Saab themselves will be holding some independence celebrations later this month. They’ve included a brief note to this effect on their Saab Media Events site, but with no details available yet. I’ll keep you posted.
In the meantime, others are also getting together to re-enact their Saab Support Convoys from last year, and celebrate a year of independence for Saab.
This is the Saab Support Convoy image from Tolga, Norway, from last year. They had around 20 people there at that time, in 11 vehicles.
They’ve done pretty well to almost match that again this year, with eight car loads turning up to celebrate, including a few of the small town’s youngest residents:
Photos: Ola R
From Svein B, in Tolga……
Some of the Saab-people in Tolga, Norway held a little Saab Independence event on January 20th to celebrate Saab’s being on it’s own feet again.
Tolga is a little place with just 1700 inhabitans, but we still had eight cars meeting up this afternoon. At last years Save Saab event in Tolga, even more people met up with their cars.
As you can see on the pictures, some of the future Saabowners followed the meeting We had a most enjoyable evening at the nostalgia-cofee (Caltex) at the local gas-station.
Amongst the cars we had a 76′ 99 GL, two 9000 A50′s, a former embassy-owned 9000 CDE, three 9-5 estates and a 9-3 SS. Saab is the perfect car for where we live (amongst the coldest places in Norway with a long winter) and the Saab-owners here seem to be very proud of and happy with their cars, as Saab people very often tend to be.
Local media met up and wrote in the newspaper about the event.
It’s always great to see people getting together in different places around the world and I think we might see a bit more of that in February as Saab’s first Independence Day comes around.
Radulf Jetter runs Soonteam, a corporate culture and design business in Germany.
He’s also a big Saab supporter, working with local Saab dealers in his area around Münchwald. As well as SoonTeam, he also runs a Saab support effort called SoonSaab.
Radulf has sent over some brochures his company has put together recently. Click to enlarge:
The soonsaab real life ad campaign: We recently produced 7 highclass tourism catalogs with validities from one up to three years. In each of these catalogs we have integrated an independent Saab ad which leads to soonsaab.com (and soonsaab.com leads to saab.de … etc). These catalogs are published with a total print run of 150,000 copies. They contain absolutely no other third-party advertisements. One of those small steps to bring back Saab into the minds of German buyers. (Saab Germany got info in advance.)
Radulf’s support hasn’t been limited to his field of expertise…..
Each customer of Soonteam cc received a (Brekina scale model) Saab 96 as a Christmas gift and an offer for an extremely cool Saab deal: If he buys a new Saab before the end of March, he gets “Schwacke Listenpreis” (= official German pricelist of used cars) for his used car plus 5,000 Euro in addition + Soonteam work worth 500 Euro.
….and it doesn’t stop there, either. Check out the new addition to the SoonTeam driveway:
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Radulf was also very connected into the RescueSaab campaign back in 2009, so this isn’t a one-off thing for him.
That’s what anyone would call going above and beyond the call.
Time for the annual “eat lamb on Australia Day” ad…… and this year, all of Europe is invited to shed it’s UnAustralianism and join us.
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1C89osd7Eic
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The Saab Independence commemoration in Dallas has been run and DONE!
There’s a great photo gallery here. Wonderful to see people getting together to celebrate.
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I’ve written before on Bob Lutz’s tirades against beancounters at GM and the need to build the best product a company possibly can.
GM’s most recent products have benefitted from this approach. As much as I dislike Cadillacs, the new CTS range has received rave reviews and much of it is down to this commitment to quality of design and execution.
Autoblog have a great post from John McElroy today, talking about a secret weapon that Lutz employed in developing these cars – a group of motoring journalists.
It’s a very worthwhile read. Maybe Saab should get some British journos on the phone….
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This is a great photo, dug up from some US national archives by Hemmings.
I took the car in yesterday for a quick look because there was an unexplained noise in the front end. Turned out to be just a front end brace that needed tightening and the difference it’s made with that brace properly torqued is just fantastic.
The work should be finished on Tuesday and I can’t wait!
