The brand SAAB is founded in 1937 and stands for: Svenska Aeroplan AB.

Svenska = Swedish             Aeroplan = Aircraft/plane           A(ktie)B(olag) = Private company

 

The company began with the building of planes, but within 10 years they began to develop cars. The first in serial produced car was the SAAB 92.

As you can see below the text don't begin with the SAAB 92, but with the in the eighties build SAAB 90. The reason to do that is because it is easier for many people to find the different SAAB's with the number, perhaps is name with numbers better formulated. This is specially done for people who don't know the brand SAAB so good and they will serach for information about 1 special type of SAAB.

SAAB 90

The SAAB 90 is not nice said a SAAB 99 2 door Sedan, with the rear end of a SAAB 900 2 door Sedan. There was only one engine wich could be mounted and that is the H-engine, with 8 valves and one carburator. For the explanation about the H-engine, see the section of the SAAB 900 (1979 – 1994).

There were not many options, which could be mounted in the factory, in Finland, an opening roof and metallic paint are two of them and a 5spees gearbox could be an option in some contries, in other countries this 5 speed gearbox made part of "the goodies" which were mounted in the factory. In the countries were the 5 speed gearbox was an option, these SAABs get a 4 speed gearbox.

A color that not is often seen on the SAAB 90 is black, however, there were some exemples with this coulor.

UrSAAB/SAAB 92001/SAAB 92A and SAAB 92B

The first prototype was the UrSAAB, also named the SAAB 920001.

The first production car was the SAAB 92A and this first type had a transversely mounted 2 cylinder, 2 stroke engine, which was based on an engine from german carfactory DKW. In 1949 began the production of this SAAB and in 1953 the SAAB 92B came into production.
The biggest changes, between a SAAB 92A and a SAAB 92B, were a bigger rear window and maybe more important, the trunk get a lid. From this moment it wasn’t necessary to take the luggage thru the front door and over the rear seat, into the trunk, but directly from the street and along that way into the trunk. There is not totally agree, there are people who say that production of the SAAB 92B ended in 1956, others say in 1957.

SAAB 93

The SAAB 93 is more or less a modernised SAAB 92 and the biggest changes are the longitudinally-mounted three-cylinder two-stroke engine and a different front. The engine was again based on a engine from DKW. In 1957 the SAAB 93B came into production and the best to see different part was the front window, wich now was of one piece, instead of 2 pieces, in comination with a rubber strip, which is vertical mounted in the middle of the windscreen. In 1958 came the SAAB GT750, a sporty version of the SAAB 93 and this was the first SAAB with the door hinges at the frontside of the car. In 1959 came the SAAB 93F and this was the first "normal" SAAB 93 with the same door hinges as the SAAB GT750. The end of the production of the SAAB 93, when the SAAB 96 came, was in 1960. But, for a shorter time the SAAB 93F and the SAAB 96 were build beside each other.

SAAB 94

Another name for this car is the SAAB Sonett I. There are only build 6 SAABs 94. The engine is a two-stroke 3 cylinder engine. It’s an open 2door roadster wich has a very light weight of 600kg.

SAAB 95

The SAAB 95 was first produced in 1959 and is the stationcar of the SAAB 93 and the biggest different is, naturally, the rear side of the car. In 1964, for the modelyear 1965, the SAAB 95 get another front, what gave SAAB the possibility to mount a bigger engine. This engine came in 1966, for the modelyear 1967 and is a 1500cc engine. This engine came from Ford and it’s a 4cilinder engine with a V4 configuration.

Later, form the modelyear 1976, introduced in 1975, there came bigger rubber bumpers on this SAAB and not everyone liked those bumpers. For the last modelyear of the SAAB 95, the modelyear 1978, which came in the summer of 1977, became bigger lights on the corner of the front. Those lights look simulair to those as on the SAAB 99 from the modelyear 1977 and later of the SAAB 99, but are evenso different. This is due to the different shape of the front fenders between the SAAB 95/96 and the SAAB 99.

The production ended in 1978.

SAAB 96

The SAAB 96 was introduced for the modelyear 1960 and the biggest different between the SAAB 93 and the SAAB 96 was another roof and a complete different rear end. This was done to give the passengers in the rear seat more space. The trunk is also bigger.

