Description
Author, Lance Cole, Hardbound, ISBN: 9781847973986, 272 Pages, First Published, 2012 - Reprinted, 2014
Saab Cars — The Complete Story presents an important new history of Saab's car production. From the creation of the first prototype in 1947 and the beginning of series car production in 1949, to the end of the Saab car production in 2012, the story
of Saab goes far beyond Trollhattan and Sweden's shores. It is a tale of pioneering work in the fields of aerodynamics, safety, engine science and industrial design, and of the creation of a unique Saab ethos.
Saab's small team of dedicated engineers and designers applied a new approach to car design, combining road vehicle airflow study with the experience of creating aircraft-derived engineering structures. The result, the 92.001 or UrSaab, shocked the post-war world with its new concept of front-wheel drive powering a strong, low-drag bodyshell. It was not until a decade later that the Mini grabbed the plaudits for its small, front-wheel driven configuration, and longer still before the Citroen DS became famed for its slippery aerodynamic shape.
Production of the 92 started in 1949.
The 1950s saw the emergence of the little-known Sonett, one of the first composite cars. The 96, V4, 99 Turbo and 900 followed, changing the face of motoring in the 1960s and 1970s. The 9000 and models built after General Motors had purchased Saab opened a new chapter in Saab's life: despite controversy, they ensured the Swedish company maintained its iconic presence on a global stage.
The book examines the lives and motivations of the men behind Saab's quietly brilliant creations: engineers and designers Gunnar Ljungstrom, Sixten Sason, Rolf MeIlde and Bjorn Envall, director and financier Marcus Wallenberg, and rally legend Erik Carlsson. It charts the rise and fall of the company through the days of Saab's alliances with Fiat, the difficult later years in the hands of General Motors and the Saab-Spyker ownership under Victor Muller, which resulted in bankruptcy and an auction of the remains of Saab.
The 'Save Saab' campaign united Saab enthusiasts . across the world — but ultimately, the story returns to Trollhattan for the sad end of Saab car production. Packed with detail, Saab Cars — The Complete Story gives new insight into Saab's advanced thinking and the nature of 'Saabism', and provides a fitting tribute to a much-loved marque.
