vehicles For North America – Ward’sAutos.com

SAAB BioPower Flex-fuel Vehicles Are on the Way!

By Alisa Priddle
Oct. 12, 2006

PARIS – Saab Autombile’s 9-5 BioPower flex-fuel vehicles, which are proving hugely successful in Sweden and other parts of Europe, “definitely” are destined for the North American market, says General Motors Corp. Vice Chairman Bob Lutz.

Lutz, who oversees global product development, makes the promise in an interview at the recent Paris auto show here, but does not provide specifics on when the turbocharged vehicles that run on E85 (85 percent ethanol/15 percent gasoline) will be available in the U.S.

The automaker could decide to debut E85 capability on the volume Saab 9-3 before the 9-5 for North America.

Saab introduced a 2.0t BioPower model of the 9-5 last year in Sweden, followed this year by the Saab 9-5 2.3t BioPower performance sedan and wagon for Scandinavia, the U.K. and Ireland, with other European countries to follow.

Saab’s BioPower flex-fuel vehicles are proving a huge hit in Sweden, where the 2L 9-5 quickly established itself as Sweden’s best-selling environmentally friendly vehicle.

About 80 percent of 9-5s sold in Sweden use E85, and they are gaining traction in other countries, says Carl-Peter Forster, president-General Motors Europe.

The vehicles not only have fewer emissions using an ethanol blend, but the BioPower versions of the turbocharged 2.0L and 2.3L engines have been calibrated for 15 percent-20 percent more power when running on ethanol compared with gasoline, he says.

Through September, Saab says it has sold 7,700 BioPower 9-5 models. The automaker now forecasts sales of 10,000 this year, double its initial projections.

Forster says the BioPower line is “exactly what we need for Saab,” and perfect for its brand image.

The flex-fuel vehicles have helped boost total Saab sales in Europe 20 percent from last year, Forster says, with more growth projected as the 2.3L turbo BioPower engine rolls out in eight European countries with reduced emissions and increased power.

The 9-5 BioPower is especially popular in Sweden where the government gives a tax exemption for renewable fuels such as ethanol, biogas and biodiesel.

“Clean” vehicles enjoy free residential parking, Forster says, and government also has mandated any service station above a certain size (based on volume sold) must provide a renewable fuel, so there are many E85 pumps, resulting in a good distribution network for the fuel.

The flexible-fuel infrastructure is growing in the U.S., albeit slowly. And Saab could use a sales hit.

Sales through September are down 14.2 percent vs. year ago, despite an expanded lineup with the addition of 9-3 and 9-5 SportCombi wagons this year and introduction of the 9-7X SUV last summer.

While Lutz enthuses over the potential of E85, he is much less effusive on the future of diesels for the U.S., given the need to meet Bin 5 requirements for emissions next year that he describes as “six times” more stringent than Euro 5 regulations.

He also bemoans the loss of fuel economy from after-treatment measures to reduce particulate matter and oxides of nitrogen.

Cost remains an obstacle, adding another $2,000 to the already high premium for a diesel engine. “So it is double to triple the cost of today’s cars,” Lutz says, making it all but impossible to break even at today’s diesel prices.

And it will only get worse, he says, because “California hates the word ‘diesel.’” The state already is looking beyond Bin 5 to even stricter requirements, “which would regulate diesels out of existence (in the U.S.).”

If diesels get so expensive as to rival hybrid-electric systems, “you hit equilibrium,” Lutz says, raising the question of “which do I do?”

On a more positive note, “I think we’re going to see a huge diversity of powertrains,” in the future, Lutz says, allowing automakers to select the proper one for each application.

Big commercial trucks universally opt for diesels, he says. When hybrids are less expensive, large urban areas where people drive less than 50 miles (80 km) a day could be havens for hybrids or plug-in hybrids. 

Saab Sonett Celebrates 50 Years at Swedish Car Day  FOR RELEASE: 2006-09-29

Boston – The name sounds like a song. But in fact, the Saab Sonett sports car was originally named after the Swedish expression “så nätt”, meaning “so neat”.Now, half a century after the launch of the first generation, the Sonett is known the world over as Saab’s quintessential two-seat sport car. On Sunday, October 15, Saab fans will be gathering on the Swedish Car Day at the Larz Anderson Museum in Brookline, Massachusetts to celebrate the brand and 50 years of Saab Sonett in particular.