In 1964, for the modelyear 1965 the SAAB 96 get another front and that was done to give more space for a bigger engine. This is a 1500cc V4 from Ford. This V4-engine was introduced for the modelyear 1967, in 1966. The front of the SAAB 96 from modelyear 1960 – 1964 became the nickname Bullnose. From 1975, the modelyear 1976, the SAAB 96 get rubber bumpers. From the modelyear 1978 the SAAB 96 get bigger lights at the rear, but also beside the front lights, just as what is disrbied by the SAAB 95.

In 1980 the production of the SAAB 96 ended.

SAAB 97

This is a little bit a difficult one, because this goes about two SAAB's and those are the SAAB Sonett II and then the SAAB Sonett III. First there was a 2 stroke 3cilinder engine, later there was a V4 engine. Technical these cars are simulair to the SAABs SAAB95/96. The body is made of polyester. The SAAB Sonett III is technical more or less the same as the SAAB Sonett II with the V4 engine, but with an other body shape. The SAAB Sonett II was build from 1966 up to 1969. The SAAB Sonett III was build from 1970 up to 1974.

SAAB 99

In 1968 the SAAB 99 came. It is a 2 door Sedan, with a 1750cc engine, wich SAAB became from Triumph, in England. In 1970, for the modelyear 1971, there came a 4 door sedan and from that moment the engine was 19850cc great. Later, in 1972, SAAB more or less rebuild this engine and from that moment the engine was 1985cc great. This engine is called the B-engine. In 1973, for the modelyear 1974, there came a 3 door Combi-Coupé and that was more or less a combination of a coupé and a station car. In the Nothern America the Combi-Coupé was called the WagonBack. In 1975, for the modelyear 1976, there came a 5 door Combi-Coupé.

In 1977 there was, for the modelyear 1978,  a very sporting version, and that was the 145Hp strong Turbo-version, with the 3door Combi-Coupé style.

There are a lot versions build of the SAAB 99 and that is beside the body-style and engine that was mounted.

The first years there were standard versions, later the SAAB 99L came, also the 99X7, the 99GL, 99GL_Super, 99Special, 99GLs, 99GL_injection, 99Gli, 99 GLE, 99EMS and of course: The SAAB 99Turbo.

In Finland there were also build SAAB’s 99 which were longer, to give more space for the passengers in the rear seat and those SAAB’s 99 were called: Finlandia.

The most had a 118Hp strong engine with fuel injection, but there were also build some examples with the 145Hp strong Turbo engine.

The engines that were mounted are:

1750cc, with one carburetor.

1850cc, with one carburetor.

1850cc, with D-jetronic fuel injection.

1985cc, B-engine, with one carburetor.

1985cc, B-engine, with two carburetors.

1985cc, B-engine, with D-jetronic fuel injection.

1985cc, B-engine, with K-jetronic fuel injection.

1985cc, B-engine, with K-jetronic fuel injection and a turbo compressor.

1985cc, H-engine, with one carburetor.

SAAB 900 ( 1979 – 1994)

The SAAB 900 was introduced in 1978, for the modelyear 1979.

This SAAB came because the regulations for a frontal crash in the USA and this SAAB is in fact a SAAB 99 Combi-Coupé, with 3 or 5 doors, that has got a longer front due to those earlier named frontal crash regulations. In 1980, modelyear 1981, the 4 door Sedan version came and in 1983, modelyear 1984, the 2 door Sedan came. In 1986 the perhaps most known version came, the 2 door Cabriolet/Convertible. The Cabriolet/Convertible versions have always 16V engines, in different configurations, the other versions are delivered with 8v and 16V engines, also in different configurations.

The different versions, up to 1990 can you see below here, from 1991 and up to 1994, the last year of the Cabriolet/Convertible version,s the versions were different, those as you can see in the second part. There can always be different versions on the different markets. But the different version per market isn’t easy to give. There are versions which only are delivered in (some countries in) Europe, some only in the USA and some other for example only in Australia and New Zeeland.

