Saab 96 made in Rotterdam, Netherlands (Holland)

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The Saab Club Netherlands tweeted about an article on the website of a local Dutch newspaper. Someone is looking for more information about the Saab 96 being produced in Rotterdam, Netherlands in a limited production run.

We're reaching out to the global Saab community. If anyone has any information, documentation and/or pictures about Saab 96 assembly in Rotterdam, please post in this thread. Some think it is based on rumors but the specific years, production number and other facts seems to make plausible.

A few websites have some information, including background information on the history of the factory.

http://www.allpar.com/corporate/fact...rotterdam.html

Kaiser-Frazer opened a new plant in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, in 1949; it made Kaiser/Willys Jeeps, and, soon, Simcas (under contract). The plant was deemed NEKAF — Nederlandse Kaiser-Frazer Fabrieken N.V. Among the vehicles it built was the M38A1 Jeep, which was used by the Dutch military from 1952 through 1996 (though the last ones were delivered in the late 1960s); parts were made in the United States and shipped to NEKAF for assembly, starting in 1955. Eventually, 24% of the parts were made by local suppliers.
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Chrysler International decided to buy this plant from Kaiser-Frazer, closing the Antwerp plant after 32 years. At first, in 1958, Chrysler considerably increased the Simca production, including the ex-Ford Simca Beaulieu and Chambord models. Simca production would continue till the end of 1961, at which time it stopped being viable, because of import duty eliminations in Europe (the beginning of the EEC).
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Because of the good relationship with SAAB ANA in Sweden, it was decided that Rotterdam would start assembling the Saab 96 for the European market. Sweden was not yet a member of the European market in those days, so there was a import duties advantage. But the deal lasted only about a year. It was probably stopped because Chrysler had acquired a majority of Simca, which would launch a small car, and was about to acquire the British Rootes group.

This Dutch website has the following information:
570 cars (Saab 96) were produced at the Sluisjesdijk factory in 1962 and 1963.

Another Dutch website (in English) shows similar details:
At the Sluisjesdijk, the place of the Simca's was taken up by Saab, with had made a deal for the distribution with Chrysler. (Sweden didn't join the European Community at that time), but it was for a short period. In 1963 it stopped, after 570 were produced.

Made in Holland? 1962 Saab 96

[nordwulf]

This is an aerial overview of the Sluisjesdijk from Google as it is today. The web sources don't show an address number.



Other sources show:
Chrysler Benelux S.A. - N.V. - 1970
Sluisjesdijk 129
Rotterdam

[nordwulf]

I asked for some help from the Dutch Saab forum a while ago but it is still somewhat of a mystery.

Member Ronnes writes:
Discussion of this mystery returns occasionally. Hans Ensing wrote a book about the NEKAF-Chrysler story. Peter de Groot was an employee at the Saab importer and says Saabs were never manufactured in The Netherlands.

There was a fax from the Saabmuseum with more info about production sites outside of Sweden (excluding Saab-Valmet, Finland)

IMA, Mechelen, Belgium 1959-1960: 608 cars: 276 S93 + 332 S96
Brondeel Antwerpen, Belgium 1967-1971: 2016 cars S96
Saab-IMA, Mechelen, Belgium 1973-1978: 24821 cars S99

Chrysler, Rotterdam: 1962-1963: 570 cars S96

ISIS Motor, Glostrup, Denmark 1957-1963: 9632 cars: 1331 S93 + 8301 S96

Automotora Boreal, Montevideo (Uruguay) 1964-1970 478 cars: 70 S95 + 308 S96 + 100 S99

Ronnes has never seen a 2T from Rotterdam but forumer Rikard owns a 96 from Denmark and Ronnes used to own a 96 built in Mechelen.



sonett003 writes:
Saab "oldie" Peter de Groot worked for the Saab importer in the 50s and 60s and knows the history like nobody else. Together with Saab expert Jan Groosmuller Sr, they will put some of he Dutch Saab history in writing soon.

Peter explains it is a big misunderstanding. Saabs were never assembled in Rotterdam. There was a customs depot near the Kaiser factory. The Saab factory transported cars by ship to this depot and cars were modified for the local European markets here. Importers could deliver cars faster this way.

Image from a Swedish website with foreign production numbers