Whilst it’s a low-key affair in 2011, Saab clubs and other groups around the world continue to gather. They celebrate the convoys they embarked on a year ago, as well as the re-birth of the brand they enjoy.
One such meeting happened in Israel last weekend, with the Saab Club there remembered last years (absolutely fantastic) convoy, as well as hearing about the future of Saab in general, and in Israel in particular.
The group was a bit smaller than last year’s convoy, but were eager to hear about the new 9-5 SportCombi and Saab’s future. All considered the anniversary an important milestone for Saab.
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Great to see the Saab fans in Israel get together again (the pics from the convoy last year are really worth a look). My thanks to Oren for the update.
It’s not often that Victor Muller is upstaged in a video, but I think it’s fair to say it’s happened here. It’s in Dutch, but don’t let that stop you.
The video also features the wonderful Sofie from Saab, which is a surprise as she’s usually a behind-the-scenes type. Wonderful to see her out and about as she does so much hard work there in Belgium.
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Speaking of VM, Saabworld has come across a great story about his little dinghy, which you can hire if you’ve got some spare change and want to drift around the Caribbean during the winter.
Click here for more pictures of The Highlander (there can be only one VM, right).
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And whilst we’re covering VM and extravagant things, let’s move sideways to Spyker. It seems the rumours were true: they’re ditching the Audi powerplant for a 6.2litre LS9 engine out of the Corvette for the C8 Aileron Spyder.
Grunty, with craftsmanship.
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Congratulations to Till72, another one of our regulars here at SU, who’ll be off to the Ice Hotel at Saab Germany’s invitation for the Saab Ice Experience.
Rumour has it that another occasional SU contributor might be heading up there, too.
Add those to Sappy who won a trip from SaabGB last week and it’s going to be a regular SU party up there!
Saab Underground organised an anniversary gathering on the weekend to remember the Saab Support Convoys from last year – and it looks like they had a fantastic turnout, too!
Some sunny weather and dry conditions helped to bring a few more people along and they all enjoyed a spirited drive through the countryside around Brno.
Around 30 Saab enthusiasts got together over the weekend, in what looks like better weather than Jan2010, to celebrate the 1st anniversary of the Saab Support Convoy held in Poland last year.
The message this year was Save Saab and you can find more images from the gathering here and here. The blue convertible looks fantastic (and great to see it getting some winter service, too).
Saab Support Convoys started in earnest on Sunday, January 17th. I’m sure anyone who participated in one of these gatherings can remember the incredible feeling of solidarity that existed that day and in the weeks that followed.
I thought it appropriate to take a quick look at how it all happened.
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Early December, 2009 – a couple of Dutch Saab fans have the idea of holding a Saab Support Convoy in January. At that time, everyone thought that Saab’s fate would have been determined by mid-January. This event was going to be either a celebration of Saab’s sale, or a wake to remember a great company gone too soon. No-one thought Saab’s fate would still be in the balance.
18 December, 2009 – GM cut off all negotiations with Spyker, saying they’ll wind Saab up. Spyker refuse to accept this and revise their offer, removing all the obstacles that GM had identified as being in the way. We all spend Christmas waiting and wondering and the number of prospective convoys continues to grow.
5 January 2010 – With a GM Board meeting due on the 7th (and a decision expected on Saab’s fate at that time), Ryan from Saabhistory.com questioned why people were waiting until the 17th to show their support. Jalopnik.com picked up on this and before you could say “Damn it’s cold in Detroit in January” the first Saab Support Convoy is held in Detroit on the 5th with Ryan leading the gathering, just down the street from GM’s headquarters. With around 28 cars and a few more people in attendance, it’s a small convoy but the effect is significant. A number of big news services cover the story and imagery of Saab people waving signs at GM’s offices. Seeing the effect that a convoy can have inspires others to set up gatherings of their own and the growth
17th January 2010 – D-Day for Saab Support Convoys around the world – and I think it was bigger than anyone actually envisaged.
