This really does seem too good to be true, especially if you’re a Saab fanatic: 11 Saab projects for $10K, or 7,500 in British pounds since this barn find is overseas. The collection consists largely of late 1980s model 900s and Turbos, but there’s also a yellow 96 in the mix. You can find the whole collection here on eBay UK, where the seller provides a complete break-down of the cars involved in the sale.
First off, this looks like the perfect barn find environment. Low ceilings, dim lighting, cars crammed together. You can almost smell the dampness. The seller has a variety of Saab 900s 3-doors, 5-doors and convertibles, but he doesn’t elaborate on condition. For the price, it’s safe to say they will all need work, but the bodies don’t look terrible and parts availability is still generally good for these older Saabs despite the company’s demise.
Check it out – that’s the interior of one of the cars, along with that gorgeous sport steering wheel. Not too bad, right? The cars do appear to be well-protected from the elements but no word on moisture in the garage or whether the floors are missing from any of them, like the 96. Those early models are already prone to rust in the best of conditions, so hopefully it’s been stored carefully. The other cars are mostly Turbo models, which is a good thing.
As an enthusiast stuck stateside, I am envious of the European-spec glass headlight housings these cars enjoy. More photos of the individual cars would be helpful, and the seller says more information is coming. The price strikes me as a little too good to be true, especially since there’s additional value here as extra parts become quite desirable once the remaining supply dries up. Would you take the whole collection or ask the seller to break it up?
So bummed by this listing. If not in the UK would be jumping all over this. Even still, if the steering wheels were on the correct side it would be tempting.
The SAAB marque just doesn’t seem to have much cache in the classic car world. I really like them, and I’d own a 92 or a 96 all day long. But for some reason there just doesn’t seem to be strong interest, as evidenced by the 1K/each price tag on this group.
I suspect the reason is that the Swedes just didn’t make that many “classic” or interesting models…Sure, the 92 and 96 are way cool and quirky, and maybe the Sonnet , but that’s the extent of it. Volvo’s 1800 cars are red-hot, but that’s the only Volvo that any classic enthusiasts care about. OK, there’s a 122 following. I’m just saying…the Swedes were all about practicality and longevity, and not about sexy. The 900s are cool, so why is there so little interest? I have no answers, only questions.
Hell, I’ll let nine of mine go for $8K.
Man, these things really have no value do they? I’d like to get rid of my 900c but it seems like they have zero following.
Well Mr. Jeff, since you are a Saab fan, I will let you in on something I found out just yesterday! There is a Saab museum opening up in Sturgis South Dakota! Supposed to be the only one in the United States! I wished I knew how to get ahold of them, I would share this find with them! They plan on chauffeur driving tours and they plan on renting some of them out to! They have a lot of cars for display Saab’s and they said some other classics thrown into the mix as well! I plan on a visit there soon! After they get settled in and organized! FYI
Tom Donney is setting up the museum – http://www.tomdonneymotors.com/
Very cool! I couldn’t find the article that I read it in, but I am excited to see someone show respect to the lonely Saab! When I was much younger you could see them everywhere, now not so much! I actually always loved the design basic but complete! Thanks for the info on the name!
Always liked Swedish cars. SAAB is the opposite of Volvo. Quirkiness compared to rock hard conservative designs
A good driver-quality classic 900 in the US runs from $4-8k, with low-mileage or special editions – Springtime in Sweden convertible or SPG (Special Performance Group) models getting a premium.
It’s pretty simple. Saabs were ALWAYS different..and very much a niche car outside of Sweden. Expensive (comparable to BMW 320s of that era), quirky, different, unothodox…and — in the US at least — expensive to service and maintain. Smallish inside too…I mean, back in the late 80s it cost @ $ 1,000.00 US for a “30K mile major service”. Yikes! So their selling numbers were small and mostly regionalized in the US…appealing to a certain kind of ‘professional’ white collar, highly educated buyer. And Saabs were Saabs…not “cars”. That said, they were well/highly engineered (some say over engineered), designed around practical function and safety features. I have 3 ‘classic 900s’….and to this day I find them to be most satisfying to drive; spirited, reliable (if maintained and cared for), ergonomic, sure footed….with sports car like handling/perf (at the time) and good MPG. Great rides…FWD Turbo! Funny, that’s what they’re making/trending today. Saab was WAY ahead of their time and novel…but with limited appeal to mostly affectionados and a loyal (bordering on fanatic) fan base. Long live SAABs and those ‘Stupid Arse’s Actually Bought it’ poor saps like me (or so my mechanic says to this day… ) :-)
I’d rather work on an 80s-era Saab than any of the other European cars of the day. Sure, vacuum-powered switches and controls, pneumatic suspension, and fiber optic dash lights were cool at the time but now they are expensive nightmares to deal with now. Saab got it right, as evidenced by their ever-strong following.
I thought they sold the rights to a foriegn company when ‘Walwo’ got sold.
Guess not (last is 2011?)?
To bad there is no Sonnet among this group of Saabs in Britain….. Sigh
In the area I live in (SW Scotland) it always seemed to be Bank Managers, Architects, Dentists & the like that drove 90% of all Saab’s around until they dropped in price so far that they were bought by Boy-Racers or people who ended up scrimping on Maintenance & Essential Repairs so they never lasted much after the cheapo folk got them.