Two examples are the EMS and GLE-versions, those are delivered in Europe as the modelyears 1979 upt to 1983, for the EMS and up to 1984, for the GLE. Up to the modelyear 1980 with the 1985cc, B-engine, with K-jetronic fuel injection or, from the modelyear 1981 up to 1984 with the 1985cc, H-engine, also with K-jetronic fuel injection. In the USA those versions were delivered from the modelyear 1979 up to 1980, for the EMS and GLE, always with a 1985cc, B-engine, with K-jetronic fuel injection. From modelyear 1981 the S-version came instead of the EMS- and GLE-versions and this S-version was deelivered with a 1985cc, H-engine, with K-jetronic, form about the modelyear 1986 it was replaced by the B202-engine, in fact the same engine as the H-engine, but then wit 16 valves and form about the modelyear 1991 the B212-engine was an option on this version. In Australia and New Zeeland there also has been deliverd SAAB’s 900 EMS and GLE-versions with the 2.0i16V, B202-engine and even so with the 2.1i16V, B212engines and those versions were, for so far as I could get it, up to the modelyear 1991.

From modelyear 1979 up to 1991 there were a GL, GLi, GLs, GLE, EMS, i8, i16, T8, T16 and S versions, but each market could have different versions and engine combinations.

From modelyear 1991 up to 1994 there were a 2.0i16V, 2.1i16V, T16 S, in Europe markets that was a low pressure turbo version, in the USA it was a version with a 2.0i16V or a 2.1i16V engine, but more luxurious as the “normal” 2.0i16V and 2.1i16V version and for the Italian market ther was also an EP version.

 

The engines that were mounted are:

1985cc, B-engine, with one carburetor.

1985cc, B-engine, with two carburettors.

1985cc, B-engine, with K-jetronic fuel injection.

1985cc, B-engine, with K-jetronic fuel injection and a turbo compressor.

1985cc, H-engine, with one carburetor.

1985cc, H-engine, with two carburettors.

1985cc, H-engine, with K(E)-jetronic fuel injection.

1985cc, H-engine, with K(E)-jetronic fuel injection and a turbo compressor.

1985cc, 16V-engine, with fuel injection.

1985cc, 16V-engine, with fuel injection and a low pressure turbo.

1985cc, 16V-engine, with fuel injection and high pressure turbo.

2100cc, 16V-engine, with fuel injection.

 

The versions with the longer bodies are not forgotten and those SAABs 900 were build in Finland, just like the SAAB 99 Finalndia and the longer SAAB900 was first called Finlandia, later CD. The modelyears 1979 and 1980 were 5doors Combi-Coupé versions, mostly the GLE version, sometimes the T8-version. From the modelyear 1981 up to 1986 the bdoy was mostly the 4 door Sedan, but it’s known that there were also build some 5door Combi-Coupé versions. The modelyeras 1981 up to 1983 have a T8 enigne, the later examples have mostly a T16 engine.

The Finlandia and CD-versions have unlike the “normal build” versions of the T8 and T16, chrome listings around the windows and door handles where the “normal build” versions had black listings and door handles. Another detail that is different is the fact that the Finalandia and CD-versions have no spoiler at the rear, but ther are many examples how got them mounted as an extra part.

SAAB 900 (1994 – 1998)

This is a SAAB 900 that is based on the Opel/Vauxhall Vectra/Calibra. There are 3 types of body and those are: 3 door Coupé, 5 door Hatchback and 2 door Cabriolet/Convertible and was introduced in 1993 as a modelyear 1994.

The 3 door Coupé and the 5 door Hatchback were available in a basic trim and as an S-version and the SE-version.

The basic trim is only combined wit a 2.0liter 16V engine, the S and SE-versions with the 2.0i16V, 2.3i16V, both four cylinder engines and a 2.5iV6-engine in Australia and New Zeeland on the S and the SE-versions, in Europe and the USA only available in the SE-versions.

SAAB 9000 (1985 – 1998)

The SAAB 9000 was introduced in 1984 as a modelyear 1985. This SAAB is developed together with Fiat, Lancia and Alfa Romeo and they get their Fiat Croma, a 5 door Hatchback, Lancia Thema, first only as a 4 door Sedan, later also as a 5 door stationcar and the Alfa Romeo 164, as a 4 door Sedan. The Alfa Romeo 164 has the most different body and you can difficult see that it is more or less the same base is used, by the SAAB 9000, Lancia Thema and the Fiat Croma it’s more easy to see the conections.

