Today is that day, One of the three known pre-production survivors a Rare SAAB 92 DE LUXE BERLINE 1949 prototype (Chassis no. 92009) It’s sold at auction (Bonhams international auction house).
Two weeks ago, the auction house estimated the value of this car – “car will sell for only $30,000” – which seems like a real bargain for a rare piece of history like this.
However, Today the car was sold at a slightly lower price – $27,600 or €23,000!
To remind you, this is not one of the first mass-production Saabs, but, in fact, a prototype. Saab built 20 prototype 92s after the very-first Saab, the 92001, and the production 1950 Saab 92. This 92, chassis number 92009, is one of three known remaining (including 001 and 004) of 20 pre-production prototypes.
It was expected that the car would sell at a price between $18,000 and $30,000, which seems quite reasonable for such a historic automobile, and this price was achieved today.
Here’s how this rare car is described in the auction catalog:
Offered here is one of the 20 pre-production prototypes built before SAAB launched its first car in 1950. Chassis numbers ran from ‘92001’ to ‘92020’, this car – ‘92009’ – being the ninth completed. Of the three known survivors, ‘92001’ is in the SAAB Museum while ‘92004’ belongs to a private collector, making ‘92009’ the third oldest SAAB in existence. It is believed that the others were scrapped.
This car was first registered to SAAB Aeroplan AB on 19th July 1949, passing to one of the company’s aerospace engineers, Olaf Öhlander, in November 1953. It is believed that prior to his purchase the car was updated with an opening boot and repainted grey (from original green, still visible in places). The SAAB enjoyed a further four owners (all in Sweden) before its acquisition in September 1960 by Torsten Johansson, a farmer in the south of the country, who used the car sporadically until 1980 when it was placed in barn storage.
The current vendor purchased ‘92009’ in April 1997, and the car has remained in the family’s possession ever since, during which time it has been maintained but not restored. The tyres have been replaced and the front wings renovated, apart from that it has not been touched.
Only a handful of miles has been covered annually. Originally the car had an external mirror on the right-hand side but has been fitted with a home-made mirror on the left side, presumably done after Sweden switched to driving on the right in September 1967. Accompanying documentation consists of details of all owners, Swedish registration papers, inspection protocols (1966-1980), owner’s handbook, repair manual, and five books about SAAB (1948, 1956, 1983, 1987, and 1997).
€15,000 – 25,000
No Reserve
