A glance in the rear-view mirror: Erik Carlsson interview from 1986
December 27, 2011 in Troll Stuff
I apologize for the rather stark lack of English in the following clip, but plenty of nice archive footage to be seen.
You are browsing the archive for Erik Carlsson.
by Rune
by Swade
Video: 50 years sideways
February 17, 2011 in Saabology
I was going to wait for the weekend before I posted this on site, but now that Autoblog’s got hold of it, I’m getting emails left, right and centre.
Here’s a bit of weekend entertainment for you.
It’s 90 minutes long, so make sure you’ve got a good supply of popcorn and a comfy chair. It’s well worth taking a break for this one.
The film is mostly about racing and its history, with an emphasis on rallying. There’s a good deal of Saab vision in there, too. But it’s not a Saab enthusiasts’ film, it’s a motoring enthusiasts’ film.
Enjoy.
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yFNQI1PYGc
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Thanks to Gunnar for the tip!
by Swade
Erik Carlsson attends SOC meeting
February 15, 2011 in Saabology
I did cover a little of the SOC meeting at Stratford just over a week or so ago, but I got these additional photos in and couldn’t resist giving it some more air time.
Erik Carlsson, that’s Mr Saab to you, lives in England now and is still quite active in Saab circles. A few weeks ago he was down in France waving off competitors in the Monte Carlo re-enactment rally. Occasionally he gets out and about with the Saab Owners Club GB as well.
Mr Saab attended the Winter Getaway at Stratford and one of his good mates, Mike P, who’s also one of my good mates over there in blighty, sent through the following about the weekend.
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I have attached a few pics from the SOC of GB Winter Weekend event in Stratford upon Avon that Hilary & I organised for the Club.
The event was a great success especially as Erik & his cousin, Brit Marie, joined us on Saturday, staying overnight & going home on Sunday afternoon.
At dinner on Saturday Erik told many stories of his rallying successes which were just fantastic, as usual. He also presented the Erik Carlsson best car award to Mike Thompson for his lovely red bullnose stroker & the farthest travelled award to Norbert Sossadzin & Barbel Kostal who came all the way from Bremen in Germany.
On Sunday morning, before we took him & Brit Marie on a tour of the Cotswolds area, he joined us for the group photos & mingled with his “followers” & their cars
We were so honoured to have our hero, Mr. Saab, with us on this great occasion. Many of our members who attended described it as “priceless”.
He also said that he enjoyed it very much & that he is looking forward to the next one.
Best wishes to you both,
Mike & Hilary
click to enlarge the images…..
by Swade
Saab at the 100th Anniversary of the Monte Carlo Rally
January 27, 2011 in Saabology
RedJ covered the press release relating to this story yesterday, but there’s a little more that I wanted to share with you today.
Peter Backstrom, from the Saab Museum, is heading down to Riems, in France, today. He’s taking Erik Carlsson along with him and together they will salute the chief editor of Oldtimer Markts magazine, Peter Steinfurth, as he drives off to compete in the Monte Carlo historic rally.
This is significant as Mr Steinfurth will be driving a replica of Erik Carlsson’s Monte Carlo winning Saab 96 – a car the magazine staff have been building especially for this race.
You can see some video of the two-stroke engine being fired up for the first time here.
It’s also significant because this year’s Monte Carlo historic rally celebrates the 100 year anniversary of the original event, which began in 1911. Erik Carlsson won the Monte Carlo twice in a Saab 96, in 1962 and 1963. Lesser known is his 4th placing in 1961 in a Saab 95, which had he placed three spots higher might have been one of the only times a rally of such significance was won by a driver in a station wagon!
Peter Backstrom has his camera on hand and will hopefully share some images from the event when it’s all done and dusted.
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A pre-start event was also held in Stockholm a few days ago, and Jörgen from the Saabs United Historic Rally Team was on hand to get some photos and video.
The cars were waved off by Bo Hellberg, the former director of the Saab Rally Team and there was a very nice two-stroke Saab 96 amongst them.
Jörgen and Bo Hellberg….
