Saab ads currently promote the brand as "born from jets." This phrase is completely accurate because "Saab" is the Swedish acronym for its original owner - "Swedish Airplane Company" in English - a corporation still building jets.

In addition to its jet heritage, Saab also is known for the distinct, uncommon design of its cars, which has special appeal for certain enthusiasts. Case in point: Minnesota Saab Club president Chris Luick, who has amassed a personal collection numbering somewhere around 40 Saabs. Another local example is Chuck Andrews, who decided to make his living selling and repairing used Saabs after he drove his first model in the early 1970s. He currently owns Andrews Inc. of Princeton, an independent used-car dealership, with his son, Don.

So what's the appeal of Saab? Andrews, who owns five vintage Saabs himself, the oldest a 1964 GT850, says the make has "maintained its soul" in each of its generations. Along with safety and fuel efficiency, he says that soul includes great performance and handling. "They're fun to drive," Andrews says. "They put a smile on your face."

Luick agrees. He touts what he calls Saab's "leading edge in technology and ergonomics." He says he's "driven everything out there," including some race cars, and finds that Saab "handles like a dream. Saabs offer the best balance," he adds. "They can go zero to 60 in six seconds, get 30-plus miles per gallon and they're the safest cars in the world. And I once fit a personal watercraft in a hatchback and closed it."

The club has about 50 active members, with two-thirds in the metro area, but the mailing list for the club's electronic newsletter includes around 300 names. Founded in the early 1970s, the Minnesota Saab Club is one of the oldest Saab clubs in America. It sponsors formal ("Saabtoberfest") and informal drives and the occasional car show. Members also clean a stretch of Minnesota Highway 56 twice a year, help each other work on their cars and participate in time-speed-distance rallies. Some members show their Saabs at the annual Intermarque Council Spring Kickoff, which takes place on May 17 at the Plymouth Radisson.

Luick, who rode in a bright yellow Saab Sonnett two-seater when he was very young, really fell in love with Saab after buying a 1986 900 Turbo. His collection runs the Saab gamut from a 1960 93 to newer 9-3s and 9-5s. Andrews, a club member for most of its existence, has been a contributing editor for many years to Nines, a Saab magazine that's circulated nationally.

For more information on the Minnesota Saab Club, call 612-250-6788, e-mail chrisluick@prodigy.net or visit www.mnsaabclub.org.