The 65th anniversary of Saab Club Nederland was celebrated with grandeur on October 13, 2024, at Bomencentrum Nederland in Baarn. This milestone event gathered over 900 devoted Saab fans, accompanied by 650 remarkable Saab cars, making it one of the largest Saab gatherings in recent history. The club, known as the oldest Saab club in the world, boasts an impressive membership of 3,000 individuals, each contributing to the vibrant Saab legacy.
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A Walk Down Memory Lane: Vintage Saabs on Display
The event featured an awe-inspiring collection of Saabs from various eras, with several cars dating back to 1959, the club’s founding year. Saab enthusiasts were treated to a nostalgic experience as the iconic Saab 93 models took center stage, drawing attention to the brand’s rich heritage.
The long line of classic Saabs was meticulously parked by model and type, adding to the visual splendor of the event. Saab memorabilia and parts from more than 30 exhibitors were showcased at the free parts market, with many attendees seizing the opportunity to find elusive items to complete their restoration projects.
NEVS Emily GT: The Future of Saab Engineering?
One of the most anticipated highlights of the anniversary celebration was the presentation of the NEVS Emily GT prototype. This electric vehicle is seen as the spiritual successor to the Saab lineage, developed by a team of former Saab engineers under the leadership of Frank Smit, VP of Engineering & Product Development at NEVS. Smit, donning a special “Sonett IV” sweater, hinted at the potential future name for the Emily GT, a revolutionary electric vehicle equipped with an electric motor in each wheel and an astounding range of over 1,000 kilometers.
In his presentation, Smit walked the audience through the development process of the car, from the initial concept to the production of six driving prototypes. Despite the challenges of securing investors, optimism remains high for the Emily GT, and Saab enthusiasts are eagerly watching its journey towards production.
Miranda Reuvekamp, part of the organization team, shared her personal excitement following the event in a message to the Saab Planet team. “At the end of the day, Frank Smit took me for a ride in the Emily GT. WOWWWW!!!! What a car! I’m totally in love,” she exclaimed. This firsthand experience speaks volumes about the revolutionary driving experience the Emily GT offers, reinforcing its potential to captivate future Saab drivers.
The Art of Urbex Photography: Capturing Forgotten Beauty
In addition to the automotive excitement, the event also featured presentations by renowned urbex photographer Daan Oude Elferink. His work, which captures abandoned buildings, factories, and classic cars in their decaying state, resonated deeply with the audience.
During his sessions, Daan shared images from his exploration of the Palmen collection, a hidden treasure trove of more than 200 vintage cars, including a few rare Saabs. His captivating storytelling and visual artistry brought a unique perspective to the event, showcasing the beauty in decay and forgotten relics.
A Special Volvo Exhibition: The Swedish Collection
Although the day was predominantly focused on Saab, attendees also had the opportunity to explore The Swedish Collection, a remarkable display of around 100 Volvos, owned by Hans Blokzijl, the host of the event. Blokzijl offered guided tours of his private collection, further cementing the bond between the two Swedish automotive giants. His collection showcased the finest examples of Swedish engineering, complementing the array of Saabs present at the celebration.
A Day to Remember
As the day came to an end, Saab fans enjoyed a barbecue and left with fond memories, goodie bags, and perhaps even rare car parts. The event culminated in a heartfelt speech by Merlijn Kalkman, chairman of Saab Club Nederland, who expressed gratitude to everyone who attended and especially thanked the volunteers for their hard work in making the day a success. For Miranda Reuvekamp, the day ended on an extra high note as she was granted that unforgettable ride in the Emily GT prototype with Frank Smit—an exhilarating end to an already spectacular celebration.
This celebratory event was not just about honoring the past but also envisioning the future of Saab. With the NEVS Emily GT, the legacy of innovation and passion for Saab automobiles continues.
Press Release from Saab Club Nederland
Baarn – On Sunday October 13, 2024, more than 900 Saab fans and around 650 Saabs came to Bomencentrum Nederland in Baarn, the Netherlands, to celebrate the 65th anniversary of Saab Club Nederland. This club is the oldest Saab club in the world and has around 3,000 members.
Several Saabs from 1959
The long procession of arriving Saabs was parked as much as possible by model and type, with a number of Saabs 93 from the founding year 1959 as showpieces. A free parts market was set up on a large parking lot at the back of the complex, where, in addition to parts, all kinds of Saab memorabilia were offered for sale. The more than 30 exhibitors had brought a wide variety of parts and you could see many people walking around the site with a smile on their face, carrying that long-sought-after part firmly under their arm.
NEVS Emily GT
There was even more to experience inside. A driving prototype of the NEVS Emily GT had arrived from Sweden, the conceived successor to Saab, which unfortunately went bankrupt in 2011. This Emily GT, developed by many former Saab designers and engineers, was supervised by Frank Smit, who is still closely involved in the project as a leading engineer. He gave an extensive presentation both in the morning and in the afternoon about the development from scratch to six driving prototypes. A nice detail: Frank was wearing a sweater with an image of the Emily GT on it and the text “Sonett IV” underneath. So that could well be the future type name for this very special electric car, with an electric motor in each wheel and a range of more than 1,000 kilometers. NEVS is still talking with potential investors. Frank Smit and his team remain optimistic that this “Sonett IV” will be on the market in the foreseeable future.
Palmen collection
Photographer Daan Oude Elferink also gave two presentations on urbex photography. This form of photography is mainly about capturing abandoned houses, castles, factories and hospitals in images. Daan showed many examples of desolate buildings, but also photos of the Palmen collection found last year, an unknown collection of more than 200 classics, including a number of very rare ones. And searching through his very extensive oeuvre, which he markets under the brand name “Daanoe”, of course several Saabs also emerged, sometimes covered in dust and sometimes in moss.
Swedish Collection
No Saabs, but about 100 special Volvos. That is the Swedish Collection, also on display at the complex. The collection belongs to Hans Blokzijl, the owner of Bomencentrum Nederland. In groups of about 50 people there was the opportunity to admire his collection with an explanation from himself or one of his employees.
After a barbecue, the event ended around 6 p.m. and all participants left with their “loot” and a goodie bag in hand with their own Saab. Chairman Merlijn Kalkman thanked everyone for coming and spoke of a very successful event, where he also put the organization and all its volunteers in the spotlight. Organization team member Miranda Reuvekamp was granted a ride in the Emily GT with Frank Smit, before they returned to Sweden.
