Saab 93
Encyclopedia
The Saab 93, pronounced ninety-three, is an automobile
manufactured by Saab
. It was announced on August 18, 1955, and was first presented on December 1, 1955. It was styled by Sixten Sason
and had a longitudinally-mounted three-cylinder 748 cc Saab two-stroke
engine giving 33 hp (25 kW). The gearbox had three gears, the first unsynchronised. In order to overcome the problems of oil starvation on overrun (engine braking) for the two-stroke engine, a freewheel
device was fitted. In 1957, two-point seatbelts were introduced as an option. The 93 was the first Saab to be exported from Sweden, with most exports going to the United States
. A Saxomat
clutch
and a cabrio coach
(large cloth sunroof) were available as options.
On September 2, 1957 the 93B was introduced. The original two-piece windshield
was also replaced with a one-piece windshield.
In 1957, Erik Carlsson
finished 1st in the Finland Rally in a Saab 93, in 1959 he was 1st in the Swedish Rally
, also in a Saab 93. However, Saab was not the first Swedish manufacturer to win the Swedish Rally
. Saab's long standing Swedish rival Volvo
had beaten them consecutively in 1957 and 1958 with the PV544.
In late 1959 the 93F was introduced, featuring front-hinged doors from the Saab GT750
. 1960 was the last year of production for the 93. The 93 was replaced by the Saab 96
, although the two models were sold side-by-side for the earlier part of the year. A total of 52,731 Saab 93s were made.
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
manufactured by Saab
Saab Automobile
Saab Automobile AB, better known as Saab , is a Swedish car manufacturer owned by Dutch automobile manufacturer Swedish Automobile NV, formerly Spyker Cars NV. It is the exclusive automobile Royal Warrant holder as appointed by the King of Sweden...
. It was announced on August 18, 1955, and was first presented on December 1, 1955. It was styled by Sixten Sason
Sixten Sason
Sixten Sason was a Swedish industrial designer.Sason started working for Saab, designing aircraft throughout World War II. Following the war, he was asked to contribute to Project 92, the result of which would be the first Saab automobile, the Saab 92 which began production in 1949...
and had a longitudinally-mounted three-cylinder 748 cc Saab two-stroke
Saab two-stroke
The first Saab two-stroke engine was based on a DKW design. The SAAB engine, a two-cylinder with 764 cc engine displacement and 25 hp was transversally placed in the 1950 - 1956 Saab 92, giving it a top speed of . With the 1954 model engine output was raised to...
engine giving 33 hp (25 kW). The gearbox had three gears, the first unsynchronised. In order to overcome the problems of oil starvation on overrun (engine braking) for the two-stroke engine, a freewheel
Freewheel
thumb|Freewheel mechanismIn mechanical or automotive engineering, a freewheel or overrunning clutch is a device in a transmission that disengages the driveshaft from the driven shaft when the driven shaft rotates faster than the driveshaft...
device was fitted. In 1957, two-point seatbelts were introduced as an option. The 93 was the first Saab to be exported from Sweden, with most exports going to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. A Saxomat
Saxomat
Saxomat was a type of automatic clutch available as an option on Fiat 1800, Saab 93, Borgward Isabella, Goliath/Hansa 1100, Auto Union 1000, BMW, Opel, Ford Taunus, NSU, Glas, Trabant Wartburg and Volkswagen cars. Opel sold it as Olymat; Trabant and Wartburg named the system Hycomat...
clutch
Clutch
A clutch is a mechanical device which provides for the transmission of power from one component to another...
and a cabrio coach
Cabrio coach
A cabrio coach or semi-convertible is a type of car that has a retractable textile roof, and derives from Cabriolet. It is an inexpensive alternative to a full convertible, especially on cars with unibody designs since little or no redesign of the body is necessary.This type of roof was perhaps...
(large cloth sunroof) were available as options.
On September 2, 1957 the 93B was introduced. The original two-piece windshield
Windshield
The windshield or windscreen of an aircraft, car, bus, motorbike or tram is the front window. Modern windshields are generally made of laminated safety glass, a type of treated glass, which consists of two curved sheets of glass with a plastic layer laminated between them for safety, and are glued...
was also replaced with a one-piece windshield.
In 1957, Erik Carlsson
Erik Carlsson
Erik Carlsson, aka "Carlsson på taket" , was born March 5, 1929 in Trollhättan, Sweden and was a rally driver for Saab. Because of his public relations work for Saab, he is also known as Mr. Saab....
finished 1st in the Finland Rally in a Saab 93, in 1959 he was 1st in the Swedish Rally
Swedish Rally
The Uddeholm Swedish Rally , formerly the Swedish Rally, is an automobile rally competition held in Värmland, Sweden in early February. First held in 1950, when it was called the Rally to the Midnight Sun with start and finish at separate locations, seventeen years later both start and finish...
, also in a Saab 93. However, Saab was not the first Swedish manufacturer to win the Swedish Rally
Swedish Rally
The Uddeholm Swedish Rally , formerly the Swedish Rally, is an automobile rally competition held in Värmland, Sweden in early February. First held in 1950, when it was called the Rally to the Midnight Sun with start and finish at separate locations, seventeen years later both start and finish...
