SAAB 92

    Full scale production of the Saab 92 was begun in December 1949. So the first cars offered to the public were 1950 models and 700 of them were made in all. The 1951 model was identical to the 1950 model except that the instruments were of VDO manufacture. A total of 1246 Saab cars were manufactured in 1950, all of them green. Production gradually increased to more than 2000 units a year and the target of 8000 cars in four years was exceeded by 1000. The magic figure of 8000 came about because Philipsons, the main distributor for Saab at the start, had guaranteed to sell that quantity - and had also paid a hefty sum in advance.
    In spite of the fact that in early years the Saab 92 had a number of peculiarities - no boot lid, for example; luggage had to be loaded via the rear seat - the car sold easily. It was stable and robust, used a minimum of fuel and displayed excellent roadholding on the poorly maintained roads of that time. Also worth noting is how Swedish the Saab was. Only 17 per cent of the price of a Saab 92 was accounted for the imported components or materials.