1947 The Saab 92 is presented, with a streamlined, stressed-skin steel body. Thanks in part to a completely smooth underside; the Cd value for the Saab 92.001 is no more than 0.32. The engine is a two-cylinder two-stroke, transversely mounted ahead of the front axle.

1953 Preheating of the induction air, to prevent icing in the carburettor, is introduced in December on the 1954 models.

1958 The GT 750 is Saab's first model to have factory fitted seat belts.

1960 Ventilation system of through-flow type with effective extraction behind the side windows.

1961 An air "slicer", intended to keep the rear window clear, is introduced on the Saab 95 in March.

1962 From January, all cars for Sweden are fitted with seat belts in front.

1963 Diagonally divided brake system with double brake circuits on all Saabs of 1964 models.

1967 The Saab 99 is presented, among other things with a double-jointed steering column of safety type, a safety body with crumple zones at front and rear and the starter switch on the floor between the front seats.

1969 As the 1970 model, the Company releases the 99E Automatic, the first Saab with an automatic gearbox and electronic fuel injection. Head restraints, of a unique Saab design, are offered as an extra on all models.

1970 Headlamp wipers and washers, a world "first", are introduced on the 1971 models.

1971 Two unique Saab innovations are presented on the 1972 models: an electrically heated driving seat and self-repairing (up to 8 kph, 5 mph) bumpers.

1972 Protecting members in the doors and glass-fibre headlinings as crash protection are introduced on the "99s" of 1973.

1973 Front seats with integrated head restraints are introduced on the 1974 models.

1976 Exhaust cleaning with a 3-way catalytic converter and a lambda sensor are introduced on cars for the U.S. Saab unveils its turbo concept in August, the first Saab 99 Turbo goes on sale a year later as a 1978 model.

1978 Yet another world "first" is introduced with the Saab 900: the unique compartment air filter. The Saab 900 also has a safety-type steering column with a telescopically collapsible steering shaft and a sheet-steel crumple bellows.

1980 The APC system protects the engine from injurious knocking due to uneven fuel quality and enables the engine to be run on petrol of various octane ratings. The APC system goes in production on the 1982 Saab 900 Turbo.

1981 A wide-angle rear-view mirror is introduced on the driver's side of the 1982 models.

1982 Beginning with the 1983 models, Saab fits all its cars with asbestos-free brake linings.

1983 In March Saab presents a new development of the 2-litre engine, with double overhead camshafts, 16 valves and domed combustion chambers having centrally sited sparking plugs. With a turbo and intercooler, the engine is capable of 200 hp (160 hp in series production) - while still burning 10% less fuel than the corresponding turbo car with two valves per cylinder.

1985 At the Stockholm Motor Show Saab presents the direct-ignition system, Saab DI, with an ignition coil for each cylinder. Automatic belt tensioners are introduced on the 1986 models of the Saab 9000.

1986 The Saab 9000 of the 1987 model becomes the first front-wheel-drive car to offer ABS brakes.

1988 Airbag on the driver's side, Saab Traction Control and climate-adapted exhaust cleaning.

1989 Plastic parts are marked for recycling.

1990 The term "light-pressure turbo' enters the automotive language when Saab launches a new way to use turbo-charging.

1991 Saab is the first carmaker to present a freon-free (CFC-free) air-conditioning system.

1992 Saab presents its Trionic engine-control system with a 32-bit microprocessor.

1993 Automatic clutch: the Saab Sensonic is offered on the Saab 900 Turbo.

1995 Saab launches the idea of Ecopower as an overall concept for all turbo-charged engines. At the Motor Show in Frankfurt it presents an engine-development project featuring asymmetric turbo-charging of a V6.

1996 Saab presents an active head restraint (SAHR, Saab Active Head Restraint) that is in course of development and goes in production with the new Saab 9-5.

1997 Yet another Saab innovation: ventilated front seats. It is the first time a passenger car, the new Saab 9-5, is offered with this feature

Saab Milestones

1947 On 27 February it is formally resolved that the aeroplane manufacturer Saab is to go in for car making. On 10 March, a contract is signed with Philipson on distribution and sales. 10 June: press show in the staff canteen at Linköping.

1949 Series production commences on 12 December.

1950 By 16 January the Company is able to deliver the first cars to waiting customers.

1954 The 10,000th Saab car completed on 6 March. Engine and gearbox production relocated to Gothenburg.

1955 The Saab 93 is presented on 1 December.

1956 The Saab Sonett is a sensation at the Stockholm Motor Show in February. Saab Motors Inc. is formed in the USA.

1958 The Saab GT 750 is premiered at the Motor Show in New York in April. It has lavish interior fittings with "club fauteuils", a wooden sports steering wheel and a built-in Halda Speed Pilot.

