It all began in 1937 The year in which Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget (abbreviated SAAB) was founded to equip the Swedish Air Force with domestically developed bombers and fighters it was soon clear that the skills and expertise honed here could be put to work for car design and production too. Fifteen aircraft engineers were selected to develop the company’s first car prototype. The engineers worked on the basis of their own experiences and know-how, entirely unfettered by the conventions and traditions of the established automobile industry. The result was a car unlike any other. The prototype featured front wheel drive, a transversely installed engine an exceptionally strong safety cage and the aerodynamic shape of wing. It was dubbed the Saab 92001. In the fifty years that have passed since the unveiling of that first prototype, Saab has acquired a reputation as an innovator. The engineers behind the design and development of Saab cars have repeatedly surprised the automotive world with their unconventional solution. Their thinking has in many cases resulted in designs that have been adopted as the industry–wide norm. The inspiration from aviation lives on.Disclaimer |