Date: Tue, 1 Jun 1999 10:04:15 -0700 From: "Justin VanAbrahams" <jvanabranopsamel.net> Subject: Re: Why the "9XX" designation?
Steinar Moum <Steinar.Moumnopsam.uio.no> wrote in message news:Steinar.Moum-3105991112000001nopsamsit09.uio.no... > Does somebody know the reasoning behind the "9" in Saabs models? > > It went about like this: > > 92, 93, 96, 95, 99, 900, 9000, 9 small5, 9small3 > Back when Saab first started making automobiles, they designated the 9x series of model designations for cars... the first actual prototype being Type 92. They continued using this nomenclature up until the 900, when they ran out of 9x numbers and switched to a vaguely exponential system, where 900 was the smaller car and 9000 was the bigger car. When the 900 and 9000 were nearing the end of their respective runs. Saab knew that there was no future in this series, because cars called 90,000 and 900,000 would be stupid, so they used some artistic license and switched to an even more vague exponential system - 9^3 and 9^5 ... this new series not only allows them 9 different cars before they have to switch again, but also gives them the ability to pattern their models aftrer BMW's successful 3, 5, and 7 series. -Justin