From the beginning there was only one body shape you could get on the SAAB 9000, that is the 5 door Htachback, by people who knows SAAB better also known as the CC-body. From 1988, modelyear 1989, there came also a CD-version and that is a 4 door Sedan and from different angels it looks very similar to the Lancia Thema Sedan, but the front has then the most different parts. From modelyear 1992 the SAAB 9000 CS(E) came, that is also a 5 door Hatchback and the most different parts between the SAAB 9000 CC and CS(E) are the different front and rear parts of the body. The CC-body shape is for some markets used up to the modelyear 1933 and then with the 2.0i16V or 2.3i16V engine, with often a very standard interior and not so many options.

The modelyear 1985, introduced in 1984, only get a 2.0Turbo engine, from the modelyear 1986, introduced in 1985, there was also a the 2.0i16V engine. From 1989, modelyear 1990 there was the 2.3i16V engine and from modelyear 1991, introduced in 1990, there also came a 2.3Turbo engine.

There a different configurations of the engines which have a turbo, there are low-pressure-turbo engines, but also high-pressure-turbo versions and the most powerful version are the engines which are mounted in the Aero-versions and the 2.3Turbo engines which are mounted in the latest modelyear of the SAAB 9000, modelyear 1998. In the period 1994, modelyear 1995 up to 1996, modelyear 1996 there is also mounted a 3.0V6 engine.

A very luxury version is the GRIFFIN version ,but there is an other (litle bit) more luxuris version and that is the ROYAL GRIFFIN version. The biggest different between the "normal" GRIFFIN and the ROYAL GRIFFIN version is that the ROYAL GRIFFIN version also has an airconditioning system in the rear of the interior, mounted between the rear seats and the rear window and can been switced on and of on the dashboard. This version has it own ACC- panel. ACC stands for: A(utomatic)C(limate)C(ontrol).

SAAB 9-2X (2005 - 2007)

This is more or les a Subaru Impreza, which has got a different front, rear and interior and was sold in the USA and Canada. There are used 3 different engines and those are:
2.0L, 4cylinde boxer engine, with fuel injection and a turbo compressor.2.5L,
4cylinder boxer engine, with fuel injection.
2.5L, 4cylinder boxer engine, with fuel injection and a turbo compressor.
The 2.5L engine with turbo compressor is used on the Aero version, the other 2 engines on the Linear versions.

The Aero versions have 4wheel drive and the Linear versions have front wheel drive and as an option 4wheel drive.

SAAB 9-3 (1998 – 2003)

Not nicely formulated but many people thinks even so that way: The SAAB 9-3 is a modernised SAAB 900 of the second generation (1994 – 1998). The bodyshapes are the same, 3 door Coupé, 5 door Hatchback and a 2 door Cabriolet/Convertible and this is the first SAAB that get a Diesel-engine. This 2.2TiD shell later also be used in the SAAB 9-5 and the SAAB 9-3 (2003 - present). The biggest different to see between the SAAB 900 (1994 – 1998) and this SAAB is that bumpers, front and rear and the trunk have a different shape, but the seats and then not to forgot, the electronic system is complete different.

The are different versions of the SAAB 9-3, The basic SAAB 9-3, The SAAB 9-3S, SAAB 9-3 SE, SAAB 9-3 Aero and the SAAB 9-3 Viggen.

The engines which are mounted are:

2.0i16V engine, with fuel injection.

2.0i16V engine, with fuel injection and a low pressure turbo compressor.

2.0i16V engine, with fuel injection and a high pressure turbo compressor.

2.2TiD engine, with Diesel injection and a turbo compressor.

2.3i16V engine, with fuel injection.

2.3i16V engine, with fuel injection and a high pressure turbo compressor.

The combinations between bodyshape and engine comes on that the 2.0i16V, the 2.0i16V Low pressure turbo, the 2.0i high pressure turbo and the 2.3i16V engines are delivered which each body shape and the most basic SAAB 9-3 only with the 2.0i16V or the 2.2TiD engines, in combination with the 3 door Coupé or 5 door Hatchback bodyshape. The 2.2TiD is not delivered in combination with the Cabriolet/Convertible body shape and is not delivered in the USA and Canada. The different models are, beside the 9-3 with the basic trim: The S, the SE and the Aero version. The S and the SE-version are delivered with the 2.0i16V, 2.0i16 low pressure turbo compressor, 2.0i16V high pressure turbo compressor, 2.2TiD Diesel injection and turbo compressor and even with the 2.3i16V engines. The Aero versions are all delivered with the 2.0i16V high pressure turbo compressor engine. And the engine that isn’t named up to now is the 2.3i16V high pressure turbo compressor engine and that engine is used in the Viggen version. The aero and the Viggen versions are the more/most sportive verisons the factory could deliver and in combination with al the three body shapes.