If I recall correctly, the Dutchies thought their initial plans would attract between 150-200 cars. Those plans had to be altered several times as the campaign gathered momentum and they ended up with an estimated 800 cars at the actual event.
An estimated 2,000 cars came to Trollhattan and the ceremonial drive from the Museum to the Factory ended up as a continuous line of Saabs linking one to the other.
Convoys were being held in places where I didn’t even know an organised Saab following existed. Places like Taiwan and Malaysia stunned us all with their passion for the brand. St Petersburg stunned us all with the beauty of the images that came from their gathering. Poland stunned us all by the size of their gathering and heartfelt warmth of their people.
It was amazing. I was here at home manning the computer as emails and images came pouring in from all around the world. It’s no over-statement to say I couldn’t keep up.
From the records kept on the Saab Campaigns site set up at the time, Saab Support
Convoys were held in the following places that first weekend:
Bulgaria, Brisbane, Kansas City, Vienna, Linz, Stockholm, Taiwan, Frankfurt, Brno, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia, Beijing, Vilnius, Melbourne, Italy, Hungary, Belarus, St Petersburg, Slovakia, Netherlands, Southern California, New Mexico, Prague, Brookline MA, Helsinki, Adelaide, Shanghai, Moscow, Trollhattan, Atlanta, Warsaw, Lodz, Poznan, Montreal, UK, Ningbo (China), Ekaterinburg, Bodoe, Tolga, Sandes, Kristiansand, Malaysia, Denmark, Umea, Paris, Denver, Toronto, Singapore.
Apologies if I’ve missed anyone but the dates get a little confusing after that.
All of those convoys in one day with a bunch more in the following weeks. An amazing show of support and it generated plenty of news coverage for Saab, which developed into one of the objectives of the excercise: make sure GM couldn’t get away from the spotlight surrounding the sale of Saab.
To those who participated in these convoys, as well as the ones that followed, I’m quite sure that Saab is grateful. I hope you have fond memories of the days you spent fighting for this company together with your fellow Saab enthusiasts.
And to Saab and the Saab dealers out there, I hope you remember what you nearly lost and continue to build and service cars for the people who stood up for you.
Some Saab nuts in Dallas will be gathering in a celebration of Saab’s independence.
Date: Saturday, January 22 from 01:00 PM to 4:30 PM
It’s time to gather and celebrate that SAAB lives on after just one year of a pending death sentence! This date was by far the most popular so I hope you can attend.
I thought we could meet for lunch and a mid-day margarita if you are so inclined at Fuzzy’s Taco Shop since they have good parking. (www.fuzzystacoshop.com)
From there it is a short drive over to White Rock Lake. There is a great spot for a photo overlooking dwntwn Dallas at the old Dreyfuss Club spot located at E Lawther Dr Dallas, TX, 75394 (East side of White Rock Lake).
Access from Lake Highlands from N Buckner Blvd
Take Tiffany Way Left from Lake Highlands down toward lakeside trail. Keep right to Dreyfus Club spot on top of the hill.
The goal of this meet is to celebrate all things SAAB and be thankful for the future. Unless it is just pouring rain please try to make it out! Please call or email with any questions!
Thanks – Daniel
If anyone in the area is interested in attending and hasn’t got the contact information, please let me know and I’ll connect you with Daniel.
How many of you are considering some sort of formal remembrance of the Saab Support Convoys?
The bulk of convoys were held on January 17, 2010, with more following on the weekends after (and one held earlier on January 7, in Detroit).
These gatherings, held in around 60 locations around the world, were an unprecedented show of support for a car company. Many were covered by news services for days afterwards, leading to a three-week campaign where the impending sale of Saab was in the news – an instrumental part in keeping the spotlight on GM.
I’ve received notice that there will be a couple of countries working to remember the convoys with a similar gathering this year.
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UPDATE: Sydney
This drive starts at the Porter’s Scenic Lookout at Dural.