1959 The Saab 95, the seven-seater station wagon, is premiered in May.

1960 4 February: Saab completes its purchase of ANA, AB Nyköpings Automobilfabrik, which with its nationwide sales organization takes over the Saab sales operation in Sweden as from September. The Saab 96 is premiered on 17 February. A subsidiary company is formed in Britain, Saab GB Ltd.

1962 The Saab Sport, with a separately lubricated 841cc, three-carburettor engine of 52 hp, premieres at the Stockholm Motor Show on 17-25 February.

1964 On 2 April Saab resolves to design a new and larger car. The "Gudmund" Project begins.

1965 Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget becomes Saab Aktiebolaget. The new name is registered on 19 May.

1966 The Saab Sonett II goes into production at Arlöv. The Saab V4, with a four-cylinder four-stroke engine, is presented on 2 August.

1967 22 November: the premiere showing of the Saab 99.

1968 Extensive wide-spectrum testing of the Saab 99, which goes on sale in the autumn as the 1969 model.

1969 Saab Aktiebolaget and Aktiebolaget Scania Vabis merge to form Saab Scania Aktiebolaget. All activities concerned with cars, tracks and buses are concentrated to what is called the Automotive Division, headquartered in Södertälje. Saab begins building cars in Finland, at a factory jointly owned with Valmet and located in Nystad/Uusikaupunki. On 1 July, ANA changes its name to Saab-Ana AB.

1970 A milestone is passed in February when Saab turns out Car No. 500,000. 13 April sees the premiere of the four-door Saab 99 and the Sonett III.

1972 In May, Saab-Scania's Automotive Division is divided into the Scania Division and the Saab Car Division, the latter with its head office in Nyköping. The Saab 99 EMS, with a newly designed, Swedish-built two-litre engine, is presented in January.

1973 The Saab 99 Combi Coupe is presented in August, but does not go on sale until January 1974. A new assembly plant is opened at Mechelen in Belgium in the autumn.

1976 The one-millionth Saab car comes off the line at Trollhättan in January. The Saab 99 five-door Combi Coupe is presented in March. In August Saab unveils its turbo concept.

1977 The Saab 99 Turbo is presented at the IAA motor show in Frankfurt and goes on sale as the 1978 model. On 6 May, a merger between Volvo and Saab is proposed, but fails to materialize.

1978 The Saab 95 goes out of production in February. The Saab 900 is presented in May and goes on sale as the 1979 model. Assembly in Belgium ceases. In October, Saab concludes a collaboration agreement with Fiat/Lancia on the development of a new car project.

1980 The Saab 96 goes out of production in January.

1983 Saab turns out its 100,000th turbo car and is the world's largest producer of such vehicles. Every third car that Saab makes is fitted with a turbo. The Saab 900 Convertible is shown as a design study at the IAA in Frankfurt.

1984 The Saab 900 Turbo 16 goes on sale with the new 16-valve turbo-engine. The Saab 9000 is presented in May. 1984 becomes Saab's first 100,000-car year.

1985 With the experimental car Saab EV-1, Saab's engineers and stylists demonstrate what potential there is in Saab's engines. The styling is signed by Björn Envall, Chief Designer at Saab.

1986 The Saab 900 Convertible goes on sale in January.

1987 The two-millionth Saab is manufactured. Saab's best year to date, with sales exceeding 134,000 cars.

1988 Premiere showing in Nice of the new Saab 9000 CD, the four-door version of the Saab 9000.

1989 At a press conference on 15 December GM announces that it is buying 50% of Saab's car operation. A new assembly plant is opened in Malmö.

1990 Saab Automobile AB is formed on 15 March. The Head Office is moved to Trollhättan. The Saab 9000 is selected for the Safe Car distinction by the Folksam Insurance Company. This honour is awarded every other year, and the Saab 9000 gets it again in 1992 and 1994.

1991 The Saab 9000 CS is introduced in August.

1992 In October the 9000 Aero is premiered.

1993 21 July: premiere showing of the new Saab 900 in Trollhättan. Among the breakthroughs are Saab Sensonic, the automatic clutch, and the first Saab car with a six-cylinder engine.

1994 The new Saab 900 Convertible and Coupe are introduced.

1995 The Saab 9000 comes out with a 3.0-Iitre V6, as the 1996 model.

1997 9 June the new Saab 9-5 is presented in Trollhättan. The three-millionth Saab car will be produced some time this summer.

Saabtrader would like to thank the SaabMuseum.com with all its help and contribution toward The History of Saab.