SaabsUnited.com

With the final two reports coming in from Japan yesterday, I think we can say that the final Saab Support Convoys have been run and done. It’s been an absolutely amazing effort by everybody.
This whole movement began with an idea from two Dutch Saab nuts late in 2009. They hoped to get maybe 200 cars to participate in a show of support for Saab on January 17th. When the idea was first conceived, it was thought that Saab’s fate would have been decided well before that date.
As it turned out, Saab’s future was still in the balance and these convoys played a crucial role in demonstrating just how much support there was for Saab around the world.
Whilst the Dutch convoy was being planned for the 17th January, there was a GM Board meeting scheduled for the 7th January, so a gathering in Detroit was hastily planned for January 5th, primarily through Saabhistory.com and supported here at SU and by Jalopnik and other sites.
The media coverage generated by that event proved to be a catalyst for the organisation of other Saab Support Convoys around the world. The Dutch planners provided a vision and the Detroit gathering provided an example of what could be done.
What followed was an outpouring of support for a car company that has been described by several publications as being without precedent in the motoring industry.
In total, we’ve had over 70 Saab Support Convoys and by my reckoning, we’ve had nearly 6,100 vehicles and many, many more people involved in those convoys.
The full list that I’ve got recorded is as follows:

• Belgrade, Serbia – 10 cars
• Guangzhou, China – 30 cars
• Tokyo and Kanazawa, Japan – 28 cars combined
• Sydney, Australia – 9 cars
• Memphis TN, USA – 15 cars
• Bucharest, Romania – 30 cars
• Vancouver, Canada – 9 cars
• Nashville TN, USA – 5 cars
• Thailand – 50 cars
• Israel – 30 cars
• San Francisco – 15 cars
• Luxembourg – 15 cars
• Nagoya, Japan – 26 cars
• Oslo, Norway – 39 cars
• Japan – 30 cars
• Minneapolis MN, USA – 38 cars
• Washington DC, USA – 35 cars
• St Louis MO, USA – 10 cars
• Interlaken, Switzerland – 90+ cars
• Chicago, USA – 70 cars
• New York, USA – 54+ cars
• Jacksonville FL, USA – 15 cars
• Portugal – 9 cars
• Shangai #2 – 30 cars
• Paris, France – 114 cars
• Denver CO, USA – 67 cars
• Toronto, Canada – 57 cars
• Singapore – 30 cars
• Carolinas, USA – 4 cars
• Kristiansand, Norway – 6 cars
• Sandes, Norway – 16 cars
• Tolga, Norway – 11 cars
• Umea, Sweden – 19 cars
• Denmark – 36 cars
• Malaysia – 20 cars
• Bodoe, Norway – 5 cars
• Ekaterinburg, Russia – 20 cars
• Ningbo, China – 20 cars
• United Kingdom – 120 cars
• Montreal – 6 cars
• Poland – 315 cars in three cities
• Atlanta, USA – 24 cars
• Trollhattan, Sweden – est 2,000 cars
• Shanghai – 30 cars
• Adelaide, Australia – 3 cars
• Finland – 125 cars
• Brookline, USA – 88 cars (official, more later)
• Prague, Czech Rep – 88 cars
• New Mexico, USA – 8 cars
• SoCal, USA – est 30 cars
• Netherlands (incl Belgium) – 589 registered. Est actual: 800
• Slovakia – 55 cars
• St Petersburg – 50 cars
• Belarus – 47 cars
• Hungary – 76 cars
• Italy – 30 cars
• Melbourne, Aust – 30 cars
• Lithuania – 20 cars
• Beijing – 47 cars
• Latvia – 100 cars
• Estonia – est 180 cars
• Slovenia – 25 cars
• Brno, Czech Rep – 55 cars
• Frankfurt – 65 cars
• Taiwan – 180 cars
• Stockholm – 65 cars
• Austria – 89 cars
• Kansas City, USA – 4 cars
• Brisbane, Aust – 33 cars
• Bulgaria – 60 cars
• Moscow – 120 cars +
• Detroit, USA – 28 cars +

If I’m missing anyone, please let me know as I do want to keep a full record. The convoys are all recorded together over at the Saab Campaigns website.
This was an amazing time where, by coming together with a common cause, we all managed to play a part in Saab’s continuing history.
Congratulations to all who were involved.

Still more reports from Saab Support Convoys are filtering through. I think we might almost be at a stage where we can do a final tally of vehicles.
And just quietly, I believe we might see photos from some of the convoys on a larger stage some time soon . Stay tuned.
I’ve already provided a few photos from the Saab Support Convoy in Nagoya, Japan. There were two more convoys held in Japan this month, however, so it’s time to recognise those events here.
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Tokyo
There were 22 Saabs and 26 people present at the Tokyo SSC, which was held on February 7th.
Click to enlarge.


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Kanazawa
Around half a dozen vehicles and 11 hardy souls joined in the Kanazawa gathering, meeting in much harsher conditions than their counterparts in Tokyo, it seems.
Congratulations to all for joining in the celebrations!!



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My thanks to Hiroki M for the images and information.