We then drive up the Old Northern Road to Wiseman’s Ferry; we can stop at the lookout just before descending into the valley for a photo opportunity. Then proceeding to the shop near the actual ferry for an ice cream or coffee etc. The shop is fairly basic but it has a nice view to the river and the ferry. From there we cross the Hawkesbury River on the ferry and have a winding drive alongside for several kilometres passing through the hamlet of Spencer before climbing out of the valley and up to Mangrove Mountain. Turn left, heading north for a couple of kilometres before turning right and driving down into the Yarramalong Valley to the Yarramalong Manor for lunch.
After lunch we head back down the Yarramalong valley towards Wyong and back on the F3. For anyone who wants to they can break off the freeway at Calga and come back on the Old Pacific Hwy for more driving fun!
Saab Underground in the Czech Republic will be leading a gathering this Sunday.
We at SAABunderground decided to recall the exciting and important moments we experienced last year, when nothing was sure yet and we rallied in the chilly and windy January weather for our beloved car brand. Thus, this Sunday we’ll be meeting again, to celebrate SAAB and the people and community and fun that is always connected with it.
Good luck to all the Czeck Saabnuts this weekend. Please send pictures!
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Poland
The Saab Turbo Club of Poland will also be getting together on Sunday, to remember last year’s convoy with a drive in Warszawa.
Anyone interested in attending can contact me and I’ll put you in touch, if necessary.
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Are any more of you considering celebrating last year’s Saab Support Convoys?
Please let me know and I’ll be happy to add your event to this post.
I received an email today from Mattias G, whose sister is still showing her Saab Support Convoy decals on her Saab 9-5.
She says it makes life very easy in terms of finding her car in a crowded carpark . Me, I just think it’s great that someone continues to show their support for the company that way.
She’s not the only one, though, as Dad is also showing his support on the family Volvo!
Thanks Matthias!
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All of this, plus another email earlier in the week, got me thinking about a pretty cool idea. What if all the SSC attendees who are travelling by car to the Festival showed they were part of the Convoys during the Saab Festival.
You can get another decal and stick it in your window and in doing so, feel just a little extra pride as you cruise around Trollhattan during the Festival. It’d be great for SSC attendees to recognise one another, and it also be great for outsiders (like me) to walk around Trollhattan and see some cars that took part in convoys from different parts of Europe.
This is one I didn’t get much info on at the time but I’ve received a whole bagful since and wanted to share it here on site – these convoys should all be recognised, ya know.
The Scots got together back on February 21, just days before the deal with Spyker was finalised in Stockholm. It was a relatively sunny winter’s day there, a little icy, but that didn’t deter these Saab fans from celebrating the imminent deal.
Kevin A has sent through an account of the day, as submitted to DRIVER, the Saab Owners Club Magazine.
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The Scots are people of many opposites. Historically we are slow to react to major events preferring to go with the flow and solve our problems over a nice cup of tea. On the other hand we are accredited with pioneering many things.
So it should be no surprise that by the time we had arranged a date that was suitable to have a “Scottish Save Saab Convoy” news was breaking that the Spyker deal was going ahead. That’s right, we had, possibly, the first “Saab is Saved Convoy”.
The event was organised through the UKSaabs website where there are a growing group of regular faces at Scottish events. Initially there were many different suggestions as to what was the most suitable day. Sunday the 21st February was chosen as it tied in with the Knockhill Racing Circuit Track day that two of our regulars were attending.
There was quite a stir at the Wallace Monument in Stirling as an entire section of the car park was taken up by Saabs. After a brief ” hello” and ” welcome everyone” it was time to head north to Callander and to the shores of a frozen loch Venechar for morning coffee.
With snow on the hill tops and bright sunny blue skies the roads around the Trossachs National Park could not have been more picturesque. There was still plenty of ice on the shaded sections of road so we did all need to keep our wits about us. At the Lochs end we stopped for a group photo in the car park for Ben Venue. This also provided a convenient “lose your roof” stop for the convertibles.
