Saab: The Swedish Car Brand that Took the World by Storm

The handsome Swede who took the car world by storm is not Alexander Skarsgard, but his older brother is a freakin' jet. They were always the underdog, but they made cars that revolutionized the entire industry. And if you drive one, you're either a dentist, an architect, or Jesse.

It's Swedish, it's sporty, it's got a key in the middle. Saab had been making planes in Trollhättan, Sweden since the 1930s. But after WW2 ended, nobody needed anymore planes. So, Saab was all, "No one is buying any of our planes, what are we gonna do?" What if we made planes for the road? You mean cars? Yup.

Saab's head designer, Sixten Sason, got to work, and the whole thing was thrown together in only six months. The result was an aerodynamic family sedan with a two-stroke engine and suicide doors. You could get the '92 in any color you liked, as long as it was green. In World War 2, the Swedish military bought a lot of green paint to camouflage their vehicles, but it was the wrong shade, and Saab bought it all at discount and used it on the '92.

A little green airplane, without wings, with a dirt bike engine sounds insane, but against the odds, Saab had successfully transformed into a real car brand. Over the years, Saab updated the '92 to the '93. Arthur Band in number 14 is also making a gallant try.

As sales grew, the company expanded into other models. Like, the Sonett sportscar, which we will cover in another episode, because it is legit tight. But it was the release of the Saab 99 in 1968 that launched the company onto the world stage.

The 99 was Sixten Sason's final project with Saab. He used it to pass the torch to a new, young designer named Björn Envall. Together, they created an awesome-looking compact sedan that was comfortable, affordable, and dependable. Just like my son, Nolan.

True to its badge, not without its own quirks. For one thing, the ignition was moved from the side of the steering wheel down by the handbrake. Why? Because they don't want you to damage your knee on the key during a crash. In addition, Saab installed the engine backwards. This saved room in the cabin because the clutch is now towards the front of the car.

It's something that no other car company would even think of, but Saab didn't think like a car company, because they were a plane company.

WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: en(Engine roaring)- It's the handsome Swede thattook the car world by storm.And no, I'm not talkingabout Alexander Skarsgard.Its older brother is a freakin' jet.They were always theunderdog but they made carsthat revolutionized the entire industry.And if you drive one,you're either a dentist,an architect, or Jesse.(Tires squealing)This is everything you need to knowto get up to speed on Saab.- Sob? What the hell is that?- It's Swedish, it's sporty,it's got a key in the middle.(upbeat retro music)- Saab had been makingplanes in Trollhättan, Swedensince the 1930s.But after WW2 ended, nobodyneeded anymore planes.So, Saab was all,No one is buying any of ourplanes, what are we gonna do?What if we made planes for the road?You mean cars?Yup.Saab's head designer,Sixten Sason got to work,and the whole thing was throwntogether in only six months.The result was an aerodynamic family sedanwith a two-stroke engineand suicide doors.You could get the 92in any color you liked,as long as it was green.In World War 2, the Swedishmilitary bought a lotof green paint tocamouflage their vehicles,but, it was the wrong shade,and Saab bought it allat discount and used it on the 92.A little green airplane, without wings,with a dirt bike engine sounds insane,but against the odds, Saabhad successfully transformedinto a real car brand.Over the years, Saabupdated the 92 to the 93.- Arthur Band in number 14,is also making a gallant try.- As sales grew, theexpanded into other models.Like, the Sonett sportscar, which we will coverin another episode,because it is legit tight.But it was the releaseof the Saab 99 in 1968that launched the companyonto the world stage.The 99 was Sixten Sason'sfinal project with Saab.He used it to pass the torchto a new, young designernamed Björn Envall.Together, they created anawesome-looking compact sedanthat was comfortable,affordable and dependable.Just like my son, Nolan.And true to its badge, notwithout its own quirks.For one thing, the ignitionwas moved from the sideof the steering wheel,down by the handbrake.Why?Because they don't wantyou to damage your kneeon the key during a crash.In addition, Saab installedthe engine backwards.This saved room in the cabin becausethe clutch is now towardsthe front of the car.It's something that no other car companywould even think of, butSaab didn't think likea car company, becausethey were a plane company.In 1978 Saab made an evenbetter 99, called the 99 Turbo.This was the first timea car company committedto putting a turbo charger in their car.Ya, I know, before you comment,a lot of other companiesdid it first, but for them,it was more of an experiment.Saab was the first company to be like,"From here on out, we'reputtin' turbos in our cars."In 1979, Saab released theirmost iconic car of all.The 900.It was a continuation of the99, but better in every way.The body was restyled tomake it more aerodynamic,the engine was updated with more power,it had new safety features,like a steering columnthat collapsed in a crash.And you can't forget the turbo.The 1900 redefined whatan everyman's could be.Finally, you could seat five,keep your knees safe from the keys,and have a frickin' turbo.The result was a sensation.The Saab 900 went on to becomethe company's best-selling car.Today, almost every OEMoffers a turbo-charged model,and it's all because of Saab.So, Saab is making jetfighters for the roadjust like they were for the military.And with the 900 taking off,business had never been better.In 1989, General Motorspurchased a fifty-percent shareof Saab for six hundred million dollars.Sales of the 900 remain strong,and in 1997, the new Saab 9-5was presented to the world.And the three-millionth Saabwas produced that summer.Until recently, three different insurerslisted the 9-5 as the safestcar in the (bleep) world.Saab rolled out the 9-3 in 1998.The 9-3 becomes something of an icon,particularly, for Seinfeld fans.- Black Saab rules.- Like the 900 before it, Saab offeredan even better version of their new ride.A car so cool, it shared a name witha frickin' combat jet.(Jet engine)The 9-3 Viggen.Swedish for thunderbolt.252 pounds of torque,and 20 pounds of boost.The Viggen was a front wheel drive monsteraimed at the BMW M3.It was Saab's version ofthe European sport sedan,but it was still uniquely Saab.The ignition was still between the seats,and the dash stilllooked like it was rippedout of an airplane.Try as they might, Saabcould never quite get outfrom under the shadow of other"preferred" European cars.So, the Swedes were forced to sellthe remaining stake in the company to GM.And with the Americans in full control,the suites in Detroitdecided that it was timefor the big ideas at Saab to end.Sorry Saab, no more big ideas.GM shoved Saab's operationtogether with Opel,and pretty much everythingthey put out after thatwas just a rebadged versionof an Opel or a Chevy,and at one point, even a Subaru.The Saab 92x Aero, affectionatelyknown as, the "Saabaru",it was basically a WRXwagon with a different face.Jesse owns one of those, too(tires screeching)And his insurance is cheaper than a WRX.Sales fellway off.And GM went into bankruptcy in 2008.They sold Saab to a new company calledNational Electric Vehicle Sweden,which hopes to electricversions of the 9-3for sale in China, butthey won't be called Saabs.The original aircraftcompany has reclaimedthe rights to that name.At least for now, we willnever see another Saab caragain.The story of Saab is the storyof an independent spirit.A bunch of Swedish aeronautical engineerswho decided to make a jet for the road.(engine roaring)There's not great way tosay what makes a Saab great,except that, they were Saabs.This is everything you need to knowto get up to speed on Saab,the second best Swedish car company ever.As always, like,subscribe, comment, share.Go hit that sub button.We have a show page now.Follow the show page for Up to Speed.We recently just launcheda Tesla into space.Please Tweet at Elon Musk,I really want him to see it.Follow Donut on Instagram, @donutmedia.Follow me on Instagram, @jamespumphrey.Go to shop.donut.media,you can get a shirt,you can get a sticker,new merch comin' soon.I love you.(burps)