Among the participating cars will be several key members of the Saab Automobile USA heritage collection, including Sonetts of each generation: a priceless, dark orange 1956 Sonett I, a silver 1967 Sonett II 2-stroke and a recently acquired blue 1970 Sonett III V4. For directions and more information about the event, visit www.swedishcarday.com.

The Saab Sonett I “Super Sport” was first unveiled at the 1956 Stockholm Auto Show, and made its North American debut later that year in New York. Originally designed to compete in a racing series that eventually never materialized, Saab only built 6 first-generation Sonetts - which all remain in existence today.

Using contemporary Saab aircraft practices, the Sonett chassis was formed by a riveted aluminum box carrying a fiberglass roadster body. Utilizing the “high-performance” (57.5 bhp) version of the 3-cylinder 750cc 2-stroke engine found in the Saab model 93, the drivetrain was “reversed” so that the engine is behind the transmission and front wheel drive is retained. The 2-stroke engine rotates in the opposite direction from the production Saab sedans of the era to accommodate this reverse transmission layout.

Starting in 1967, the Sonett II represented Saab’s second, and much more ambitious foray into the world of two-seat sport cars. Aimed primarily at the North American market, the sporting intentions of this agile coupe were obvious since the race winning Model 96 Monte Carlo 2-stroke engine, fitted with three-carburetors, was specified as standard equipment. The fiberglass body was attached to a sheet steel frame featuring an integrated roll bar. An unusual one-piece front end hinged completely out of the way for easy access to the engine, transmission and front suspension components.

Capable of 0-60 acceleration times of 12.5 seconds and a top speed approaching 100 mph, only 258 Sonett II’s with the Monte Carlo spec engine were built during the two years of production. A subsequent, more powerful, V-4, four-stroke version of the Sonett II, distinguished by a bulge on the hood to accommodate the taller engine, brought more horsepower, more speed and a total of 1,868 cars built over the next three years.

Launched at the 1970 New York Auto Show, the third generation Saab Sonett was a significantly different car from its predecessor. The V-4 engine was tuned for more horsepower to compensate for the increases in size and weight in the new car.

In terms of styling, the Sonett III benefited from contributions by the Italian designer Sergio Coggiola, featuring bolder front and rear sections plus a new interior. In the back, the Sonett III gained a hinged rear window, offering easy access to the rear luggage compartment. In front, the new treatment included manually-operated pop-up headlights. In addition, features like air conditioning and a floor-mounted transmission shifter were added to meet the requests of U.S. dealers and buyers.

1974 turned out to be the last model year for the Saab Sonett, bringing the production total to 10,236 cars since inception. The very last Sonett to leave the factory in Arlöv, Sweden was bright yellow. It currently resides in the Saab Automobile factory museum in Trollhättan near Gothenburg, on the Swedish West Coast.

 

 

 

SAAB Club Website

Come visit the Minnesota SAAB Club website at www.mnsaabclub.org for the latest and greatest in the SAAB world!  The now regularly updated site will continue to provide increasingly timely and important SAAB news and events for all to enjoy.  Pictures, stories, and contributions are always welcome.  We are a strong SAAB community, and together we can spread the joy of SAAB ownership that we all experience today! 

We have SAAB Club stickers available!  The Minnesota SAAB Club window stickers are static-cling so that you will never have to worry about scraping off that hardened film from your window.  The static stickers are similar to the logo here on the newsletter, and are about 3X5 inches in size.  The major difference is that the fire-breathing-chicken is now in red.  Stickers sell for $5 each, or 3 for $10.  Additionally, if you are a current dues paying member of the Minnesota SAAB Club, you get a window sticker for FREE (Membership has its privileges)!  Also, we are not discriminatory.  If you belong to another local or national club, or are simply a lone enthusiast, you too can still get one.  Heck, even if you drive a Yugo you can buy one and display to the world the lust that lies in your heart.  Just contact me and place your order today! 

