Saab 900 Turbo – Collector Car of the Future

Several auctions of classic Saab cars over the past few years, and among them especially the Saab 900 Turbo model, indicate that Saab cars will be quite interesting to car enthusiasts – car collectors. Already, in the last couple of auctions, Saab 900 prices have exceeded 50,000 dollars, and one Saab car was even sold for over 100,000 dollars. This phenomenon was dealt with by the French magazine “autocollec” intended for car enthusiasts, which sees great potential in the Saab 900 Turbo.

Although there are several SAAB clubs in France, Saab cars are almost unknown to the general public. France, with its large automobile industry, focuses on domestic Citroen, Renault and Peugeot, and these are the vehicles that sell the most in France. And yet, true car enthusiasts recognized in the Saab 900 turbo all the ingredients that make a great taste for a true collector. Precisely because of this, they pointed out 7 reasons why the Saab 900 Turbo deserves to stand next to the most sought-after collector cars in the world.

A BRAND FROM AVIATION

As we all know (at least we Saab enthusiasts), Saab (Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget) was born in 1937, as a response to the needs of the then Swedish government to provide the country with an aeronautical industry capable of defending its territory. After the end of World War II, company leaders sought a redistribution of industry. Thus, in 1947, Saab Automobile was born.

And there has always been a tenuous connection between the world of aviation and SAAB cars. Models from the 1960s featured an airplane-shaped logo, but for the 900 designers sought to recreate an airplane cockpit entirely dedicated to the pilot. The very curved windshield is also due to this approach.

ONE OF THE VERY FIRST PRODUCTION TURBO ENGINES

And this is of course well known to us – Saab was a pioneer in the integration of Turbochargers into production cars. SAAB was not the first manufacturer to turbocharge a production car, but the first to do so on a mass-produced car when it was only found on sports cars. With the SAAB 99 – predecessor of the 900 – SAAB invented modern turbocharging in 1977 by adding a small Garrett T3 turbo to its robust Triumph-sourced 2.0-litre four-cylinder.

INNOVATIVE ENGINEERING

We have already written here about the large number of innovations that Saab introduced into the car industry, and the great influence on the entire car world. We can name only a few innovations, and there were many, such as the first air conditioner with a pollen filter, self-repairing bumpers or the first brake lining without asbestos. But there were also ergonomic tricks, such as the ignition key located between the seats “to avoid the risk of injury” or the aforementioned switch off of the dashboard.

Even more innovative was the APC (Automatic Performance Control) system regulating the boost pressure according to the octane level of the fuel accompanied by knock detection by a piezoelectric system… To close the chapter, it is impossible not to mention the longitudinal and inclined 45° engine mounting.

AN EXCEPTIONAL LEVEL OF MANUFACTURING

For decades, French car buyers have been amazed by German quality. But Swedish quality is at least on par with the 900 Turbo. As all current Saab 900 owners can testify, all switches still have a pleasant “touch”. Every button, cover or lever is operated with a “well-muffled click”. Leather ages incredibly well and there are 900s that look almost new, despite 300,000 km on the clock! The 900 is “built for purpose, not for budget”…

A HEDONISTIC IMAGE

Choosing a SAAB 900 was a real sign of originality in the early 80s. SAABs have long been associated with anti-fashionistas, eccentrics, free thinkers and epicurean intellectuals.

Quite the opposite of those who drive in Mercedes, BMWs or Jaguars, the cars of all the dignitaries from the province. The image of the intellectual SAAB driver wearing a black turtleneck is far from a mere stereotype: a very serious study showed that 85% of those driving SAABs had a university degree, and 50% of them probably had a postgraduate degree!

THE BRAND NO LONGER EXISTS

This is perhaps the strongest motive for all true collectors – to distinguish it from other sought-after classic cars – the brand no longer exists. There is no better way to “become a legend” than to “die”, like Hollywood stars like James Dean, Jim Morrison, or Jimmy Hendrix.

Already very exclusive when it was in production, it has become a real rarity, another key (and exotic) element to becoming a particularly attractive collector’s car!

AN ULTRA SEXY SAAB CONVERTIBLE

What’s better than a regular Saab 900 Turbo – the answer is the Saab 900 Turbo Cabriolet! This convertible offers an outstanding line that combines simplicity and high class, making it already a highly sought-after car…

All these 7 reasons make the Saab 900 Turbo a future highly sought-after classic. Having become a trendy icon of the 80s, the 900 turbo became sought after for its inimitable style, its character, its exclusivity, its robustness and its performance.