If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to our RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
Saab is Swedish and is actually an acronym for Svenska Aeroplan Aktie Bolag which means (Swedish Airplane Corporation). And indeed as the name suggests this company started off manufacturing aircrafts only.
Saab History
During the Second World War Saab successfully built many bombers and jetfighters. It is interesting to note that Saab still manufactures very high quality aircrafts both for the military and civilians.
Indeed some of the names they use to name their aircrafts are also used for some Saab cars. The first car rolled out of the Saab factory in 1940 and was simply called Project 92.
It was a small affordable car with a 750cc engine and it sold well as the Saab 92. Saab was a pioneer in safety and this car was designed with a safety cage to protect passengers in the event of an accident.
Safety has always remained a very important feature in all Saab cars. For instance the 1958 Saab GT750 was one of the first cars to have factory-fitted seat belts. Again 1972 Saabs had a special bumper that could absorb impact.
But without doubt the most popular Saab ever has to be the Saab 900 which sold over 900,000 units and still remains very popular today. It was first produced in 1978.
In 1998 the company produced the Saab 9-3 which was essentially an improved version of the Saab 900. General Motors bought a 50 per cent stake in the car maker in 1989 and even with the partnership that followed with Subaru which has resulted in some Saab parts being supplied by Subaru, this car make has managed to retain its’ distinct identity.