Thank You Members!

I would like to thank all of you great folks who have renewed your annual membership!  I would also like to welcome those new members that have recently joined us for the first time!  Have you popped in on an occasional monthly club meeting?  Have you been helped out with your "SAAB story" from one of the local SAAB buddies?  Have you enjoyed the camaraderie at one of the meetings or one of the area events?  If you have felt the desire to give back a little, now you can!  Make a once a year contribution of $25 to "The Minnesota SAAB Club" , and feel good about yourself knowing that you are supporting an organization devoted to helping out others, keeping the environment clean, and keeping the SAAB brand alive.  You can advertise cars and goods for sale in the newsletter and on the club website (www.mnsaabclub.org) , and you will also receive one of the cool new static club stickers we have (a $5 value!)  Receive various discounts from your favorite regional SAAB facility, and so much more.  Visit the ever-changing club website at www.mnsaabclub.org .  Renew or become a new member today!  

 

Check out the latest previously enjoyed SAAB inventory, or purchase a new set of Nokian tires at Andrews of Princeton.  Visit the website at www.andrewsofprinceton.com, or call Andrews directly by dialing 1-800-882-7220.    

 

 MEYER GARAGE

Receive up to $5,000 when you purchase a new 2006 SAAB 9-2X!  You can also get 0% financing for 60 months from SAAB to go along with your 5-year/100,000 mile warranty!  Has there ever been a better time to buy a SAAB?  SAAB loyalty has rewards beyond the sheer joy of owning one.  Check all the details and the latest inventory at www.meyersaab.com, or call Marty or Annette at 1-888-722-2246 to set up a test drive today!   


High Gas Prices Getting You Down?   

Crude oil prices are around $58 a barrel, and although the price of gas has fallen from the recent highs, it's still nice to pay as little for gas as possible.  Check out this little website that can assist you in significantly reducing the cost of your fill-ups at the pump.  It's called www.twincitiesgasprices.com.  When you log on to the site, it will give you both the highest and lowest reported gas prices all over the Minneapolis/St.Paul area.  What's that?  You don't live in the twin cities?  Fear not, as there are sister sites for greater Minnesota, and throughout the rest of the country.  As this month's newsletter goes to press, gas prices in the Twin Cities are ranging from $2.03 to $2.54 a gallon. 

SAAB Club Calendar  

           -November 2nd, Thursday, 7:30 PM, Minnesota SAAB Club meeting at Major's Sports Cafe located on Snelling Ave.      in Roseville, MN.  This will be a really cool program TBA! 

 

            -November 4th, Saturday, 8-noon, Book sale and Art sale at The Square Peg Restaurant at 2021 E. Henneppin in          Minneapolis.  Many new and used books, artwork, posters and automobilia for sale.  Book

            signing by our local Kevin Clemens of his new book just out in time for the holidays!  Visit www.squarepegdiner.com for  more details. 

 

            -November 11th,Saturday,10:00 AM,SAAB Dyno Day at RSMotors in Burnsville, MN! The cost for two runs will be around $50 per car, and possibly less if more cars participate. The address is 2611 Hwy.13                 W., and the phone number is 952-707-0100.  You can visit their website at http://www.rs-motors.net/index.html.  There will be plenty of time to run the dyno and then drive to Redwing for the rally! 

-November 11th, Saturday, 4:00 PM, Il Diavalo Road Rally!  Short of full-on Pro-Rally, this is about as much fun as a guy or gal can have on public roads!  The infamous Il Diavolo Rally will be sponsored by the Alfa Romeo Club, but our very own Dean Nelson will be the rallymeister!  There will certainly be at least a couple of "minimum maintenance" roads, along with fun twisty trails in gravel and asphalt alike!  First car out at 5:01 (but show up early) from the Godfather's Pizza in Redwing, MN.  Contact Dean for more info at DFLDean@comcast.net.  Don't miss it!   

-December 7th, Thursday, 7:30 PM, Minnesota SAAB Club meeting at Major's Sports Cafe located on Snelling Ave. in Roseville, MN. This will be a really cool program TBA! 