Some of the starters in Stockholm….
And some video of the Saab 96 two stroke of Fredrik Ekendahl leaving from the KAK club in Stockholm….
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2m1MAfljb0c
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by Red J
SAAB returning to Rally racing?
January 27, 2011 in News
Not exactly.
But an exact replica of Erik Carlsson’s car from 1963 will start at this week’s XIVth Monte Carlo Historique.
The press-release from Saab reads as follows:
The classic Saab 96 has been created by German vintage car magazine Oldtimer Markt and will be driven by chief editor Peter Steinfurth and navigator Thorsten Loeber .They will take the start at Reims this Friday (28 January) in a car that recreates the original in every detail, right down to the 283 entry number Erik used that year. He will be on hand to wave them off.
Saab 96, 1963 Rallye Monte Carlo. Specification:
Engine: 3 cylinder, two stroke longitudinal
Displacement: 841 cc.,
Power: 70 hp (52 kW) @ 6000 rpm
Front wheel drive, 4 speed gearbox with freewheel
Brakes: Discs at front
Tires: Dunlop SP 155×15
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Source: http://media.saab.com
by Swade
Saab Sport Video: Masters at the wheel
January 26, 2011 in Uncategorized
Mellde, Molander, Carlsson, Moss, Skogh, Blomqvist, Eklund, Lampinen. Monte Carlo, RAC, Swedish Rally, Finnish Rally, Liege-Sofia-Liege, Midnight Sun – even a stint in Australia! Swedes, Finns and the odd bit of English. Two strokers, formula juniors, V4s and 99s. Snow and Safari.
The Saab Club Nederland YouTube channel has just blessed the rest of us with this fantastic video from the Saab Rally Department, documenting Saab’s rally history through the 50′s, 60′s and 70′s.
It’s absolutely brilliant. If you can’t watch them now, bookmark them and come back.
Kudos to the SCN guys. An outstanding catch.
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKxRiP2RLQs
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httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEjYkweyCPE
by Swade
Carlsson’s Sonett
January 19, 2011 in Saabology
This would be soooooo cool.
The story in TTELA is that of Johan Josefsson. Aside from being the tech guy who helped out the Saabs United Historic Rally Team in the Midnight Sun rally last year, his primary claim to fame is a beautiful orange Saab 99 service vehicle and a collection of other Saabs.
TTELA asked him about one very special part of that collection, which sounds like a relatively recent acquisition, too.
This silver Sonett II is not just one of the incredibly rare two-strokers, it was previously owned by Erik Carlsson himself!
And how did they find this out? Well, Josefsson is apparently one of those true Saab geeks, and he knew the chassis number of Erik’s car. Carlsson later confirmed it and signed the vehicle for him last summer 
The car still needs a restoration, but is a treasure just as it is.
Click the link above and do a Googletrans. It’s well worth the effort.
Thanks to Tomas for the tip!
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by Swade
Press Release: Saab Great Britain Celebrates 50th Anniversary
October 20, 2010 in News
- Founded as Saab’s UK importer in October 1960
- Celebrating with rising sales and new products
- Entire product line-up to renewed by end of 2012
Saab Great Britain is celebrating its 50th anniversary this week with rising sales and growing confidence as the Swedish premium carmaker enters a new era of independence.
Exactly 50 years ago, Saab Great Britain Ltd was founded to import and distribute Saab cars as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Saab-Scania group. Half a century later, it now represents a UK market that has grown to become Saab Automobile’s largest in Europe outside Sweden.
Saab GB reaches this milestone in its history only eight months after Saab Automobile was reborn as an independently-run business following its sale by General Motors to Spyker Cars NV of Holland.
As a result Saab GB, now based at new headquarters in Cranfield, Bedfordshire, is celebrating its 50th birthday with renewed confidence in the future, backed by a Saab business model that is as innovative as the company’s automotive products. The benefits include:
Growing Sales
Last month, more than 1,200 Saab cars were sold in the UK, an 11per cent increase against September last year.
