Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Saab- A Brief History

This looks like the end for Saab. So here is the brief history of Saab

1937- Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget is founded to manufacture military aircraft in the industrial town of Trollhättan.
1945- Saab diversifies into cars. During the next two years, prototypes 92.001 (known as the Ursaab) and 92.002 commence testing.
1949- Production of the 92 starts. It is powered by a 764cc, twin cylinder, two-stroke engine, driving the front wheels.
1955- Saab 93 replaces the 92. It has a 748cc three-cylinder engine, developing 33bhp, and new frontal styling and suspension.
1959- Saab’s first station wagon, the Saab 95, is launched. The engine is enlarged to 841cc and features a fold-down, rear-facing third row of seats, making it a seven-seater.
1960- The Saab 96 saloon is unveiled. Saab Great Britain Ltd is established.
1966- Saab's first four-stroke engine, a Ford-built V4, is introduced in the Saab 96 and 95. The old two-stroke engine is taken out of production when the V4 becomes a success.
1967- The Saab 99 saloon is premiered in Stockholm. It is the first all-new model since the Saab 92-96. Power is provided by a 1.7-litre four-cylinder engine developed for Saab by Ricardo and built by Triumph in England.
1968- Saab merges with truck company Scania
1974- The Saab 99 range of two and four-door saloons is expanded with the launch of a three-door hatchback, marketed as ‘Combi Coupé’, which lives on in various guises until 2002.
1976- The one-millionth Saab car comes off the line at Trollhättan. A five-door 99 appears and Saab creates a sensation by revealing an innovative turbocharged engine will be installed in the 99 in 1977.
1978- The Saab 900, an evolution of the 99, goes on sale. Production of the Saab 95 ceases. Saab concludes a collaboration agreement with Fiat/Lancia. The two firms co-develop the Type Four chassis, which produces the Alfa Romeo 164, Fiat Croma, Saab 9000 and Lancia Thema.
1984- The Saab 9000 five-door luxury car is revealed. It is only the third all-new model to come from Saab. Annual Saab production exceeds 100,000 cars for the first time.
1986- The Saab 900 Convertible goes on sale. The following year, total Saab production passes the two million mark.
1993- An all-new, second generation Saab 900 is launched. Technical features include an automatic clutch system. Saab also offers a V6 engine for the first time.
1997- Saab celebrates its 50th anniversary as a car maker and launches the new Saab 9-5, a four-door saloon to replace the 9000.
2002- The all-new Saab 9-3 Sport Saloon is launched to the world's press at Stockholm in July. It is Saab's first compact, premium saloon.
2003- The Saab 9-3 Convertible is unveiled at Geneva Motor Show in March. Saab declares its intention to enter the compact wagon segment by unveiling the Saab 9-3 Sport-Hatch Concept.
2005- Saab enters the premium, compact estate segment with the Saab 9-3 SportWagon. The four millionth Saab rolls off the production line at Trollhättan.
2011- In April, Saab chiefs admit they are searching for some ‘short and medium term funding’ after halting the car production line due to lack of cash to pay component suppliers. Production halts again in June, and Saab enters reorganisation in September. The company filed for bankruptcy on 19th December
The 99 was one of Saab's most enduring models, produced from 1968 to 1984
Saab 99
Saab:The Saab 92 went into production in 1949 and featured a 764cc twin-cylinder engine
Saab 900SE Turbo

Saab:The Saab 92 went into production in 1949 and featured a 764cc twin-cylinder engine
Saab 92



Goodbye Saab

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