. Saab's long standing Swedish rival Volvo
Volvo
AB Volvo is a Swedish builder of commercial vehicles, including trucks, buses and construction equipment. Volvo also supplies marine and industrial drive systems, aerospace components and financial services...
had beaten them consecutively in 1957 and 1958 with the PV544.
In late 1959 the 93F was introduced, featuring front-hinged doors from the Saab GT750
Saab GT750
Saab GT750 is an automobile from Saab produced between 1958 and 1960. It was introduced at the New York International Auto Show in 1958, and was fitted with safety belts as standard - soon afterward the practice became commonplace on most cars.The GT750 was a sporty version of the Saab 93, mainly...
. 1960 was the last year of production for the 93. The 93 was replaced by the Saab 96
Saab 96
For the modern car, see Saab 9-6The Saab 96 is an automobile made by Saab. It was introduced in 1960 and was produced until January 1980, a run of 20 years. Like the 93 it replaced, the 96 was a development from the old Saab 92 chassis and, on account of its improvements and modernisation, it...
, although the two models were sold side-by-side for the earlier part of the year. A total of 52,731 Saab 93s were made.
1956
- Wiesbaden Rallye, Germany (June 24, 1956)
- 1st Bengt Jonsson and Kjell Persson
- Rally Viking, Norway
- 1st Carl-Magnus Skogh
- 2nd Erik CarlssonErik CarlssonErik Carlsson, aka "Carlsson på taket" , was born March 5, 1929 in Trollhättan, Sweden and was a rally driver for Saab. Because of his public relations work for Saab, he is also known as Mr. Saab....
- 4th Ivar Andersson
- RikspokalenRikspokalenThe Rikspokalen is a motor rally that takes place in Örebro, Sweden. In the past, it was considered to be one of Europe's toughest rallies.Roughly translated, the name means "National Cup"....
, Sweden- 1st Erik CarlssonErik CarlssonErik Carlsson, aka "Carlsson på taket" , was born March 5, 1929 in Trollhättan, Sweden and was a rally driver for Saab. Because of his public relations work for Saab, he is also known as Mr. Saab....
- 1st Erik Carlsson
- Scandiatrofén, Sweden
- 1st Erik Carlsson and Carl-Magnus Skogh (shared)
- Tour d'Europe Continental
- 2nd Rolf MelldeRolf MelldeRolf Mellde was an engineer specialized in engines and a car racing enthusiast.His grandfather August Johansson built one of the first cars in Stockholm and sold it to Lars Magnus Ericsson. His father, Evald Johansson, taught car mechanics at a school in Stockholm so it was natural that Rolf...
and Sverker Benson
- 2nd Rolf Mellde
- Tulpen Rally, The Netherlands
- 2nd Sture Nottorp and Charlie Lohmander
- 3rd Gunnar Bengtsson and Sven Zetterberg
- 7th Bengt Jonsson and Sölve Relve
1957
- Mille MigliaMille MigliaThe Mille Miglia was an open-road endurance race which took place in Italy twenty-four times from 1927 to 1957 ....
, Turismo Preparato 750 cc, Italy- 1st Charlie Lohmander and Harald Kronegård
- GAMR - Great American Mountain Rallye, USA
- 1st Bob Wehman and Louis Braun, USA
- 1st Best marque team
- 6th Rolf Mellde and Morrow Mushkin
- 17th Jerry Jankowitz and Doris Jankowitz
- 1000 Lakes Rally, Finland
- 1st Erik Carlsson
- 1st Best marque team Erik Carlsson, Carl Otto Bremer, Harald Kronegård
- 1st Finnish champion, Carl Otto Bremer
- Rallye Adriatique, Yugoslavia
- 1st R M Hopfen
- Lime Rock Rally, USA
- 1st Bob Wehman
- Rikspokalen, Sweden
- 1st Carl-Magnus Skogh
- Finnish Snow Rallye, Finland
- 2nd Erik Carlsson
- Acropolis Rally GreeceAcropolis Rally GreeceThe Acropolis Rally of Greece |Rally]] of Greece) is a rally competition, part of the World Rally Championship schedule. The rally is held on very dusty, rough and rocky mountain roads around Athens during the Greek hot summer period. The rally is known for being extremely tough on the competing...
- 2nd Henri Blanchoud
- Rallye Atlas-Oasis, Marocco
- 2nd Harald Kronegård and Leonce Beysson
Famous owners
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host and classic carClassic carA classic car is an older car; the exact meaning is variable. The Classic Car Club of America maintains that a car must be between 20 and 40 years old to be a classic, while cars over 45 years fall into the Antique Class.- Classic Car Club of America :...
collectorCollectingThe hobby of collecting includes seeking, locating, acquiring, organizing, cataloging, displaying, storing, and maintaining whatever items are of interest to the individual collector. Some collectors are generalists, accumulating merchandise, or stamps from all countries of the world...
Jay LenoJay LenoJames Douglas Muir "Jay" Leno is an American stand-up comedian and television host.From 1992 to 2009, Leno was the host of NBC's The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Beginning in September 2009, Leno started a primetime talk show, titled The Jay Leno Show, which aired weeknights at 10:00 p.m. ,...
owns a grey 1958 93B.