New Model Roll-out
Sales are expected to grow still further this year with the introduction of the full new 9-5 saloon range. Voted among the best new cars for 2011 in US Time magazine, Saab’s new flagship model comes with choice of six turbocharged engines, ranging in power from 160 to 300 hp, with CO2 emissions as low as 139 g/km.
by Swade
RAC Honour Erik Carlsson on 50th Anniversary
October 7, 2010 in Saabology
Erik Carlsson celebrated the first of three consecutive RAC Rally wins in 1960. He was driving a three-cylinder 750cc Saab 96 in that event and it was the beginning of a golden era in rallying for Saab Automobile.
Today, the RAC honored the 50th Anniversary of that win with a function, which Saab GB used to launch the new 2011 Saab 9-3 Carlsson Edition for the British market.
When mt wife and I visited England earlier this year, we stayed a few days with Mike and Hilary P (I got to have my first drive of a Sonett in Mike’s white one). Mike and Hilary are good friends of Erik Carlsson’s and were fortunate enough to attend today’s ceremony in honour of the 50th Anniversary of Erik’s RAC Rally win.
Hilary & I were lucky enough to attend this historic event today in London. It was fantastic to be part of this celebration along with around 40 other people from Saab GB, great names from the world of rallying, authors & journalists.
The event took the format of a photo session with the car which was actually in the building, interviews with Erik, pre lunch drinks, introduction & launch of 9-3 Carlsson by Mr. Nash, formal lunch followed by some great stories from Erik, Stuart Turner & Peter Backstrom.
The whole experience was just priceless!! Only [died in the wool Saab nuts] like us understand this. On the way home I asked Hilary how in the hell can we ever drive anything but a Saab????
We were each given a limited edition print signed by Erik which you will see in the press pack (below).
The RAC building was magnificent & it was quite moving to find myself wandering around all that history and nostalgia.
A few of Mike’s photos from the event start the gallery below, followed by some of the images released by Saab documenting some of their over all history in rallying – in honour of the event.
Thanks to Mike for sending this stuff through and most of all – CONGRATULATIONS TO ERIK CARLSSON on receiving such an honour.
Click to enlarge.
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by Swade
Press Release (UK): SAAB Celebrates 50th Anniversary Of Erik Carlsson’s First RAC Rally Victory
October 7, 2010 in News
SAAB CELEBRATES 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF ERIK CARLSSON’S FIRST RAC RALLY VICTORY
*** Limited edition Saab 9-3 Aero Carlsson on sale now ***
In 1960, Erik ‘Mr Saab’ Carlsson exploded onto the world rally scene. Back then, the 31-year-old Swede was a relative unknown outside his native Scandinavia, but he immediately shook the rallying world by taking his three-cylinder, 750 cc Saab 96 to an emphatic victory in the RAC Rally – the first of a hat-trick of wins.
Erik would go on to win the Monte Carlo rally twice, as well as the Acropolis and San Remo Rallies. Such ‘David and Goliath’ exploits at the wheel of his diminutive Saab 96 against bigger, more powerful cars were the springboard for launching Saab as a global car brand.
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of that first RAC victory, Saab Great Britain is now offering motorists an exclusive opportunity to purchase one of just 96 limited edition Saab 9-3 Aero Carlsson models.
Powered by a 2.8-litre V6 turbo engine developing 280PS and exceptional torque of 400Nm, the Carlsson limited edition sprints from zero to 60mph in just 6.9 seconds. Equally impressively, 50-70mph acceleration is accomplished in just 6.3 seconds.
The vehicle is distinguished by exterior and interior enhancements including: 19”six-spoke alloy wheels, a sports chassis with rear body levelling, twin exhaust tailpipes, a rear boot lid spoiler, bi-xenon cornering headlights, a titanium-finish front grille and fog light surrounds, and a premium leather sports interior trim (including Nappa leather dashboard! – SW).
It is fitted with Saab’s advanced all-wheel-drive system, Saab XWD, complete with an electronic rear limited-slip differential. Drive torque is constantly distributed between the front and rear axles, and between the rear wheels, to ensure optimum grip and stability at all times. It is sophisticated technology Erik would have appreciated, had it been available 50 years ago.
