SOLVED: Djetset #72 - Saab 98 Giugiaro

Djetset · March 17, 2009, 07:11:54 PM

For a quick and easy point, please tell me the make and model name of this car, and importantly who designed this specific model.

KVAB · March 23, 2009, 01:59:40 PM

SAAB 98 (Project name X14)

Björn Envall

Djetset · March 24, 2009, 03:49:28 PM

Ah KVAB, you are correct on the car make and model (and project name), but not the designer, as Saab's design chief of the time (Bjorn Envall) oversaw the X14 project, but did not make the design modifications, as this is the work of someone else. I will look this for you for 48 hours for the full correct answer and the point.

Djetset · April 18, 2009, 06:12:13 AM

KVAB, so close, and yet so far. Time to move this one on...

DynaMike · April 18, 2009, 06:23:20 AM

Sergio Coggiola is the name you were looking for?

Djetset · April 18, 2009, 06:37:00 AM

No it's not!

neilshouse · April 18, 2009, 07:31:34 AM

Sixten Sason maybe?

Djetset · April 24, 2009, 09:53:37 AM

Sorry for slow reply; been away for a few days. Anyway, sorry it's not Sixten Sason.

Djetset · May 12, 2009, 05:26:54 PM

Pros, know who did this to a poor innocent Saab?

Paul Jaray · May 12, 2009, 05:36:42 PM

The design, led by Björn Envall, was based on the floorpan of the Saab 95. The prototype was assembled by Italian Sergio Coggiola who had also worked with Saab on the styling of the Saab Sonett III.
The Saab 95 was already a practical family car positioned in the market just below the Saab 99 and as such Saab decided that the Saab 98 was not worth putting into production.
The only ever example of the Saab 98 sported a plastic grille and was finished in a new colour for that model year, Sienna Brown

and

The Saab 98 Combi Combi Coupé Prototype was originally planned to be a coupe version of a sedan, based off of the SAAB 96, but the length of the SAAB 95 wagon.
This vehicle nomenclature of the 98 pronounced "ninety eight", was decided on as it came after the last of the SAAB 97 series that ended the same year this project began, 1974. The internal project name of X14 was used by Saab's chief designer of the project at the time, none other than Björn Envall.
The other Saab Designer who assembled the Saab 98 was the Italian, Sergio Coggiola who previously designed the SAAB 97 Sonett III.

There were a number of vehicles built in 1975 as well as 1976, but the project was eventually abandoned as Saab at that time believed that they was not enough room in the global market for a vehicle between the Saab 95 and Saab 99.
The last remaining Saab 98 Combi Combi Coupé Prototype was in Sienna Brown and resides at the Saab Museum in Trollhättan, Sweden

Djetset · May 12, 2009, 05:42:33 PM

Bjorn Envall was Saab's design chief in the early 1970s-1980s and he worked on the 1974 mild facelift of the Saab 95/96 (larger bumpers, 99-style side indicators, etc.) but this car is not his work.

The Saab 98 was indeed assembled by Sergio Coggiola, but they were not responsible for the design either. So, it's not Envall, and it's not Coggiola either. Who could it have been designed by?

Paul Jaray · May 12, 2009, 05:59:22 PM

Interesting.....

Allemano · May 28, 2009, 06:41:51 AM

hope it's not "Sienna Brown" you are looking for....

Djetset · May 28, 2009, 11:51:27 AM

Hah ha! No, if only it was that easy!

75america · August 12, 2009, 02:08:35 PM

Gunnar A. Sjögren ?

Djetset · August 12, 2009, 02:33:27 PM

No, the designer is rather more famous than Sjogren, and less Scandinavian (now there's a clue!).

guido66 · August 12, 2009, 02:39:41 PM

Long shot: Robert Opron?

Djetset · August 12, 2009, 02:43:27 PM

Maybe too long, as it's not him (although I can see why you're thinking him as this Saab does have a hint of Opron's Citroen SM and Renault Fuego about its profile).

75america · August 12, 2009, 03:39:57 PM

...Aldo Sessano...?

Djetset · August 12, 2009, 03:46:40 PM

No, not him either.

spider murphy · August 12, 2009, 04:49:05 PM

Was it maybe Giorgetto Giugiaro, because he was also involved in styling the Saab 9000 and the Saab 600 (a.k.a Lancia Delta)?

Kind regards,

Spider Murphy

Djetset · August 12, 2009, 05:26:37 PM

Correct, the Saab 98 design was the work of Giugiario. Not one of his better moments, but could have been worse; could have been the Morris Ital !!!

João · August 12, 2009, 08:45:16 PM

Congratulations Spider Murphy!

ImpishGrin · August 15, 2009, 07:32:02 AM

Quote from: Djetset on August 12, 2009, 05:26:37 PM
Correct, the Saab 98 design was the work of Giugiario. Not one of his better moments, but could have been worse; could have been the Morris Ital !!!

But the Ital wasn't penned by Giugiaro! It was Harris Mann's work, ItalDesign was involved only in putting the project into production. Of course, the marketing guys from BL thought it wouldn't do no harm to the car to suggest that it was designed by the famous Italian

Carnut · August 15, 2009, 10:51:20 AM

Quote from: ImpishGrin on August 15, 2009, 07:32:02 AM
Quote from: Djetset on August 12, 2009, 05:26:37 PM
Correct, the Saab 98 design was the work of Giugiario. Not one of his better moments, but could have been worse; could have been the Morris Ital !!!

But the Ital wasn't penned by Giugiaro! It was Harris Mann's work, ItalDesign was involved only in putting the project into production. Of course, the marketing guys from BL thought it wouldn't do no harm to the car to suggest that it was designed by the famous Italian

Not quite right. The MARINA was Harris Mann's design. It was only when BL wanted it sexed up a few years later that they approached Giugiaro at Ital Design to do some changes, and he foolishly agreed. The front and rear were changed along with minor details on the side, proof if ever any were needed that you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear...

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SOLVED: Djetset #72 - Saab 98 Giugiaro