Former Saab USA chief Bob Sinclair died earlier today at the age of 77 after a three-year battle with cancer. Best known as the creator of the Saab 900 convertible, a car that became synonymous with the Swedish automaker, Sinclair is credited with bringing Saab into the mainstream in the North American market.
It was Sinclair’s idea to chop the top off of the 900 two-door in the early 1980s, thus helping rebuild the then-suffering convertible segment into what it is today. Sinclair was also credited with helping create the sporty 900 SPG (Special Performance Group) three-door hatchback and he was considered one of the driving forces behind the automaker’s move upmarket with the Saab 9000.
Sinclair retired from Saab in 1991, after being the automaker’s U.S. chief for the 12 years that saw Saab grow from a small New England-centric brand to a well-known brand.
05/12, 2:34 PM
posted by:
Borat
Good man gone. RIP.
05/12, 2:42 PM
posted by:
No more oil for GM
he didn’t get to see saab get a new and hopefully bright future outside gm.. sad.. my thoughts are with his family..
05/12, 3:08 PM
posted by:
JakeK66
May Saab live on forever in his memory. I’ve been a Saabophile since he was in charge.
05/12, 3:37 PM
posted by:
idrinorbarsaku
RIP…
05/12, 4:11 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
I’m not a Saab fan, but he still has my respect. May he rest in peace.
05/12, 6:25 PM
posted by:
Madcapp
I’ll bet you that’s an old 2 stroke Saab.
05/12, 6:53 PM
posted by:
Spingood Tanoya
Madcapp, you’re right, it’s a Saab 93. The four-stroke V4 didn’t come along until the model 96 (and 95 wagon).
05/12, 9:50 PM
posted by:
Get Real
Mainstream ???
No disrespect for adead man, but a dying car company is not “mainstream”
05/13, 3:26 AM
posted by:
HKLV
Press preview at a racetrack somewhere in the south, launching one of SAAB’s then-new, heated up front-drivers.
Eric Carlsson was giving riders a taste of sideways; got a little hot, slid into the sand, the car jacked and rolled a couple of times, landing roof down. Eric and a very white writer climb through the flattened window frame.
Bob applauds. Then everyone. Without a beat, Sinclair says, “another sale, sticker price… insurance company’s a great customer.”
Few left like him. He’ll be missed.
05/13, 3:18 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
Get Real, I think by “mainstream” they mean “not exotic”. Very grey area, though, I agree.