Press release n. 1 Aug. 28th. 2025
The Griffin Has Returned. Introducing the Saab Scania Club Italia.
We are pleased to inform you that the Saab Scania Club Italia, the Historical Registry of the Swedish brand, has now completed its preparations and is officially up and running.
We aim to celebrate the legacy of Saab Scania, a company that built airplanes, automobiles, computers, hydrofoils, hovercrafts, missiles, satellites, buses, tractors, and trucks — reaching the pinnacle of its success in the 1980s.
Our goal is to bring together enthusiasts of the Saab Scania brand, creating opportunities to meet at events and activities we organize, and to enjoy being part of a cohesive group of friends. The Club will be a place of relaxation and enjoyment, enhanced by that unique bond formed through our wonderful vehicles.
We want to fill the void left in the world of classic vehicles by the prestigious creations of Saab Scania.
Saab Scania was much more than cars, and we therefore want to promote, safeguard, and enhance the knowledge of the entire Saab Scania Group’s production, while seeking to understand the context and culture in which Saab Scania was born and developed in Sweden, and its contribution to the country’s industrial growth.
The Saab Scania Club Italia, reflecting the structure of the original Swedish industry, includes:
A Historic Car Register
An Aeronautical Register, featuring a historic 1954 Saab Safir 91C aircraft
A Register for Trucks, Buses, and Tractors
We will also be active in Historic Rallies for interested members. These activities have been entrusted to Vice President Dino Vicario, a well-known historic rally driver.
On August 27th, 2025, to celebrate our official launch, we gathered in Carzago Riviera (see attached photos) several member-owned cars from the Register, alongside a 1979 Scania 141 truck and their ideal predecessor, the Saab Safir 91C aircraft. This is particularly meaningful as Saab’s first automobile project was numbered 92 — following directly after the Safir 91.
We seek to highlight a brand that stood out for producing — in its time — modern, innovative, prestigious, and technologically advanced vehicles. We aim to underscore the unique technical choices made by Saab Scania, while bringing together enthusiasts who own and identify with the values of the traditional Saab customer base.
Italy’s art cities will serve as the perfect backdrop for the International Elegance Cup “Sixten Sason”, established by the Register. Its debut will take place on June 19–20, 2026 in the stunning surroundings of Lake Garda, Mantua, and Verona, with the start line at a private airstrip in the presence of the Saab Safir 91C. This will mark our 1st International Gathering, open to Saab aircraft as well.
The Club aspires to give an international dimension to our events, welcoming foreign vehicles and also participating in major events held by foreign clubs.
The presence of representatives from the USA, Sweden, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Germany, and the UK in our board as Guest Advisors and Ambassadors reflects the international spirit of the Club.
As for the car register, the following models are admitted:
92, 93, GT750, 94 Sonett I, 95, 96, Formula Junior, 97 Sonett II & III, 99, 900, 600, 90, and 9000, as well as other vehicles designed and/or built between 1947 and 1989.
The Aeronautical Registry is managed by Vice President Giovanni Marchi.
The Truck and Bus Registry is led by Vice President Massimo Condolo, a well-known journalist and respected expert in the field.
The iconic — and revolutionary for its time — Saab 99 Turbo is the central car from which our Register’s automotive journey unfolds:
Looking backward: from the Sonett III to the 92
Looking forward: from the 900 to the 9000
Not by chance, the motto of our Register is inspired by a phrase well known among Saab 99 Turbo enthusiasts:
“Not for everyone. Essential for many.”
The restoration, preservation, or faithful reproduction of the vehicles’ original features is one of the primary goals of the Saab Scania Club Italia. We align ourselves with national and international bodies that share these principles.
We aim to catalog all Saab Scania vehicles, aircraft, trucks, buses, and other machines currently in Italy by creating dedicated model-specific registers, many of which are already active and managed by individual members.
We are open to the contributions of each and every member — and we hope many of you will join — to share in our goals and bring forward your ideas and energy.
We have also created a library gathering everything written about Saab Scania, and we are happy to make it freely available to members, translated into Italian, alongside more technical literature (manuals, instruction booklets, etc.), not to mention the many films in which Saab vehicles played starring roles.
Club-branded custom clothing is also available directly from our supplier, based on agreed specifications and at no profit to the Club (thus no extra cost to members).
We also want to make a social impact, dedicating time and effort to charitable initiatives, where we and our vehicles can contribute to helping the less fortunate.
The Club is born out of people’s passion for their cars.
Our guiding principle is:
“First the people, then the cars.”
This reflects who we truly are.
We hope Saab Scania enthusiasts will join our Historic Register in large numbers.
You can reach us at club@saabscania.it