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Other Saab stuff we never saw – Aero goodies
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Other Saab stuff we never saw – Aero goodies

December 17th, 2008 · 10 Comments



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In addition to some of the Saab technology advances that never saw production, Jorgen T has sent through some images of some Saab marketing that we never got to see.

You might know that the Saab 900 SPG is commonly referred to as a Saab 900 Aero outside of the United States. As far as I know, however, it was never officially sold or marketed with that name. I’ve never seen one badged as an Aero, in any case. Before the 900, there was the 99 Turbo, again not sold or marketed with any reference to Aero.

Apparently Saab did have plans to use the Aero name, but there was some dispute about their right to use it that wasn’t resolved in their favour.

Before the use of the name was denied, Saab had some goodies made up, presumably as giveaways to new customers. I’m not sure how many of these are out and about in private hands, but it appears that Jorgen has a set.

dsc00101

dsc00102

It looks like there’s a kit made up of keyring, tie clip, cuff links and money clip.

I’m sure that’d fetch a handy price on Ebay if it ever came up.

I’m not so sure I like the colour scheme, but what a fantastic bit of retro Saabness!

Thanks Jorgen!!

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Tags: Saab Goodies

10 responses so far ↓

  • 1 MarkacNo Gravatar // Dec 17, 2008 at 10:16 am

    I don’t think “Aero” ever appeared on any C900. Officially they were the 16S but everyone started calling them Aeros. I remember one dealer saying they couldn’t directly call the cars Aeros, but he didn’t explain why. I heard another company (maybe even GM?) had the rights to the Aero name in the US, hence the use of SPG. After 1989 the use of “Aero” seemed to be much more common leading me to believe that GM did actually own the name. When the Aero name “officially” started appearing on the NG900, the 9000 was also re-named. The 9000CS Turbo S became the 9000 Aero. I just hope GM let Saab keep “Aero” when they are sold!

    I’ve never owned an Aero myself. The closest I’ve got is my current car a ‘99 9-3 SE Monte Carlo. It’s almost identical to a 2000 9-3 Aero except for the engine (B204R HOT instead of B205 HOT). The way things are going, perhaps it’s as close as I’ll ever get? I hope not!

  • 2 PGAeroNo Gravatar // Dec 17, 2008 at 3:05 pm

    While press material in the US did call the 900s SPG, there was never any badge that said so on the cars. “Special Performance Group” was in the press material.

    Aero is an interesting designation because in the 9000s it meant special engines (Manual cars only, i guess) and it was the top-of-the-line model, while in the OG9-3 it played second fiddle to the Viggen as a sport package/appearance package. In the 9-5 it comes with the HOT 2.3 top-line engine, but all current 9-5s have the same engine, so it’s a suspension/trim package. Heck, there were years that there was no Aero designation in the 9-5, but you could get a sport package, which was identical to the previous year’s Aero. It’s enough to confuse a lad.

    I think there were copyright issues when the SPG got it’s stateside name, so there was no Aero in the US on the C900, ever.

    Oh well. I’d love to have that key chain…

    ~Peter
    ‘93 9000 Aero, 5spd, 98K, White/Black.

  • 3 JohanNo Gravatar // Dec 17, 2008 at 4:31 pm

    I had one of those keychains, unfortunatly it lost its colour over the years. I’m sure there are a few more out there.

  • 4 Jörgen TruedNo Gravatar // Dec 17, 2008 at 4:57 pm

    There might be some more kits in Linköping, a guy had got his hands on what was going to be thrown away!

  • 5 AEROPILOTNo Gravatar // Dec 17, 2008 at 5:17 pm

    PGAero:
    It is NOT only a suspension or styling matter !
    A major diffrernce is the Turbocharger TD04, Firmware Trionic 7, exhaust system,
    and not to forget the brake upgrade !!
    In addition with a lot of other differences concerning the engine eg. exhaust valve,
    waistgate and so on.
    -you have AERO´s and NON-AERO´s-

    Very different cars, indeed.

    Aeropilot 9-5 Aero AUT. ´03 BSR stg.3

  • 6 ColorCode252No Gravatar // Dec 17, 2008 at 7:13 pm

    The cufflinks are stylin’, love that venturi design theme, and loving the color!

    Goes well with the SPG/Aero rims!

  • 7 MarkoANo Gravatar // Dec 18, 2008 at 1:49 am

    As far as I know, however, it was never officially sold or marketed with that name.

    Well, they´re not badged “Aero”, but all the brochures talk about 900 Aero or 900 T16 Aero. At least in Finland. For example I got Saab 900 1991 Sales brochure which came with the car (900 T16 Aero). The whole range is covered, including the Aero.

    Here´s a shot:
    900 Turbo 16 Aero

    I also got a 4 page booklet from ´84 and it only covers 900 Aero.

  • 8 PGAeroNo Gravatar // Dec 18, 2008 at 2:51 am

    Aeropilot,
    Sorry to offend! ;o). My understanding is that all recent 9-5s in the US come with the TD04-equipped engine, whether they are Aeros or not. There is ONE engine choice on the Saab USA website, and it’s the 260 HP version of the 2.3 So, the Aero package loses a bit of exclusivity. The name Aero was also used on OG9-3s that never came with the (then) 230HP 2.3 that the Viggen had.

    I won’t argue with you that Aeros are different cars than their “lesser” siblings, but the name has had different meanings in the past. To me, the most glaring instance was when Viggen and Aero 9-3s were sold side-by-side, and the Viggen had more power and what-not.

    Oh well, that’s the price you pay for a somewhat changing naming schedule.

    BMW has //M, Merc has AMG, Audi has RS#, Cadillac has V, Volvo (had) R, Saab had SPG, Aero, Viggen, etc…

    Take care, and enjoy that nice ride of yours…

    ~Peter

  • 9 tri-loNo Gravatar // Dec 18, 2008 at 3:26 am

    I also remember reading somewhere that they didn’t even plan on marketing the car now known as 900 Aero/T16S as a SAAB, only as “Aero Turbo” at the time those accessories were made? Or is just my memory that plays me, and it was just the modelname “900″ that was not intended to be used..?

    /Kim

  • 10 EdwinNo Gravatar // Dec 18, 2008 at 4:57 am

    I was lucky enough to work at a SAAB dealership in Holland in 1983 (I was 17 years old at the time) and I remember that there came brochures for the new 900 Turbo 16 Aero, so yes the cars was named Aero but GM had all the right to the name Aero because Opel had an Opel Kadett Aero in its program in the seventies. We had to destroy all the brochures and a few weeks later came the new ones with the name 900 Turbo 16S. I took 2 illegal brochures with me… Later in 1990 when GM bought its stake in SAAB was SAAB allowed to use the name Aero. I haven’t got a clou how to place them on the internet so I will mail them to TS in a while.

    //Edwin