This a very “RAW” copy I was given way after the 2010 Rally to the midnight sun. It was originally ment to be part in the making of the new history of SAAB with its new ownership and leadership both internally in SAAB and as a clip in a russian motors television program featuring Vladimir Antonov and his participation in the classic Swedish Rally. I was given an embargo for some years not to show this videoclip. Due to various copyright issus I suppose. But now when SAAB as a carmaker is gone I feel it is OK to finally show the SAAB enthusiast world an interesting piece of the brand history. Something that could have been so different. Political and and other dark forces stopped it all. The SU Historic Rally Team was planned to expand into a 15 car international team that should travel and compete worldwide. I even got started to plan for 10 more cars in addition to the 5 SAAB 99 Turbo cars that I had made. Well that is all history now but please enjoy this movie.
It was great to watch this video. Thank’s a lot for sharing! Things have changed a lot, but the cars is still out there and can perform!
I’m still not sure I fully understand why the Russian investment in Muller’s Saab was thwarted. The odds have been so stacked against Saab—-it’s one of the saddest stories in automotive history.
I know, your so right. If GM allowed Victor to take the money from Vladimir Saab would be alive and well today. In the end it was GM that crashed Saab, not Victor. How things could have been..
Yes but the closure by Gm was not only their decision alone.
BY the way victor muller has a stand nr in geneva with spyker cars. HE never gave up and find some money again.
All the above was said to him at the purchase of saab during a 20 minute interview on dutch tv , see the video still online he was also heavily attacked about his own investment. Spyker went bankrupt too but he made a restart.
And he was interviewed by 5 persons at the same time and was not getting nervous.
His family and victor himself had a nice record in business. He is back in geneva himself. have you seen Mr bergman there to show his NEVS/saab car plans? Victor is there.
He is of dutch origin, me too, I never bite in my own flesh.
He is certainly a very charismatic and energetic man, and I suspect fairly bright. Quite a character, in my opinion. I do hope Spyker succeeds. I still think of the Dutch as great yacht designers and builders, flower makers and skaters. Car makers, well I’m not so sure…..!!!
We had DAF with the famous variomatic. There was also a nice rally version ask treud. Bought by volvo making volvos than bought mitsubishi making them than bought by bmw making Minis now. And some five top designers working for bmw,bentley, ferrari, alfa romeo etc. Not just tulips. THANK you for your post.
You’re welcome :>)
And I happily stand corrected, although I did have to google DAF.
And ask landrover being a small brand what a designer can do for your brand: Named : Gerry Mc. Govern.
I surrender!!
It was Muller who sealed SAAB’s demise by involving the Chinese, a predictably disastrous move from which SAAB never recovered.
Was it GM who stopped this? I had heard at the time that it was the EU and Swedes who were opposed to him being involved.
Yes the eib loan was withdrawn. But we have the purchase and the closure of saab two different things.
Simply because Antonov was facing trial for embezzlement of £400 million from Snoras Bank in Lithuania. He was awaiting extradition and was not thought to be a worthy investor in SAAB.
Great information, again! With your information the history is more complete. Thank’s a lot!
Sonett 71, the true goal for SU is to picture the SAAB Automotive history. My insights with Antonov and the rally team endeavors where all positive, with a few shall we say “cultural” differences in how business should be conducted. But most could be ironed out. Vladimir seemed to be a most decent guy with a solid automotive heart and a lot of improvement in rally driving. But hey he was a freshman in this game.
So from now on this will be an classic site for saabs only? It is impossible to restore a classic car w/o the internet as was said by a jaguar E type restorer. Su was never a TECH site. My saabs are gone so i have no real presence on this site. Unless ALphonse has a different view. If not i must say goodbye to your all the moment the saab logos are removed from the core factory. And saab cars are something to be showed on classic festivals.
In the uk they have the best near ancient castles. See the 2016 agenda I will be there too with friends in their bentleys.
Trued I was just looking for a way to take with me a small car on my camper trips. I ended up to see nas and canadian race drivers how they do it. They put 5 cars in large double floor campers, some of them take their ferrari road car with them. Did you use campers in us they say RV vehicles when you were on the way with the 5 99 turbos?