Featured News

Jim Valentine

The SAAB Owners Club recognises the importance of the Motorsport heritage of the marque and provides sponsorship to those members of the club who are competing in Motorsport at various levels.

SAAB cars have been competing in motorsport since the early days of production. Many successes were achieved through drivers such as Club President, Erik Carlsson. This success continues today through Club competitors.

Club members are competing in, Historic Road Rallies, Historic Stage Rallies, Classic Runs, Sprints, Hillclimbs and many other forms of the sport.

For more information on the Club activities in Motorsport contact Richard Simpson

Click HERE for details of the Club Sponsorship Scheme.

Who is Erik Carlsson? - Click HERE to find out.

Many new members to the Club ask the same question -  “Who is Erik Carlsson?”  I suppose a lot of people who were not around in the 60s have never heard of him even though this giant of a man is often referred to as “Mr SAAB”.

Erik was born in 1929 in Trollhattan, Sweden, not far from the SAAB factory, but at that time the factory was only producing aircraft. Erik was 20 when production of the first SAAB cars started.  His first passion was motorbikes, he bought a Norton 500 new when he was 18 from Nystrom’s where he was working. Pelle Nystrom was the Norton importer for Sweden. At weekends he took part in hillclimbs, motorcross, road racing and, during the winter, ice track racing.

South Yorkshire Saab are no longer meeting.  If anyone would like to take up the baton in this part of the world please contact Elli Wilson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

There is no formal Branch currently in operation (largely as a result of the sheer geographical spread of members across this area) and therefore no regular meetings.
Where possible, there is usually an  SOC 'presence' at gatherings across the region organised by other clubs, motor museums or advertised on web forums (principally UKSaabs).

The dates known so far for 2017 at which we aim to be represented are:

• 23rd Apr    FBHVC 'Drive It Day' 2017  - various local runs (I'll be attending the one organised by the Highland Classic Motor Club, Inverness)
• 7th May     Forres Theme Day
• 21st May   Grampian Transport Museum, Alford, Aberdeenshire - "How Many Left" event for 'nearly classic' vehicles with fewer than 500 examples on the road
• 27th May   Rotary Club of East Sutherland Classic Car Tour, Dornoch
• 28th May   Vintage Day, Highland Folk Museum, Newtonmore
• 8th/9th Jul  43rd Scottish Transport Extravaganza, Glamis Castle, Angus
• 4th/6th Aug  (TBC)  Ignition Festival of Motoring, Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre, Glasgow
• 13th Aug    Historic Wheels Vintage Car Rally, Brodie Castle, Morayshire
• 20th Aug    Royal Deeside Speed Festival, Kincardine Castle, Kincardine O'Neil, Aberdeenshire
• 26th Aug    Fortrose & Rosemarkie Classic Vehicle Rally, Fortrose, Ross-shire.
• 3rd Sept     Motor Mania, Grantown on Spey. 
• Early Dec    Joint SOC/UKSaabs Christmas Gathering - date and venue TBC (see UKSaabs forum for details)

Should anyone wish to hook up with other Saab enthusiasts in the North of Scotland please contact:

Derek Darnell

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Come and join us and chat with like minded individuals about all things Saab. We are a small but friendly group and the group is run by it's members for its members.

Meeting dates: 2nd Sunday of the month. Please check our website or the SOC Event calendar, to confirm dates.

Meeting location: Halfway House, on the A127, Brentwood, CM13 3LL, (Off the east bound slip Road, Brentwood and Orsett A128 turn off).

Special Event: We are holding a meeting at the Secret Nuclear Bunker, Kelvendon Hatch, on Saturday 14th July 2018, between 11am - 4pm. Tickets are £20.00, which include entrance, buffet and an audio tour that last approximately 90 minutes.

Special Event: We are holding a meeting at the Royal Gunpowder Mills, Waltham Abbey, on Sunday 16 September 2018, between 10am - 4pm. Tickets price £22.00 and will include entrance, buffet and the attractions. There is a small fee for the land train.. They are opening especially for us, so the more SAABs that attend, the better.

View our website for further information and how to purchase the tickets, for the special events

Website: essexsaabgroup.co.uk      

Facebook: SAAB Owners Club - Essex SAAB Group     

Contact email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Charity: We proudly support the Essex & Herts Air Ambulance. 

NEXT MEETING:  8th July 2018 -Halfway House, A127, Brentwood.