When Saab set foot in North America in the late 1950s, the brand’s early success came from more than engineering. Saab insisted on building a support network before chasing sales, creating one of the most extensive service footprints of any European manufacturer on the continent. For tens of thousands of American and Canadian owners, that network became a lifeline.
And within that network, few names carried as much weight as Jerry Danner and his Mile Hi Automotive team in Denver, Colorado. From the late 1960s until their closure in 2021, Mile Hi wasn’t simply a repair shop; it was a constant in a landscape where Saab dealerships and service centers slowly disappeared after the 2011 bankruptcy. Jerry spent his entire adult life maintaining, rescuing, and celebrating Saabs – earning the unofficial title “Mr. Saab Colorado.”
His father opened Mile Hi in 1969, and Jerry, who joined as a teenager, went on to work with every Saab generation produced: from two-stroke classics to the final 9-4X. For over five decades, customers brought him their stories alongside their cars: accidents survived, cross-country drives, family memories, and odometer numbers that looked more like aviation logs. When the shop finally closed its doors in April 2021, it marked the end of an era for one of America’s longest-standing Saab institutions.
But Jerry never stepped away from the community.
A Moment That Became Saab History: The 2016 Convertible Gathering
In his latest message, Jerry revisits one of the most ambitious Saab events ever organized in North America – a gathering that unexpectedly became a world record.
2016 marked the 30th anniversary of the Saab Convertible, a model that changed the brand’s image and became one of its most recognizable exports. As chairman of the Rocky Mountain Saab Club of Colorado, Jerry rallied enthusiasts across the region and beyond to celebrate the occasion.
What followed still stands as a landmark moment.
Red Rocks Park, Morrison – 72 Saab Convertibles in One Place
At sunrise, owners began assembling at the dramatic sandstone amphitheater of Red Rocks Park, west of Denver. Instructions were simple: bring coffee, talk Saab, and enjoy the moment. By 9:00 a.m., the lineup stretched across the landscape – 72 Saab Convertibles from nine U.S. states, plus participants from Canada.
According to organizers of the global anniversary, this became the largest gathering of Saab Convertibles ever recorded.
Jerry’s Mile Hi Automotive had been the largest independent Saab specialist in the Denver metro area, and he mobilized eight additional workshops across Colorado to help spread the word. The results exceeded expectations: a celebration that captured the spirit of a brand no longer in production, yet still profoundly alive.
Driving the Rockies – The Anniversary Run
Once the photos were taken, the 72-car caravan set off on a route that showcased Colorado’s dramatic terrain:
- Red Rocks → Morrison → Evergreen
- Up along Bear Creek
- Across the sweeping ascent of Squaw Pass (9,810 ft / 2,990 m) with views toward the Continental Divide
- Past the entrance to Mount Blue Sky (formerly Mt. Evans), home to the highest paved road in the United States
- Down toward historic Idaho Springs
- Ending with a pre-arranged buffet lunch at the iconic El Rancho Restaurant, where participants gathered until late afternoon, trading stories, photographs, and impressions from a day unlikely to happen again.
Photographer Jeff Thompson anticipated the spectacle. He left early to set up on Squaw Pass and captured every Saab as it climbed past his overlook — a continuous ribbon of convertibles against a backdrop of Rocky Mountain scenery.
Jerry has now shared his Google Photo Album from the event, containing dozens of remarkable images:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/7RuCeR35vjuBE5BT6
2026: A New Anniversary and a Question for the Global Saab Community
Next year marks 40 years since the launch of the first Saab Convertible. Jerry believes the milestone deserves recognition – not only in Sweden, but across North America and everywhere these cars still matter.
In his message, he raises a challenge: Can Saab communities around the world coordinate photo shoots in 2026 to honor the anniversary, just as Colorado did in 2016?
With Peter Bäckström in Sweden following the discussion and with the Saab Club of North America likely preparing its own program, Jerry hopes to see enthusiasts submit local anniversary photos that could be compiled and shared globally.
Even after closing Mile Hi Automotive, Jerry continues to run the Rocky Mountain Saab Club, participates in events, visits the Saab Heritage Museum in Sturgis, and maintains his collection of ten Saabs. His passion, as ever, remains undiminished.
A Legacy That Continues
For many Saab owners, Jerry wasn’t just a mechanic. He represented a standard of care rooted in knowledge, respect, and decades of experience. The 2016 Convertible gathering was a testament to what a community can achieve when guided by someone who genuinely understands the brand’s spirit.
As 2026 approaches, his message bridges past and future: Saab may be a frozen chapter in automotive history, but the people who wrote that chapter are still here – and ready to celebrate again.