Glassyeyeds

-1970 SAAB 96, grey, red interior, very nice original condition. Located in Minneapolis.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        $2,900?  Contact Eric at Eric.Fantin@cfsmn.com for pictures and more information. 

-1974 Sonett, 76,000 miles. No rust ever. Original paint; repaint brings it
close to concours quality. Very fast. Engine rebuilt/modified by The Foreign
Service (www.foreignservicemn.com ) at 70,000 miles: MSS intake, carburetor,
street cam, valve lifters, steel timing gear set, and lightened flywheel;
oversize pistons; Sachs clutch, pressure plate and throwout bearing. Oversize
hardened valves (for unleaded gasoline). Electric fan and fuel pump,
Ashcraft's coolant filter. Brake and clutch master cylinders
re-sleeved/rebuilt and converted to DOT 5 fluid.  OEM dual exhausts.
Excellent wheels with perfect blue wheel centers (never blasted, original
machining still intact). Orbital sealed gel cell battery keeps the trunk rust
free. Cibie headlights, old style auxiliary/driving lights. Alpine AM/FM
cassette. Seats with sheepskin centers, extra set of original seats. Beverly
Hills car cover. Driven daily - summers only - never in snow or salt. Near
Minneapolis/St. Paul airport and Mall of America (www.mallofamerica.com ).
Have too many Saabs. Come visit and check out one of the finest remaining
examples of this great car. $8,495 Drive anywhere, delivery negotiable. 651
645-3949 

 

-For sale: 1992 900 Convertible. 85k miles, 5-spd. White/taupe leather.
Good tires, great body, only seen use in 2 winters. Originally
Canadian-spec car so has E-code headlights and Blaupunkt CD instead                                                                                                                              

of crummy Clarion. Dash perfect, leather good, carpet good, car was
repainted at some point it appears, but done well and looks very good.
Includes the infamous tonneau covers too! A/C could use a recharge, but
works. $6,999.  Available late April/early May. Contact Jim Laman at
616-403-1633 (cell) or lamanjim@juno.com in Holland, MI. Delivery to Twin
Cities available for airfare.

For Sale: 91 900S parts- 2.1L head, $300, airbag and steering wheel $75,
both plus shipping. Jim Laman 616-403-1633 or lamanjim@juno.com. A few
other parts available from this car, email with needs.

 -For Sale- 1973 96, beige, V4, virtually no rust- I own the above referenced Saab and planning to sell it. It is a beige color with little or no rust, however, when I last drove it in 1984, it needed a clutch otherwise it's in good condition. It has been sitting in my garage for the past 20 years and thought someone in your Saab Club might be interested. Approx.  175K miles and nice looking interior. Probably need a new clutch, sitting around in my owner's garage since 1984, when he decided, Jerry Springs, Detroit, (313) 819-7200 or e-mail at volunteerdir@sphb.org $5000.00 is negotiable.

 -For Sale- 2002 Saab Viggen --I am selling a 2002 Viggen with only 11,800 miles. I am asking $21,000 or best offer.  The car is in showroom condition and has always been stored indoors. It is originally from California, and has only been in Michigan for 4 days.  (I moved back to Detroit from Atlanta).  I also have pics I can email... Let me know if you know someone.....   Christine, 586-801-3595 or imperigal72@yahoo.com

 

-For Sale- 2003 9-3 Sport Sedan Vector Model (replaced by Aero in 2004), Silver Exterior, Charcoal Interior, 59,000 Mi. Every option, 2 sets of tires & wheels (summer/winter), New summer tires @ 54,000 Mi (only 2500 mi on them), Winter tires have roughly 20,000 mi on them, New brakes (front & rear) at 55,000 Mi, Brake system flush @ 55,000, Contact info: Ed Huot, (810) 625.8036 or ehuot13@aol.com_

 

-For Sale: '99 9-3 Coupe, 5-spd, dk met blue, beige cloth, almost new SAAB stainless steel (Sport) exh, K&N air filter, 91k miles (just had 90k maintenance),  needs nothing, well-maintained.  Buying a minivan.  $6200.   David Hogberg, Albion, 517.629.4834 (home), 517.262.3541 (mobile)

