Saab built airplanes before it built cars, and its early Saab models showed it. The Swedish company started with a two-stroke teardrop in 1949 and ended the run covered here with the turbocharged 900. Not every one of them reached American showrooms, though.

Saab first came to the United States in 1956. Here are eight Saab models from the 92 to the 900 Turbo, with what the company’s own histories say about each and when Americans could buy them.

1. 1949 Saab 92, the first of Saab’s models

First came the 92. Saab presented it on June 10, 1947, and production began in Trollhättan on December 12, 1949. Its engine was a water-cooled, two-cylinder two-stroke of 764cc with 25 horsepower, driving the front wheels.

According to the Lane Motor Museum, early 92s came only in green, and Saab built about 20,000 of them. The museum also notes that front-wheel drive helped in Scandinavian snow. Still, the 92 predates Saab’s U.S. debut in 1956, so American buyers met the brand through its successor.

2. 1956 Saab 93

By the 1956 model year, the 92 had become the 93. It brought a new three-cylinder two-stroke of 748cc with 33 horsepower, according to The SaabMuseum.com. As a result, this was the car that opened the American market.

Saab made its U.S. debut at the 1956 New York Auto Show, and 15 dealers signed up that first year. Then, in 1957, Americans bought 1,410 Saab 93s, according to Saab USA’s history. A sportier GT750 followed at the 1958 New York show with a wood-rim wheel, sport seats and a rally timer.

3. 1959 Saab 95

Of all the early Saab models, the 95 was the first station wagon. Saab unveiled the three-door in May 1959 with an 841cc three-cylinder making 38 horsepower. A folding, rear-facing bench let it seat seven.

Later, a Ford-sourced 1.5-liter V4 with 73 horsepower replaced the two-stroke, according to Saab’s own release on the 95. In all, Saab built 110,527 of them. Saab USA’s history also includes the 95 in its American story. However, sources differ on the first U.S. model year, so this list leaves it out.

4. 1960 Saab 96

Soon after, Saab presented the 96 on February 17, 1960. Early cars used an 841cc three-cylinder two-stroke with 38 horsepower. Then, in 1967, a 1,498cc Ford V4 took over, according to Saab Planet.

The 96 also made Saab’s name in rallying. Erik Carlsson won the RAC Rally in it in 1960 and took the Monte Carlo Rally in 1962 and 1963, according to Saab USA’s heritage collection. Americans could buy the two-door from 1960, the company’s U.S. history says. Production ran until January 1980 and reached 547,221 cars.

5. 1966 Saab Sonett II and 1970 Sonett III

The Sonett was Saab’s fiberglass two-seat sports car, and America was its main market. The Sonett II debuted in 1966. Four years later, the Sonett III followed, and Saab USA says most of these cars went to the United States.

Hagerty UK says Saab unveiled the Sonett III at the 1970 New York Auto Show with a 65-bhp, 1.5-liter Ford V4. For 1971, displacement grew to 1,698cc, but peak power stayed the same. Saab built 8,368 Sonett IIIs, according to Hagerty UK. Production ended in 1974, since meeting new safety and emissions rules would have cost too much.

6. 1967 Saab 99

By comparison, the 99 was a bigger, more modern Saab. It premiered on November 22, 1967, according to the Saab Car Museum. Saab USA’s history calls it the first Saab with an inline four-cylinder engine.

American buyers got the 99, and it later spawned the 99 Turbo below. Sources differ on when U.S. sales began, so this list doesn’t name a year. Overall, The SaabMuseum.com counts 588,643 Saab 99s built from 1967 to 1984.

7. 1978 Saab 99 Turbo

The 99 Turbo made its world debut at the Frankfurt show in September 1977. In the United States, buyers could get the three-door hatchback only for the 1978 model year. Colors were limited to black, Cardinal Red, grey and silver.

According to Saab USA’s heritage collection, the U.S. car’s 2.0-liter turbo four made 135 horsepower, compared with 115 for the standard engine. Saab imported 4,233 of them before the 900 Turbo took over. Worldwide, it built 10,607 Saab 99 Turbos, starting with 100 test-fleet cars in 1977.

8. 1979 Saab 900 Turbo

Saab presented the 900 in May 1978 and started sales that autumn as a 1979 model, the Saab Car Museum says. Americans got three-door and five-door hatchbacks. Before long, the 900 Turbo became an enthusiast favorite, according to Saab USA.

The first turbo made 145 bhp from 2.0 liters, says Hagerty UK’s buying guide. Later, a 16-valve head and an intercooler raised output to 160 horsepower. Hagerty’s U.S. site dates that change to 1985. Saab built 202,284 first-generation 900 Turbos, including around 50,000 convertibles. In 1986, Saab sold 47,414 cars in the United States, its best year there, according to Saab USA.

More from Fast Lane Only

• Unboxing the WWII Jeep in a Crate
• 15 rare Chevys collectors are quietly buying
• 10 underrated V8s still worth hunting down
• Police notice this before you even roll window down

This article was created with the help of AI and was reviewed and edited by Fast Lane Only editors before publication.