SAAB 9-3 (2003 – present)

This SAAB is introduced in 2002 as a modelyear 2003 and is first introduced as a 4 door Sedan, called the SporstSedan and a 2 door Cabriolet/Convertible and from 2006 as a 5 door stationcar, some markets called the SportEstate, some markets the SportCombi.

There are different versions, the Linear, Arc, Vector, Aero and 9-3X and different engines. The linear, Arc, Vector and the Aero versions are delivered with all the bodyshapes, the 9-3 only as SportEstate/SportCombi.

The different engines are:

1.8i16V, with fuel injection.

1.9TiD8V, with Diesel injection and turbo compressor.

1.9TiD16V, with Diesel injection and turbo compressor.

1.9TTiD16V, with Diesel injection and two turbo compressors.

2.0i16V, with fuel injection and low pressure turbo compressor, but called the 1.8t engine.

2.0i16V, with fuel injection and a medium pressure turbo compressor, called the 2.0t engine.

2.0i16V, with fuel injection and a high pressure compressor, called the 2.0T engine.

2.2TiD8V, with Diesel injection and turbo compressor.

2.8i24V, V6-engine, with fuel injection and turbo compressor.

It’s a little bit difficult to give a list which is clear about which engine is delivered with which version, Linear, Arc and so on, but shortly it is as followed:

Each version is delivered with each engine, except the 9-3X, which only is delivered with the 2.0T and 1.9TTiD engine and the Aero is delivered only with the 1.9TTid, 2.0T and the 2.8TV6 engines and the 2.8TV6 engine is only delivered on the Aero and the Turbo-X-version, but that last one comes later back by the special editions.

In the USA ther were up to the modelyear 2006 a Linear, Arc and a Aero-version, but from that moment the Linear and Arc-version were mixed up and ther was no name anymore. The Aero-version still existed with the name Aero.

In the USA only 2.0t and the 2.8iV6Turbo-engine delivered.

SAAB 9-4X (Only build in 2011)

This SAAB is a SUV and can be delivered with a 3.0iV6 and a 2.8TV6 engine and is more or less based on the Cadillac SRX. The to deliver versions are: SAAB 9-4X basic, SAAB 9-4X Premium and SAAB 9-4 Aero. The 3.0iV6 engine is the engine for the basic and the Premium-versions and the 2.8TV6 engine is the engine for the Aero version. The basic and the Premium version can be delivered with front wheel or 4weheel drive, the Aero-version only with four-wheel-drive.

SAAB 9-5 (1998 – 2010)

This SAAB is introduced in 1997, as a modelyear 1998 and was first only to get as a 4 door Sedan, but in 1998, modelyear 1999 there also came a stationcar, named Estate. For the modelyear 2002, in 2001, ther came some coscemtic changes and the name of the different versions get changed. In 2005, modelyear 2006 there came a different front, rear end and dashboard, but also a different Diesel engine.

The different versions which are made S-, SE, Griffin, Aero, Linear, Arc and Vector.

The mounted engines are:

1.9TiD, Diesel injection and a turbo compressor.

2.0i16V, fuel injection and a turbo compressor.

2.2TiD, Diesel injection and a turbo compressor.

2.3i16V, fuel injection and a low pressure turbo compressor.

2.3i16V, fuel injection and a high pressure turbo compressor.

2.3i16V, fuel injection and a high pressure output turbo compressor.

3.0iV6, fuel injection and a low pressure turbo, which is powered by the front row of cylinders.

3.0TiDV6, Diesel injection and a turbo compressor.