From here it was up and over the Dukes Pass and then down into Aberfoyle. Those that knew the road were clearly enjoying the twists and turns in spirited fashion while others were trying to take in the magnificent scenery. Hopefully we can return to the Dukes Pass during the summer and enjoy a barbeque along the seven mile forest drive that’s hidden near the summit of the pass.
From Aberfoyle we headed East to the Kingdom of Fife to Scotland’s official race circuit, Knockhill.
Despite heavy snowfall and last minute mechanical difficulties, Magoo and MorganAutos had brought their 300bhp 9000s to show just what a Saab can do. Although they weren’t the fastest cars on the track they certainly left an impression on a number of the smaller and lighter cars as the two turbos pushed effortlessly past most others on the uphill straight.
As the sun set it was time to exchange farewells and make our journeys home, each with a smile and a home baked cup cake.
A special thank you to all involved including those who couldn’t make it on the day.
Kev and George have made this wonderful video of “Saab Saved Celebration”.
It was a day of optimism and good laughs. There were friendships formed and strengthened as a group of people ranging from those just starting school to those enjoying retirement all enjoyed each others company in something that can only be described as “that spirit of Saab”.
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It’s time for another Saab O The Week entry.
This week’s car is owned by Barry L, the organiser of the Memphis Saab Support Convoy. I’ll let Barry tell the story…..
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This 2009 Saab 9-3 Aero convertible marks my fourth Saab, which began with a 1997 900 SE convertible. I have owned nothing but Saab automobiles since then. I must admit that yellow was not my first choice, but a great sales effort and a great “deal” on the car by the General Manager of Saab of Memphis convinced me to ‘do the deal’. My only stipulation was that the car had to have a racing stripe, something I had never seen on a Saab, but wanted to give a try.
When it arrived from the shop with striping, even non-Saabist’s took note of this car. And while I realize it is sacrilege to most Saab owners to even put a pinstripe on a Saab, I am happy with the look and the very professional job done in very fine detail (badges properly outlined, grille integration without compromising the ‘flow’ of the striping, etc.). It actually makes the vehicle look completely different, and accentuates, by virtue of the striping going all the way down both front and rear bumpers, the black lower fascia at each end.
I had and still have a passion for Saab that I have never shared with any other brand that I have owned, which includes BMW, Lexus, Mazda and others. In 2005, I joined Saab of Memphis as a salesman and am proud to say that I have continued in that capacity to this day.
After following events around the world, mainly through the very trustworthy Saabs United website, I decided that Memphis and Mid-South area Saab owners and enthusiasts should have an opportunity to demonstrate OUR passion for the brand and desire to see it live on, therefore I organized the Memphis Save Saab Convoy (which subsequently became the Memphis/Mid-South Area Saab Independence Day Rally).
This car was the ‘lead’ car of that Rally, and these photos were taken just prior to arrival of the other participants of the Memphis/Mid-South Rally on February 7, 2010.
Thank you for the opportunity to share my ‘story’ with you, and thanks to all Saab owners and enthusiasts around the world for doing your part to secure the future of the brand!
With many thanks (again) to the kind folks at Lowe Brindfors…..
And many thanks (a millions times over) to Elkparts…..
The Swedish version of the new Saab advertising poster featuring images from the Saab Support Convoys is now available for you to download and print.
(I recommend a right-click-save-as). Click here for the Swedish version (6MB pdf), and in case you missed it, click here for the English version (3.5MB pdf).
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I posted the new Saab advertisement from Lower Brindfors – the one featuring photos from the Saab Support Convoys – earlier today. As many of you noted, however, it was a low-ish resolution PDF and may not suit enlargement and printing.
I asked Lowe for a higher res version and they’ve very kindly come to the party with a 3.5MB version that looks much clearer and I’m sure will keep everyone smiling for years to come.
Once again, our longest-serving sponsor from TS/SU, Elkparts, have been fantastic in hosting the image for us, so please offer them a golf-clap and some of your purchasing power when you get an opportunity in the near future. Click here to download the PDF (3.5MB)
We had a most enjoyable evening at the nostalgia-cofee (Caltex) at the local gas-station.