Now 81 years old, Erik remains actively involved as an international ambassador for Saab, attending car launches, dealer and customer events around the world. “I’m very proud to have such a great car named after me,” he said. “Anyone who loves driving and is as passionate about the Saab brand as I am, will be excited about getting behind the wheel of this car.”
Jonathan Nash, Managing Director of Saab GB, said: “Erik Carlsson and the RAC Rally are key elements in Saab’s history and we are delighted to produce this special edition in his honour.
“Its design stays true to Saab’s Scandinavian roots and it includes great features that offer a powerful driving experience. I’m confident these Carlsson editions will be a great success with our customers and I’m sure they won’t be on dealer forecourts for long.”
The limited edition 9-3 Aero Carlsson is available from £26,495.
by Swade
Erik Carlsson visits Saab show in Poland
May 25, 2010 in Saabology
It sounds like that II Antique Saab Convention in Poland over the weekend was a big success. There were around 160 Saabs in attendance with 60 or so of those being of the vintage kind.
The show was held in Mosina, a town of just 12,000 people, so it’s no surprise that the near-200 cars in attendance (whilst a Saab event, there were several other brands there, too) filled the town square to overflowing.
The guest of honour, of course, was none other than Mr Saab, Erik Carlsson, who made himself available to all comers. I’m told that whilst Erik was ferried around in a new Saab 9-3x courtesy of the local Saab dealer, his first instinct upon leaving the airport was to head for a red Saab 96 in the carpark!
And it looks like there were some very nice Red Saabs there for him to choose from:
The Polish Saab Community can be justifiably proud for hosting such an event, especially on the back of them having one of the highest attendances of all the Saab Support Convoys. The primary organisers were Krzysztof R and his daughter, Paulina, both Saab nuts and members of the rather informal Vintage Saab Club in Poland.
Bravada tells me that there a number of other countries represented there, too, most notably the Finns. Congratulations to all who attended and made this event a success.
There are some great photos here at Justyn’s blog, here at Picasa, as well a collection of seven videos here.
Attendees voted for the most elegant Saab present, with this Sonett and Saab 95 taking home the chocolates.
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Thanks very much to Justyn, Bravada for the details and Robert W for pics.
by Swade
Mr Saab in Poland for vintage Saab show
May 21, 2010 in Saabology
Apparently Erik Carlsson is in Poland this weekend!
There’s a vintage Saab display this weekend (22-23.05) in Mosina near Poznan. Mr Saab flew in earlier today and some images are already posted on Facebook from his arrival.
Greetings at the airport:
And hopefully this was his welcome car (I’m not sure).
I’m reliably informed that the show is here.
Hopefully we’ll get some photos when it’s all said and done. The Polish Saab Support Convoys were huge – the next biggest after the Dutch and Trollhattan convoys – so these guys love their Saabs and I’m sure the show will be worth seeing.
Thanks to Justyn for the tip.
by Swade
Happy Birthday, Mr Saab!
March 6, 2010 in Saabology
March 5th is Erik Carlsson’s 81st birthday.
I’m sure you’d join me in wishing him a fantastic day and fantastic health for a long time to come.
Happy Birthday, Mr Saab!
Photo by NWVT.co.uk on Flickr
by Swade
TTELA report on Erik Carlsson’s 80th birthday celebrations at the Saab Museum
March 17, 2009 in Saabology
The following was translated and sent in by Dippen, to whom I am very grateful.
This is a very inspirational report. With all that’s going at Saab right now, great stories like this should be cherished. I nearly had a tear in my eye as I read it.
Mr Carlsson was surprised that so many showed up for his 80th birthday celebrations at the Saab Museum. All I can say is that there were many more around the world who would have loved to be there and congratulate him on his birthday!
The original report, in Swedish, is here at TTELA. There are a number of photos there, too.
——
Mr Saab – Erik Carlsson “on the roof” has now turned 80. This was celebrated on Saturday at the Saab Car Museum, where a lot of friends, admirers and Saab enthusiasts came to celebrate the rally legend.
