Saab 92A 1950

PEACE OF MIND

A 1950 Saab 92A that had the good fortune of not having been abandoned in a forest eventually to have photos of its inevitable decline being circulated on Instagram. Instead, it was not used much and thus did not deteriorate at all. Best of all, it has not been restored, nor does it need to be.

TEXT AND PHOTOS BY CLAES JOHANSSON

A country spared the ravages of war, Sweden was ripe for further progress with factories running at full output creating a basis for social security in a society footed on a unique institutional cooperation between industry and labour. Social progress and reforms were soon taken for granted and living standards could only improve. The generations born in the 20th century had the benefit of unprecedented social and industrial progress, one aspect of which was a car in every family. It took 20 years and was thereafter taken for granted.

– The house, the garden and his car meant a lot to him, says Ulla Karlberg, reminiscensing her father, Bengt Sjöström. Everything was maintained to the best of order. He used to have a second-hand Chevrolet, but when I was ten, he bought the Saab brand new. He was about to turn 50 and was very proud of his new car, but hardly ever used it.

Bengt worked for the state railways and was according to his daughter a very reliable and orderly person.

– He kept his pedantics to himself, that was the way he was. The fence was always freshly painted, the flower beds well-kept and the Saab meticulously maintained. It was mostly used for Sunday trips. Well in advance of winter, he jacked it up on stands in the garage.

Post-WW2, a new modern Sweden was created tailored for a secure but still modest life. It was not to be ostentative which applied also to the architecture and the cars. In December 1949 came one more symbol of Swedish modernity. Rumours had been around for a while and the first, rather blobby prototype had been shown in 1947. Just imagine, a manufacturer of jet fighters having developed its first car! The Saab 92. A peace symbol created by aero engineers. With pronounced streamlining, front wheel drive, two-stroke motor and a slightly sullen look, it was not for everyone. It never came to be as hugged or loved as the Volvo PV444 or the Volkswagen.

All the same, the new Saab became a cause for the whole nation, created as it was in a spirit of social harmony. Volvo had gained a companion, not a competitor. In fact, the managment of Saab had at an early stage asked Volvo for permission to start making cars, which Volvo graciously permitted provided Saab stayed with small cars and refrained from manufacturing trucks.

The Saab car project had been based on assumptions of great improvements in people’s buying power during the 1950s and also increased exports. In ten years, industry had created 141 000 new jobs. People from rural areas migrated in large numbers to the cities, enjoying higher wages and soon realized they could afford a car.

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