The list with the different possibilities of choice between version and engines is long, but generally  it is as followed: From t modelyear 1998 up to the modelyear 2001 is as follow: the S-version is delivered with the 2.0i16 turbo charged engine, the 2.3i16V low pressure turbo compressor engine, the SE-version with the same engines and the 2.3i16V, with high pressure turbo compressor and the 3.0iV6 with the low pressure turbo. The Aero version only with the 2.3i16V, with high pressure output turbo compressor engine and at last the griffin version with the same 3.0iV6, with low pressure turbo compressor as the SE versions. These versions are al available with the both bodyshapes. From 2001, modelyear 2002 the versions get other names but in great lines it is as follw: The linear version, with both bodyshapes and all the engines, except for the 2.3i16V high pressure turbo engine, the 2.3i16V, with  high pressure output turbo compressor and the 3.0iV6, with the low pressure turbo compressor, the Arc-version with all the different engines, except for the 2.3i16V high pressure output turbo compressor, the Vector-versions with the both bodyshapes, with all the different engines, the Aero-version with both the bodyshapes and “only” the 2.3i16V high pressure output turbo compressor. From the modelyear 2006, introduced in 2005, the 2.2TiD Diesel engine was replaced with the 1.9TiD Diesel engine.

SAAB 9-5 (2010 - 2011)

This SAAB is introduced in 2009 and was developed together with GM. With a different bodystyle, interior and different engines this model is also produced as the Opel/Vauxhall Insignia. There is also a Buick version.

The engines which are mounted are:

1.6 liter, 16V, 4 cylinder engine, with fuelinjection and turbo compressor.

2.0 liter, 16V, 4 cylinder engine, with fuelinjection and turbo compressor.

2.0 liter, 16V, 4 cylinder engine, with fueleinjection, and turbo compressor, with high output.

2.8 liter, 24V, 6 cylinder, in V-shape engine, with fuelinjection and turbo compressor.

2.0 liter, 4 cylinder engine, with Dieselinjection and turbo compressor.

2.0 liter, 4 cylinder engine, with Diesleinjection and turbo compressor, with high output.

The different versions are: Linear, Vector, Aero and for Nothern America: Premium.

The linear version can be delivered with the 1.6 liter, the 2.0 liter 4 cylinder engine and the 2.0liter, 4 cylinder engine, with Dieselinjection and turbo compressor. The Vector version can be delivered with the 1.6 liter, the 2.0 liter, the 2.0 liter with high output and the both Dieselinjected engines. The aero-version can be delivered with the 2.0 liter engine with high output, the 2.8 liter V6 engine and the 2.0 liter Diessel engine with high output.

From the modelyear 2012 there would also come a stationcar, named Estate, but this version is never build as productionmodel.

SAAB 9-7X (2005 – 2009)

This SAAB is produced in the USA and is technical seen in great lines similar to the GMC Envoy, the Buick Rainier, Oldsmobile Bravada, Isuzu Ascender and the Chevrolet Trailblazer and the biggest changes are to find in the interior, but also the front and the rear end of the body.  The engines are:

4.2L, line six, fuel injection.

5.3L, V8, fuel injection.

3.06L, V8, fuel injection.

The different versions are: Linear, Arc, Prestige and Aero. All the version have four wheel drive.



SOME extra information

SAAB and camping

"Huh? What?" That is what a lot of people think when you are talking about that SAAB have made caravans and yes, there are build some campers. The caravans are named SAABO and the Campers are named: SAAB 92H and SAAB 95H.

SAAB and boats

"Huh?" Ohw yes, SAAB have also build some boats. Those boats were build in aluminium and were build by the part of the company which build the aircrafts. The building of boats was however not a succes.

DKW, Auto Union, Audi

DKW was a brand that made motorcycles and cars. This brand existed form 1916 up to 1966. The company belonged from 1932 to the Auto Union Company. Thes brands or brandnames don't exist anymore and are now part of the VAG-holding under the brand: AUDI, after they had been owned by Mercedes-Benz. It was in 1969 that the VAG-holding bought AUDI. (This information about AUDI and DKW is wrote because SAAB in the years up to 1966 in license made DKW engines for the use in cars of the brand SAAB)

TRIUMPH

Triumph have delivered engines to SAAB as the engine in the SAAB 99. This engine is used in the versions which have the 1,75liter engine. Later the engine was modernised by SAAB, by making the engine bigger to 1800cc. the last modernisation was to make the engine 2000cc big.