A emotional Erik Said:
- I believe in Saab, don’t be worried, everything will be fine.
While he signed autographs and hugged people, Erik said:
- I can’t believe that so many have taken the time to come here and celebrate me. It is unbelievable!
When the celebration started at 11a.m a long queue was formed to the table where Erik sat and recieved the congratulations. The participants where both old and young people, fans and friends.
Gosta Karlsson, who has known Erik for many years, handed over a big beautiful orchid and shook hands with his friend.
- This little flower is for you Erik, it is alomst on this day, 50 years ago that we meet for the first time. Do you remember?
- Absolutely!, Erik says.
Gosta started to tell the story when they meet for the first time and smiled:
- We were participating in an ice racing competition in Vilhelmina. Erik won and I came in third place. After the competition when I was packing my stuff in to the car, Erik came forward and said : “You can call me this week and I will arrange so you can buy a car at a discounted price. And then we became friends”
- I was an old racing driver who drove for Saab 1960-1966 and was racing cars with Erik. Erik and I raced twelve competitions togheter. He is a very good old friend. Gosta says and smiles towards Erik.
Later it was time for the birthday kid’s next surprise.
- Erik, are you intrested in eating a bit of light brunch?, Per Olofsson said. He is the head of Saab’s staff resturants and put forward a big plate of oysters.
- Oh yes! are they Irish? Erik says
- No they are from Grebbestad, Per said and served the oysters.
- They where very good, a thousand thanks.
Per Olofsson said that Erik is a big oyster lover and he during the years has talked a lot about it with anyone who shares the same interest.
- I had five oysters with me and he would easily have eaten five more. I promised to bring ten oysters when he turns 85 years.
Afterwards it was time for Erik to be congratulated by Saab CEO Jan Ake Jonsson and the management board.
- Hello, did you have time to show up?, Erik says.
- Of course, it is fun to see that Erik has eaten oysters, JAJ said and told a little anecdote.
- At a gathering in Ireland, Erik decided that we two should eat oysters. Erik ordered in 20 oysters; I ate two and he ate 18!
Jan Ake Jonsson did hold a tribute speech for Erik where he told about how important he has been for Saab during the years.
- As a birthday gift you will get this picture and a total renovation of the property you like so much.
JAJ was referring to Erik’s litlle red Saab 96 that he received as a birthday present when he turned 50.
After the speech there was cheering at the Saab Museum.
- The most important thing is not that I live for hundred years but that Saab lives long after this! Thousand thanks to all Saab employees. I belive in Saab and everything will be fine, I think most of the people here do believe the same thing too, otherwise they would not have been here.
Erik received applause and smiles.
TTELA-reporter: Congratulations Erik, how does it feel to turn 80 years?
- I am turning 80 years? No, you must be joking! Thanks. It is very nice to receive the congratulations in this way. I could not believe that so many took their time to come here.
TTELA-reporter: And there is no doubt in your mind about Saabs future?
- Not a bit, We have good cars,good people and very good chief ,CEO Jan Ake Jonsson. This will work.
by Swade
Erik Carlsson’s birthday celebrations at the Saab Museum
March 9, 2009 in Saabology
March 5th 2009 saw the most prolific individual in the Saab family turn 80 years of age.
Mr Saab, Erik Carlsson, is Trollhattan born and bred and a continuing employee of Saab Automobile to this day. It’s only right, then, that there will be a celebration for his 80th birthday in his hometown, at the Saab Museum.
Whilst his actual birthday was last week, the Trollhattan celebration will be held at the Saab Museum this coming Saturday, March 14th.
Erik Carlsson will be in attendance at the museum from 11am to 4pm and everyone is welcome to come along and wish him well.
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Another reason to go along this weekend….
Peter Backstrom tells me that the Swedish Saab Club are holding their annual meeting and swap meet. It’ll be a very busy time and I’m sure there’ll be a lot of cool cars there to look at.
Photos will be welcome!!
