Saab 92
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Saab 92 is an automobile from Saab. The design was very aerodynamic for its time, and the cw value (drag coefficient) was 0.30 (the same as a Porsche 996). Full-scale production started December 12, 1949, based on the prototype Saab 92001. All of them were of the De Luxe version. A standard version was advertised, but nobody was interested in buying it so no standard versions were produced.
The engine was a transversly-mounted, water-cooled two-cylinder, two-stroke 764 cc, 25 hp (19 kW) thermo siphon engine based on a DKW design giving a top speed of 105 km/h. The gearbox had three gears, the first unsynchronised. All Saabs made were green. According to some sources, Saab had a surplus of green paint from wartime production of airplanes.
Saab's rally history already started two weeks after the 92 was released, when Saab's head engineer Rolf Mellde entered the Swedish Rally and came second in his class.
Only 700 1950 models were made. In 1951, the German VDO instruments were replaced by American Stewart-Warner components.
In 1952 Greta Molander won the 'Coupe des Dames' of the Monte Carlo Rally in a 92, tuned to 35 hp (26 kW).
In 1953, the 92B arrived with a much larger rear window and larger luggage space (with an opening lid). It was now available in grey, blue-grey, black and green. In 1954 the Saab 92 got the new Solex 32BI carburetor and a new ignition coil giving 28 hp (21 kW). The US headlights were replaced with Hella units. Another novelty was that a textile roof (semi-cab) was offered as an option. The colour maroon was also introduced this year. In 1955 it got an electric fuel pump and square rear lamps installed in the rear wings. The colours were grey, maroon and a new color, moss green.
The Saab 93 was introduced in December 1955, but both the 92 and 93 were produced at the same time. The last 92 was assembled in late 1956/early 1957. Two new colours, grey-green and beige, were available. A total of 20,128 Saab 92s were made.
The Saab 92 appears on a Swedish postage stamp.
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Should not be confused with Saab 9-2X.
External links
- Saabmuseum.com (http://www.saabmuseum.com/92/)