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Saved From A Filthy Garage: 1969 Saab 96 V4 De Luxe

061816 Barn Finds - 1969 Saab 96 V4 Deluxe - 1

This is a great little car. It’s a 1969 Saab 96 V4 De Luxe and it’s located in Steel City: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This blue beauty is listed on eBay with a current bid price of $2,500 and the reserve isn’t met.

061816 Barn Finds - 1969 Saab 96 V4 Deluxe - 2

The seller says that “the picture showing the rear of the vehicle shows a wheel that has no hub cap on and is not painted. That is an old picture. All wheels are painted to match the body and the hub caps are all matching and in good condition.” I don’t see a mention as to if this could actually be 47-year old original paint? If it is, it’s pretty nice. Sure, there are a few paint chips and rust spots but it’s an old car, if it were in showroom condition it would be several times this price already. And, they also say that “it has some small rust holes in the floor pans, but it doesn’t have rust issues that make it structurally weak. I have never taken it out in the winter”. So, be prepared to do some welding. This color is called Hussar Blue.

061816 Barn Finds - 1969 Saab 96 V4 Deluxe - 3

Um.. well, this is one of two interior photos, and there are no engine photos. It’s perplexing, to say the least, how little effort goes into providing decent photos of the major parts of vehicles when they’re listed for sale. On the good side, the seller says that it has “newer upholstery”. 

061816 Barn Finds - 1969 Saab 96 V4 Deluxe - 4

Here’s the last interior photo, but they do say that they’ll try to upload some more interior photos; no mention of engine photos. Saabs sure looked like they were all business, at least gauge-wise. The dash looks good here, from this close-up, detail image. This is a “De Luxe” model which had the Saab Monte Carlo instrumentation; cool! A few overall interior photos would be most welcome, as would a couple of engine photos. There are two photos of the trunk, I guess this one is showing how spacious it is, and this one is showing the great, solid condition. This car really does look good for being 47-years old. I’ve always wanted a Saab 95 or 96, preferably a two-stroke, but a V4 car like this one would be great, too. Are there enough photos and details about this car’s condition for you to decide if it’s a good car, and a good buy? Would you restore this one or just keep it up mechanically and drive it?

Comments

  1. Avatar JW454

    It needs those Sabb mud flaps on it. This one’s on my bucket list. All those pictures and none of the engine.

    Like 0
  2. Avatar hhaleblian

    My cousin Ara had one of these. One summer in the 60’s our families met on Cape Cod. Ara took me for a night run introducing me to smoking a little mother nature listening to Poco Harem’s Whiter Shade of Pale. Whoever says cars aren’t interwoven into our lives needs a ride with cousin Ara.

    Like 0
  3. Avatar hhaleblian

    I should buy it just to put a roach in the ashtray

    Like 0
    • Avatar George

      Don’t Bogart that joint my friend…

      Like 0
  4. Avatar Cassidy

    The holes in the floorboards would need to be fixed but I don’t see anything else without a PI. Nice color and model year, I just don’t want to buy any more vehicles from snow country; too much hidden rust and corrosion!

    Like 0
  5. Avatar Matt Tritt

    While the current owner may not have driven it in the Winter, SOMEbody sure has in the past. Still, it looks good. Why is the freewheeling disconnected???

    Like 0
  6. Avatar John L

    A hand built Ford Taunus V4 engine? Well alright, then!

    Like 0
  7. Avatar Puhnto

    These are such great little cars! Being heavier than similar sized cars, they ride like a rock. Solid. Had a 95 wagon from college up through six kids! Drove it coast to coast and back and all over everywhere. Just waxing nostalgic.

    Like 0
  8. Avatar Paul B

    This is actually a somewhat rare model. Deluxe versions were only sold for the first part of the 1969 model year. Then the 99 appeared and Saab simplified the 96 line. The company discontinued the Standard 96 in the U.S. — the one with the trim strips over the wheel arches — and took a few things off the Deluxe to sell a semi-Deluxe for 1969-73. Gone were the tach, wheel trim rings, and chrome rear side window frame. Problems with this car include the rust, generally not great condition, and somewhat ratty-looking interior, whether the upholstery is newer or not. Any money put into this will be for love, as values aren’t that high and never will be for beaters. The few pristine ones around sell for good money, but my prediction is this one never will. Buy it, fix it up and drive it would be the way to go here.

    Like 0
  9. Avatar Ronald Gordon

    I bought a 1968 Model 96 for $250 in 1975. I put another $300 or so into it, drove it for two years, and sold it for $650 when I went away to college. Mine did not have the deluxe instrumentation, and overall I’d have to say that the 120 mph indicator on the speedo is “aspirational.” It was a little tank, and I loved it.

    Like 0
  10. Avatar Grace

    Hello. Is this car still available? I used to have one identical, but it was green.

    I’ve been looking for another!

    Like 0

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