Erik Carlsson
Erik Carlsson | |
|---|---|
| Born | 5 March 1929 Trollhättan, Sweden |
| Died | 27 May 2015 (aged 86) |
| Occupation | Rally driver |
| Known for | Saab rally driver, "Carlsson on the roof", "Mr. Saab" |
Erik Hilding Carlsson (born 5 March 1929 – passed away 27 May 2015) was a prominent Swedish rally driver affiliated with Saab. He earned the monikers Carlsson på taket ("Carlsson on the roof," inspired by the children's book character created by Astrid Lindgren) and Mr. Saab in recognition of his extensive promotional efforts for the brand.
Early life
Carlsson hailed from Trollhättan, Sweden. On 9 July 1963, he wed fellow renowned rally driver Pat Moss in London. Pat Moss was also known as the younger sibling of Stirling Moss. Their daughter, Susie Carlsson, born on 1 December 1969, later gained acclaim in the field of show jumping.
Saab car history
Due to the limited power output of the early Saab vehicles Carlsson competed with, particularly those equipped with modified two-stroke engines, maintaining high engine revolutions was essential. This requirement compelled him to adopt a driving style that involved sustaining elevated speeds through corners, mastering techniques such as left-foot braking with exceptional skill.
Rally career
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In 1965, Erik Carlsson collaborated with Pat Moss to author The Art and Technique of Driving, published by Heinemann in London, initially priced at 25 shillings. The book was subsequently translated into several languages including Dutch, German, Japanese, and Spanish.
The nickname "Carlsson on the roof" draws its origin from Karlsson på taket, a character from Astrid Lindgren’s children’s literature who resides atop an apartment building. This sobriquet was attributed to Carlsson because of his tendency to occasionally flip his rally car onto its roof. Notably, during the Safari Rally, he deliberately rolled his vehicle to escape a mud trap. When some journalists expressed skepticism about this claim, he demonstrated the maneuver once more. The Ford factory team later attempted a similar stunt with their Ford Cortina, resulting in more extensive damage than sustained throughout the entire rally.
Throughout his career, Carlsson engaged in several unconventional actions. On one occasion during a UK rally, needing a replacement part, he discovered an unoccupied Saab 96 parked nearby. He and his mechanic began dismantling it until the owner confronted them. The co-driver diffused the situation by explaining Carlsson’s status as a factory driver for Saab and assured that the owner would receive a new vehicle. This incident ended amicably, with ongoing friendly correspondence between them. Rally rules at that time often imposed penalties for vehicle damage at event completion. To avoid penalties after his car had acquired dents on both front fender and door near the rally's end, Carlsson swapped these parts with those from a support car. The mismatch between clean replacement parts and the rest of the mud-covered car aroused suspicion; lacking water for cleaning, they used spare gasoline to wash off dirt. Reporters were impressed by their apparent effort to clean the vehicle before finishing. Later, from his hotel room window, Carlsson observed that the support car parked outside was spotless except for a dusty door and fender still bearing starting numbers.
At the 1959 Rally of Portugal, Carlsson entered as leader of the European championship, closely pursued by Paul Coltelloni, a works driver for Citroën. To hinder Carlsson’s chances, Citroën provided Coltelloni with an Alfa Romeo. While traversing Spain in their blue Saab shared with British Rally Champion John Sprinzel, they experienced front brake grabbing issues. Approaching a closed railway crossing at dusk at over 70 mph (110 km/h), heavy braking caused their car to spin and roll into barriers just ahead of an oncoming train. Despite this accident and resulting electrical complications, they secured third place overall. Finishing fourth would have sufficed for Carlsson to claim the championship title; however, shortly before awards were presented, officials imposed a 25-point penalty due to incorrect competition number colors—white numbers on black background instead of vice versa. This penalty dropped him to fourth place but preserved championship victory. Unexpectedly at the ceremony, an additional 25-point penalty was revealed—applied per door—pushing him down to eighth place.
In 1966’s Coupe des Alpes, Carlsson competed driving a nearly competitive Saab Sonett II powered by a bored-out two-stroke engine enlarged to 940 cc from the standard 841 cc, delivering up to 93 bhp (69 kW; 94 PS). The final drive was adjusted for lower gearing resulting in a top speed capped at 140 km/h (87 mph), but capable of accelerating from zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) in eight seconds. This performance allowed it to keep pace with cars like the Porsche 904. Unfortunately, persistent spark plug failures forced withdrawal after spares ran out; suspicion arose that sabotage had occurred when fuel analysis revealed contamination.
During the 1961 German Rally, rival DKW teams spread rumors that Carlsson had fitted an unauthorized four-speed gearbox into his Saab 96 (standard models featured only three gears). Upon inspection, no fourth gear was found; it was later revealed that Carlsson simulated extra gearing by partially engaging the clutch while in third gear.
In recognition of his contributions to rallying history, Carlsson was among the inaugural inductees into the Rally Hall of Fame in 2010 alongside Rauno Aaltonen, Paddy Hopkirk, and Timo Mäkinen.
Erik Carlsson passed away on 27 May 2015 after a brief illness.
Victories
- 1955: Winner of the Rikspokalen driving a Saab 92
- 1957: Champion of the 1000 Lakes Rally behind the wheel of a Saab 93
- 1959: Secured first place at the Swedish Rally with a Saab 93
- 1959: Triumphed in the Rallye Deutschland piloting a Saab 93
- 1960, 1961, 1962: Achieved first place at the RAC Rally driving a Saab 96
- 1960: Finished second in the Acropolis Rally with a Saab 96
- 1961: Placed seventeenth in the Canadian Winter Rally competing in a Saab 96
- 1961: Attained fourth position at the Monte Carlo Rally in a Saab 95
- 1961: Claimed victory at the Acropolis Rally driving a Saab 96
- 1962, 1963: Won the Monte Carlo Rally with a Saab 96
- 1962: Ranked seventh in the East African Safari Rally driving a Saab 96
- 1963: Finished as runner-up in the Liège-Sofia-Liège Rally with a Saab 96
- 1964: Captured first place at the San Remo Rally (Rally dei Fiori) in a Saab 96 Sport
- 1964: Secured second place in the Liège-Sofia-Liège Rally driving a Saab 96
- 1964: Achieved second place at the East African Safari Rally with a Saab 96
- 1965: Finished second in the BP Australian Rally competing in a Saab 96 Sport
- 1965: Runner-up in the Akropolis Rally driving a Saab 96 Sport
- 1967: Won the Czech Rally piloting a Saab 96 equipped with a V4
- 1969: Placed third in the Baja 1000 behind the wheel of a Saab 96 V4
- 1970: Finished fifth in the Baja 1000 driving a Saab 96 V4