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Saab 92.001 1947
Before Saab made cars, it made planes. And Saab's very first automotive project, the 92.001, was handmade by a team of aviation experts. Not coincidently, its aerodynamic profile resembles an airplane wing. The 92.0001 is propelled by a DKW 18hp two-cylinder; two-stroke engine, an Auto Union fuel tank and other components that, as legend has it, were salvaged from a junkyard. The results were astonishing: This prototype, used for road testing, is in original condition and has never been restored.
Saab 93 1957
"You can't drive a car harder than this," said Erik Carlsson after his victory in the 1800 km Finnish rally, known as "The Rally of a Thousand Lakes" in August 1957. It was Erik's first victory in a major international race. This pale yellow car is an exact replica of the winning car, down to its registration number. The three-cylinder two-stroke engine of 748 cc, which in standard form gave 38 bhp, has been tuned to deliver about 65 bhp.
Saab Sonett 1956
This open two-seater competition sports car created a sensation at the Stockholm Motor Show in 1956. In September 1996, at the age of forty, this car set a new Swedish speed record in the class up to 750 cc, achieving 159.4 kph. This three-cylinder model was planned to go into series production, but only six were ever built. You'll find the very first on display at the Saab Car Museum.
Saab 93 "The Monster" 1959
This experimental car, nicknamed "the Monster," was created in 1959. It features two three-cylinder engines, mounted transversely in the engine bay. The result was stunning: 138 bhp and a top speed of 196 kph. Even at this early stage in its history, Saab had a reputation as an innovative manufacturer. In this case, perhaps too innovative: the Saab 93 project was shelved, because competition regulations didn't allow such daring combinations.
Saab Sport 1964
In 1962, Erik Carlsson won the Monte Carlo Rally. He did it again in 1963. In both races, he drove a Saab 96. The victories were historic, because no one had accomplished this feat since the 1930's. Saab's production version of the winning cars was the Saab Sport, eventually called the Monte Carlo 850. Its three-cylinder, triple-carburetored engine delivered 52 bhp. Disc brakes up front and a lavish interior were other features of this model.
Saab Sonett III 1974
The Saab Sonett had its largest market in the USA. It was Saab's idea of a small two-seater sports car, and it was-and still is-a car for enthusiasts. When launched in 1966, the Sonett was powered by the three-cylinder Monte Carlo 850 engine, but after only 258 cars were built, the engine was changed to the larger V4 engine. 1974 was the last model year for the Sonett. In fact, the yellow car at the Saab Car Museum was the very last one made.
Saab 99 Turbo 1979
1979 was a year to remember in rallying. Stig Blomqvist won the Swedish Rally in his Saab 99 Turbo; it was the first time a turbocharged car won a World Championship rally. The 99 Turbo had a two-liter turbocharged engine with an output of 270 bhp, torque 353 Nm, 4-speed, non-synchronized gearbox with limited slip differential, and could go 0-100 kph in 6.0 seconds and 0-160 kph in 14.3 seconds.
Saab EV-1 1985
Unveiled in 1985, this advanced sports coupe was an experimental car. New materials, such as carbon fiber reinforced plastics, were specified into its design. The Saab EV-1's unique interior ventilation uses solar cells in the roof to keep the car cool when parked in sunlight. It features a 285 bhp, four-cylinder turbocharged 16-valve engine and an impressive top speed of 270 kph.
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