The Swedish-built Saab 900 had a relatively long-lived production run which ranged from 1978 through 1994. Classified as a compact executive car, it was available in convertible, two-door or four-door sedan, or liftback variations. Even though Saab as an automobile brand went defunct almost eight years ago, there are still enthusiasts out there enjoying and preserving them.
The Pick of the Day is a 1988 Saab 900 Turbo cabriolet listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Laguna Beach, California. (Click the link to view the listing)
“Runs and drives like a dream, handles very well, and is cosmetically crisp,” the seller says. “Third owner only, and owned for two years, during which the car received $6,000 in restoration, repairs, and maintenance.”
The second paragraph of the listing itemizes the specific expenditures that were involved in getting this car back into tip-top condition. The big-ticket items were some oil leak repairs, new front seat upholstery, exterior lighting, brake pads and toros, spark plugs, alignment, and transmission hoses. The level of detail that went into this restoration speaks to how much of a Saab enthusiast the owner is.
Power comes from a longitudinally-mounted turbocharged DOHC 2.0-liter inline-four mated to a three-speed automatic transaxle. Factory ratings for the drivetrain were 160 horsepower and 188 lb-ft of torque. The seller says, “Automatic transmission shifts like butter, and the car cold-starts excellently.”
The flaws mentioned involve some repairs that were performed on the convertible top. Also, the cassette and CD functions of the stereo are inoperative. And finally, the gauge cluster was replaced at one point and the current mileage reads higher than the actual mileage on the vehicle. (Usually, odometer swaps mean the opposite!)
Similar 900 Turbo cars that I found online with accompanying window stickers show retail pricing of $31,442 for a vehicle with this level of equipment. That was a good chunk of money in 1988! But the list of standard equipment backed it up: The features included dual heated power mirrors, four-wheel power disc brakes, front and rear stabilizer bars, fog lamps, heated front seats, air conditioning, courtesy lights, and a power antenna. No wonder these cars were so ahead of their time.
“The car speaks for itself,” the seller says. I admire the effort that went into this build, and I think the seller’s asking price of $15,995 is quite fair considering the car’s rarity and condition.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