 

-For Sale-  SAAB 9000 2-Door Concept Car  I am asking $15,000.00 or best. I have not had the time to drive the car over the year. It's not good to let them just sit under a cover they should be driven so others can appreciate them as well. The car is currently sitting in my brothers pole barn tucked away under its cover waiting for it's next drive. I have attached a couple of pictures for reference. I would appreciate only true potential buyer emails / phone calls as I am extremely busy & don't have a great deal of extra time

these days. I hope you are all doing well and would ask that you please forward my email to your SAAB friends. Bob Fallis, Robert.Fallis@CarTopSystems.com

 

-For Sale: 2002 SAAB 9-5 ARC: 4DR, V6, Automatic 5-Speed, Turbo, Gray, Leather, On-Star, Sunroof, Alarm, Harman Kardon Stereo, Loaded, 52K miles. Selling below Book value! Go to: www.LighthouseColorprint.com/saab or call Chris (269) 428-7062, ext. #2 for more information.

 

-For Sale- Reproduced parts from Finland. 96 V4- upper and lower radiator hoses, mudflaps, SKF fan bearings, Saab-logo C -pillar emblems, 900/9000- hood emblems (to replace the ones that flake off) All these are new, reproduced parts. Contact Jim at lamanjim@juno.com for pricing and details. Parts are pictured at http://www.jamsa.fi/~vepohjal/saabiko/emblems.htm

 

-For Sale: Saab convertible,1990, white, Saab Airflow kit, AT, very clean! Contact Bjorn Soderstrom at Soderstrom5@aol.com in West Bloomfield, MI

 

-For Sale - I have a 96 V-4 1700 that I would like to get rid of also there might be a 1500 cc and trans to follow w/ some wheels. The 1700 had a rod knock but did run. Any help in linking me up w/ a good home will be greatly appreciated. Eric Duram. Duram9@aol.com

 

-For Sale: We still have many items left over from SOC 2005. The proceeds from these sales are going towards paying for the convention. We are $3500.00 + in debt and need your help to pay these bills. You may be asking yourselves how this could have happened. There are many reasons for this debt not the least of which is people sneaking into Saturday night's dinner and sponsors backing out last minute. So if you know of anyone who did come to dinner (without paying) Saturday night please encourage them to make a donation. Spread the word. We don't care who they are we just want to cover the debt and put the 2005 convention to bed. If you feel like donating that's great too, there are three donation options available. (Saturday's dinner cost us $35+) Most of the for sale items are located with Ashli and I and we'd like to get them out of our 700 square foot house as well. we just reduced the prices on many items recently... So buy now, buy often. With our thanks in advance for your support. http://www.mollyguard.com/event/21919562


 Fun SAAB Links

 

www.barrett-jackson.com

 

http://www.saabvideos.com/

 

The World's Only Jet Powered Beetle!

http://www.ronpatrickstuff.com/

 

http://www.msra.com/NonOxygenatedFuel/Non-OxyFuel.htm

 

Cadillac Begins Production in Sweden (at the Saab Plant)

http://www.motoring.co.za/index.php?fSetId=381&fSectionId=751&fArticleId=3100847

 

Recent Swedish Rally Clips

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6484388496866014461&q=sweden

 

Saab Performance Team in action

http://www.break.com/articles/saabteam.html?t=4405

 

Now this is odd...Saab engine in a Porsche

http://project911.luminasweden.com

 

Interesting Vintage Saabs

http://www.saab-v4.co.uk/images/nat01/gallery.htm 

 

Sheep in a 96? Hey, I don’t write this stuff...

http://freewebs.com/merrymeetingbay

 

See you all at the meeting! 

 

Chris Luick

President and Editor,

The Minnesota SAAB Club 

 

We are a great SAAB community, and together we can help each other enhance the joy of the SAAB experience! 

 

Questions or comments?  Want to unsubscribe or subscribe?  Can you solve the world's problems?  We welcome your feedback, email chrisluick@prodigy.net.