Saab’s story is fascinating. It is a tale about overengineering and out-of the-box thinking that ultimately led to bankruptcy. But there’s a reason why motoring enthusiasts, or rather, anoraks, look back upon the history of the quirky Swede with fond memories.
As it turns out, you may have a chance to compare Tesla with Saab. “Surely not!” some may say, but Hagerty’s Jason Cammisa makes a compelling case study on how Saab’s influence on the ICE automobile is comparable to what Tesla is doing with the EV.
The Saab 99 of the ′60s was an ingenious creation, designed by engineers that were more accustomed to fighter jets than road cars. The 99 was equipped with load paths derived from aviation, which proved to be an improvement in safety. It could survive rollovers better than any other car on the road. The chassis also was more rigid than most others, which meant that there were fewer rattles and squeaks today.
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Saab also predicted the future of other industries. Saab claims that 99 had a similar glide to the Citroen DS. There were many world-firsts in the 99, such as first ever side-impact protection beams and heated seats.
Saab then added a turbocharger in 1978. Like Tesla weren’t the first to electrify a car, Saab wasn’t the first to slap on a turbo. However, Saab’s application predicted the future of mainstream forced-induction by focusing on usable torque rather than outright performance — like modern electric cars.
The 900 — which was identical to the 99 from the driver’s door back — featured more quirks. In the case of an emergency, the emergency brake would activate the front wheels. The key is located in the middle console to prevent your knee caps from being imprinted by the key.
Want more evidence of this Swedish car’s crystal-ball-like properties? Have a look at Hagerty’s complete video below.
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