At the Saab Car Museum, the legendary Saab spirit lives on – stronger than ever! The museum turns 50 years old in 2025, and it was well-received when the museum invited people to a party on Saturday, September 6. The weather was nice, the turnout was great, and the interest in the museum and Saab's classic cars never seems to wane, despite Saab Automobile's bankruptcy in 2011.
The Saab Car Museum invited everyone to a big party but tried to keep expectations at a reasonable level. Before the event, it was emphasized that this was not a regular Saab Car Museum festival, market or an ordinary car meet, but despite this, the parking spaces were quickly filled with visitors arriving in their own Saabs, and the queue to the museum was long at the opening. Guests were met by a lively fifty-year-old who had packed up with a car parade, a tour of the workshop, a photo exhibition and the start-up of unique rally and racing cars, while Nova mat och möten served anniversary "fika" and lunch in the restaurant close by.
– What a great birthday celebration it was! More than 1,400 visitors came to celebrate the museum, so we were busy all day. It is unbelievable that so many came from near and far. The "Saabandan" is impressive, exclaims the obviously moved museum curator Peter Bäckström.
Appreciated visits to the museum's workshop
During the day, several different activities were offered where visitors could both see and hear some of the museum's unique cars as they were showcased in the workshop courtyard. Something that was really appreciated was the tour of the museum's workshop and that visitors were able to be present when a loud Saab Formula Junior from 1960 was started. The spectators also got to hear the former World Rally Championship driver Stig Blomqvist tell some anecdotes from the 1976 Swedish Rally, before Per Eklund's winning car from the aforementioned competition was started. A heavily tuned Saab 96 with a V4 engine also has a characteristic sound, although it cannot compete with the old two-stroke in terms of noise level and smoke production.
- Being part of this event felt really fun. It was clear that the visitors really appreciated looking around the workshop, which is usually not accessible to outsiders. The sound experience that then echoed across the well-attended inner courtyard will probably not be forgotten by many, says Saab Car Museum Support Organization chairman Rickard Frick, who acted as speaker during the activities outside the workshop.
Car parade gathered a large crowd
The car parade was a highlight for many. Eleven cars from the museum's collection, representing everything from the Saab 92 from 1952 to the Saab 9-5 SC from 2012, drove a few laps in the area while the audience lined the route. It's not every day you get to see Stig Blomqvist driving a Saab 93 from 1956 or Trollhättan's municipal councillor Peter Eriksson (M) whizzing away in a Saab 9000 Aero from 1996.
Paul Åkerlund (S), who represents the city of Trollhättan on the museum's board, got to drive the very first series-produced Saab 9-5 from 1998.
- It's very gratifying to see how much interest there is in the Saab Car Museum, and that so many people visit us every year. It also feels good when I think back to the work we did to save the museum after Saab Automobile's bankruptcy. Today we really see how appreciated the museum is.
The Saab Car Museum Support Organization also had a representative in the parade.
– It was a very successful day from the support association's point of view. We met many visitors who participated in quiz-walk and we gained several new members. Personally, I feel honored to have been able to drive in front of such a large audience in the car that the association built and donated to the museum. It is a special feeling to drive a thoroughbred racer, even if it is from the early sixties says Ulf G Andersson, who drove a Saab 96 from 1962 that was tuned according to Group 3 regulations. To celebrate the day, Ulf was dressed in Gösta Karlsson's old driver's overalls, whose racing car served as the model for the museum's car.
Satisfied and happy Saab fans
– This was really fun and successful – and so many people! I have never seen such a queue to the museum, and then I have been to almost all the festivals that the museum has arranged since 1994. It really warms your heart! The Saab Spirit is very much alive, and I actually think that interest increases, says Krister Karlsson who drove from Hedemora with his Saab 99 GL Super from 1977.
One who didn't travel quite so far was Linnea Persson from Hällekis.
– It is always fun to visit Trollhättan and the Saab Car Museum, where you can breathe real Saab air and get the opportunity to meet like-minded people. The museum's anniversary party was a perfect opportunity to experience several generations of Saabs and to enjoy both singing and roaring engines, in true Saab style!
Att Linnea har koll på Saabandan visades även genom att hon fick ta emot andrapriset i den fototävling som Saab Car Museum arrangerat under sommaren. Motivet består av familjens Saab 96 parkerad lite nonchalant i ett stenbrott, medan hennes systerdotter sitter och fikar vid campingbordet intill bilen. En minnesvärd tur i en Saab behöver inte vara en lång resa till ett exotiskt resmål. Det kan vara lika roligt att ta en kort sväng i grannskapet en vardagkväll
Many foreign visitors
It wasn't just Swedish visitors who made the pilgrimage to the museum. The Saab Car Museum is a reason to travel to Trollhättan all year round and the proportion of international guests is high. During Saturday's party, the museum was able to welcome many guests from, among others, the USA, England, Germany and the Netherlands.
– During this celebration, you really understand the importance of the Saab Car Museum for the tourism industry in the city. The day started with a long queue of visitors who were waiting expectantly to soak up the Saab atmosphere and enjoy the event, and as one American guest said: “It’s bloody amazing”. We can only agree, says Maria Engström-Weber, CEO of Visit Trollhättan Vänersborg.
Both visitors and volunteers can attest that it was a really successful day, where sight, hearing, smell and taste were all catered for. Now the museum staff will take a breather and gather their impressions before they start planning for the museum's next 50 years.
Photo: Jonas Myrholm (also film), Fredrik Schmidt and Bo Lindman
