The Spirit of Saab: 50 Reasons Why We Love Them

by Vaughan Grylls

Overview

An evocative exploration of the iconic Saab brand, with beautiful photography and lively text that shows beyond all doubt why you should want to own one.

Saab is a byword for style, performance quality and safety – the cars have a reputation for reliability and solidity, along with classic Scandinavian design that have made them the go-to car of creatives the world over. Although production ceased in 2011, Saabs are still highly sought after by enthusiasts and collectors.

This fascinating book outlines all the classic Saab models from 1949's pioneering Ursaab prototype to the last cars to drive off the production line in the early 2010s, including their world-beating rally cars of the 1960s and 70s and the best-selling Saab 900, with glorious vintage photographs and insightful explanation from Saab superfan Vaughan Grylls.

The perfect gift for the car nut in your life, whether they've owned a Saab or not, this book sums up everything that's great about this truly classic brand.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781849948807
Publisher:	Batsford, B.T. Ltd.
Publication date:	05/11/2023
Sold by:	Bookwire
Format:	eBook
Pages:	128
File size:	75 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Vaughan Grylls is an artist and writer. He lives in London and East Kent and has been a Saab enthusiast ever since he took delivery of a brand-new 900 at Zumbach Saab, New York City, in August 1984. Today Vaughan owns a 1987 Turbo Cabriolet with a matching pair of Turbo shades.

Vaughan Grylls is a photographer, author and artist. His photography has been shown in the Photographers’ Gallery, Whitechapel Art Gallery and the Arnolfini. He is represented in several public collections, including the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television, the Contemporary Art Society, Pfizer, Unilever and the Arts Council of Wales. From 1996 to 2005 Grylls was Chief Executive of the Kent Institute of Art and Design. In 2005 he founded the University for the Creative Arts at Canterbury, Epsom, Farnham and Rochester, and serves as Emeritus Professor. He is the author and photographer of Oxford Then and Now, Cambridge Then and Now, Hong Kong Then and Now and Singapore Then and Now. 

Table of Contents

Introduction 6

01 The Saab Image 12

02 The Cool Test 14

03 Look at Me! 16

04 Custom Saab 18

05 Strange … Even for Saab 20

06 The Right Backdrop 22

07 Dissing Saab 24

08 Go Compare 28

09 Safe and Speedy Saab 30

10 Parked Saab 32

11 Body-building 34

12 Hold That Road 36

13 Breakdown 38

14 Depreciation 40

15 Who Wants Roar? 42

16 Saab Hot and Cold 44

17 Auto or Stickshift? 46

18 Turbo? Definitely! 48

19 Which Colour? 50

20 Saab His and Hers 54

21 Parts … Anywhere? 56

22 Snow + Ski = Saab 58

23 I Left it in the Car 60

24 Great Wheels! 62

25 All-weather Stability 64

26 Front 66

27 Side 68

28 Rear 70

29 Top 72

30 The Saab Emblem 74

31 The 'Saab' Special-edition Badges 76

32 The Radiator 78

33 The Dashboard 80

34 Flying High 82

35 Fuel Cap Cool 84

36 Whiplash Cracked 86

37 Hot Bottom 88

38 Saab Engines 90

39 The Trunk (or the Boot) 922

40 The Hood (or the Bonnet) 94

41 Handles 96

42 Saab Permutations 98

43 Trollhättan 100

44 Turbo Shades 102

45 Saab in America 104

46 Rallying for Saab 106

47 I Love These 110

48 The Saab Car Museum 118

49 Should You Buy One? 122

50 The Last Ever 124

About the Author 126

Acknowledgements 126

Index 127

 

Editorial Reviews

"When it comes to brands with an interesting story to tell, you can’t go wrong with Saab. This book takes you through all the classics, right up to the last cars to be produced. For such an inexpensive book, it’s well produced, with loads of full-page photography and chatty text that’s factual without being too dry." – Auto Express

"Definitely one for marque enthusiasts, who probably already have far more than 50 motivations to adore their Trollhättan machines." – Richard Gunn, Classic Car Weekly 

"A very neat book on the much-missed Saab marque… It’s a very witter and masterful exploration of the once-great Swedish manufacturer." – TKC Magazine

From the Publisher