Saab History

Saab 900i Lynx Engineering Convertible

Saab 900 Lynx Engineering ConversionSaab 900 Lynx Engineering Conversion

1981 the chairman of Saab-Scania America, Robert J. ‘Bob’ Sinclair, saw the opportunity in the market for Saab to offer a high quality car with soft (open) top.

The New version was initially lanelled “Saab 900 Cabroiolet” and launched as a concept car based on the newer two door 900 body shell. With a budget of about $ 30,000 and sketchesby Bjorn Envall, the American company ASC has created a prototype convertible.

Saab 900 Cabrio's prototype
Original Saab 900 Cabrio’s prototype

Around the same time, the UK company Lynx Engineering develops its solution – conversion Saab 900 model in the 900 convertible variant.

Continue reading after the ad

Saab 900i Lynx Engineering Convertible is a very special car – 1 of 2 ever produced – and now the only surviving example is for sale via CCA. Lynx Engineering (of Jaguar conversions fame) created two folding roof convertible/targa examples.  This project was discontinued soon after Saab took the convertible style on.  This actual car featured on the Lynx brochure and is completely original.

1984 Saab 900 Lynx Engineering Conversion
1984 Saab 900 Lynx Engineering Conversion
Saab 900 with the roof-mounted
Saab 900 with the roof-mounted

Choosing the Saab 900 because of its high torsional stiffnessLynx Engineering created removable targa roof, leaving side vraces and B pillars in place for rollover protection. A folding hood was constructed for the rear roof section and new laminated and removable side windows were made. Lynx Engineering charged 4,000 to carry out the conversion on a classic Saab 900.

Second (blue) Saab 900 Targa by Lynx Engineering, that was not supposed to "survive"
Second (blue) Saab 900 Targa by Lynx Engineering, that was not supposed to “survive”

However this one, claimed to be one of two is for auction at CCA a new venture which is an offshoot of Silverstone Classic Auctions. Offered for sale is a 1.9L 1984 Saab 900i Lynx Engineering Convertible manual that has been with the current owner for the last 7 years.

Continue reading after the ad
Saab 900 Targa sketches
This drawing from 1984 reveals a huge surprise – the designers entertainted the idea of a Saab 900 Targa by Saab designers!
Goran Aničić
the authorGoran Aničić
For over 15 years, Goran Aničić has been passionately focused on Saab automobiles and everything related to them. His initial encounter with Saab cars took place back in 2003 when the first Saab 9-3 and sedan version were introduced. At that moment, he was captivated by the car's Scandinavian design logic and top-notch engineering, and everything that followed stemmed from that first encounter. Later on, through his work at the editorial team of the Serbian automotive magazines "Autostart" and later "AutoBild," he had the opportunity to engage more closely with Saab vehicles. In 2008, he tested the latest Saab cars of that time, such as the Saab 9-3 TTiD Aero and Saab 9-3 Turbo X. In 2010, as the sole blogger from the region, he participated in the Saab 9-5ng presentation in Trollhättan, Sweden. Alongside journalists from around the world, he got a firsthand experience of the pinnacle of technological offerings from Saab at that time. Currently, Goran owns two Saabs: a 2008 Saab 9-3 Vector Sportcombi with a manual transmission, and a Saab 9-3 Aero Griffin Sport Sedan from the last generation, which rolled off the production line in Trollhättan in December 2011.

2 Comments

Leave a Reply