View source for Saab 93

{{about|the 1950s car|the 1990s and 2000s 9-3|Saab 9-3}}
{{More citations needed |date=August 2022}}{{Infobox automobile
| name = Saab 93
| image = MHV Saab 93 01.jpg
| caption = Saab 93
| manufacturer = [[Saab Automobile]]
| aka = {{ubl | Saab 93b| Saab 93f}}
| production = December 1955–1960
| model_years = 
| assembly = Sweden: [[Trollhättan]] ([[Trollhättan Assembly]])
| designer = [[Sixten Sason]]
| class = [[Compact car|Small family car]] ([[C-segment|C]])
| body_style = 2-door [[coupé]]
| layout = [[Front-engine, front-wheel-drive layout|Longitudinal front-engine, front-wheel drive]]
| platform = 
| related = {{ubl |[[Saab 95]]|[[Saab Granturismo]]|[[Saab Sonett]]}}
| engine = 750 cc ''[[Saab two-stroke|Saab 2-stroke]]'' [[I3 engine|I3]] ([[gasoline]])
| transmission = 3-speed manual
| wheelbase = {{convert|2489|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}
| length = {{convert|4007|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}
| width = {{convert|1581|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}
| height = {{convert|1448|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|787|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}
| predecessor = [[Saab 92]]
| successor = [[Saab 96]]
| doors = [[Suicide doors]] (93 and 93b) <br> [[Car door#Conventional doors|Conventional doors]] (93f)
| sp = uk
}}

The '''Saab 93''' (pronounced ''ninety-three'') is the second production [[automobile]] that was manufactured by [[Sweden|Swedish]] automaker [[Saab Automobile|Saab]]. Styled by [[Sixten Sason]], it was first presented on December 1, 1955. The 93 was powered by a longitudinally-mounted three-cylinder 748&nbsp;cc [[Saab two-stroke]] engine giving 33&nbsp;hp (25&nbsp;kW). The [[gearbox]] had three gears, the first unsynchronised. In order to overcome the problems of oil starvation on overrun (engine braking) for the two-stroke engine, a [[freewheel]] device was fitted.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vance |first=Bill |title=Bill Vance: Offbeat designs set Saab apart |url=https://www.timescolonist.com/driving/bill-vance-offbeat-designs-set-saab-apart-4674852 |access-date=2022-08-01 |website=Victoria Times Colonist |language=en}}</ref> In 1957, two-point [[seatbelt]]s were introduced as an option. The 93 was the first Saab to be exported from Sweden, with most exports going to the [[United States]]. A [[Saxomat]] [[clutch]] and a [[cabrio coach]] (large cloth sunroof) were available as options.

On September 2, 1957, the '''93B''' was introduced. The original two-piece [[windshield]] was also replaced with a one-piece windshield.

In 1957, [[Erik Carlsson]] finished 1st in the [[Finland Rally]] in a Saab 93; in 1959, he was 1st in the [[Swedish Rally]], also in a Saab 93. However, Saab was not the first Swedish manufacturer to win the [[Swedish Rally]]. Saab's long-standing Swedish rival, [[Volvo]], had beaten them consecutively in 1957 and 1958 with the [[PV544]].

In late 1959, the '''93F''' was introduced, featuring front-hinged doors from the [[Saab GT750]]. 1960 was the last year of production for the 93. The 93 was replaced by the [[Saab 96]], although the two models were sold side by side for the earlier part of the year. A total of 52,731 Saab 93s were made.

The [[Saab Sonett|Saab Sonett I]] roadster shared many of its components with the 93.

== Motor sport history ==
{{Prose|date=September 2018}}

=== 1956 ===
* [[Wiesbaden Rallye]], Germany (June 24, 1956)
** 1st [[Bengt Jonsson (rally driver)|Bengt Jonsson]] and [[Kjell Persson]]
* [[Rally Viking]], Norway
** 1st [[Carl-Magnus Skogh]]
** 2nd [[Erik Carlsson]]
** 4th [[Ivar Andersson (rally driver)|Ivar Andersson]]
* [[Rikspokalen]], Sweden
** 1st [[Erik Carlsson]]
* [[Scandiatrofén]], Sweden
** 1st Erik Carlsson and Carl-Magnus Skogh (shared)
* [[Tour d'Europe Continental]]
** 2nd [[Rolf Mellde]] and [[Sverker Benson]]
* [[Tulpen Rally]], The Netherlands
** 2nd [[Sture Nottorp]] and [[Charlie Lohmander]]
** 3rd [[Gunnar Bengtsson]] and [[Sven Zetterberg]]
** 7th [[Bengt Jonsson (rally driver)|Bengt Jonsson]] and [[Sölve Relve]]

=== 1957 ===
* [[Mille Miglia]], Turismo Preparato 750&nbsp;cc, Italy
** 1st [[Charlie Lohmander]] and [[Harald Kronegård]]
* [[GAMR]] - Great American Mountain Rallye, US
** 1st [[Bob Wehman]] and [[Louis Braun]], US
** 1st Best marque team
** 6th Rolf Mellde and [[Morrow Mushkin]]
** 17th [[Jerry Jankowitz]] and [[Doris Jankowitz]]
* [[Neste Rally Finland|1000 Lakes Rally]], Finland
** 1st Erik Carlsson
** 1st Best marque team Erik Carlsson, [[Carl Otto Bremer]], [[Harald Kronegård]]
** 1st Finnish champion, Carl Otto Bremer
* [[Rallye Adriatique]], Yugoslavia
** 1st R M Hopfen
* [[Lime Rock Rally]], US
** 1st Bob Wehman
* Rikspokalen, Sweden
** 1st Carl-Magnus Skogh
* Finnish Snow Rallye, Finland
** 2nd Erik Carlsson
* [[Acropolis Rally Greece]]
** 2nd [[Henri Blanchoud]]
* [[Rallye Atlas-Oasis]], Morocco
** 2nd Harald Kronegård and [[Leonce Beysson]]

=== 1959 ===
* [[24 Hours of Le Mans]]
** 2nd in its class and 12th total

=== 1960 ===
* Finnish Snow Rallye, Finland
** 1st [[Carl Otto Bremer]]

=== 2008 ===
* 24 hours [[Le Mans Classic]], compensated
** 1st in its class and 2nd overall

=== 2010 ===
* [[Le Mans Classic]], compensated
** 5th

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category|Saab 93}}
* [http://www.saabmuseum.com/93/ Saab 93 at Saabmuseum.com]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081007070339/http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2007/12/saab-93-to-race-at-le-mans.html Saab 93 at 2008 Le Mans Classic]

{{Saab early timeline}}

{{Saab Automobile}}

[[Category:Front-wheel-drive vehicles]]
[[Category:Saab vehicles|93]]
[[Category:Compact cars]]
[[Category:Coupés]]
[[Category:Cars introduced in 1955]]
[[Category:24 Hours of Le Mans race cars]]
[[Category:Mille Miglia]]