Collection Clean-Out: Saab 900 Projects

For a little while, I was a Saab man. With a Monte Carlo Yellow 900 Turbo convertible in my garage, I gained access to one of the most enthusiastic and helpful car communities out there, which was particularly impressive considering Saab had already vanished from our shores as an active manufacturer at that point. So, it comes as little surprise that someone has posted a large collection of vehicles and parts for under $20,000 here on craigslist, because Saab fans tend to grab every parts car and mechanical bits they can find. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Tony Primo for the tip.

Now, the thing about Saab guys is they know how useful parts cars can be, and you can pick up non-running or running but somewhat needy cars for well under $3,000. This 1991 convertible looks great sitting on the classic tri-spoke wheels, but it is a naturally-aspirated model with an automatic transmission. The autos in these cars is an abysmal 3-speed GM-sourced automatic, which is another reason why the cars with the slushbox are almost always designated parts rigs. The good news is the bodywork appears sound and it ran when parked.

This appears to be the 1991 model the seller references, which is also an automatic but comes with the desirable turbocharged engine. In addition to the quirky designs and the trademark features like the ignition switch in the center console, Saab also pioneered the use of turbocharging as a means of delivering spunky performance with respectable fuel economy. It really fit the character of the car well, complete with a boost gauge in the cluster. With 175 b.h.p. and 195 lb.-ft. of torque, performance was more than respectable for this modest hot hatch. Sadly, this one has an unknown engine issue.

The seller uses this term “engine issues” to describe several of the cars in his collection, including this 1989 convertible which combines the desirable turbo engine with a 5-speed manual. He suspects this one needs a head gasket, which is not an uncommon fault on these generally robust engines. The 2.0L 16-valve mill is easy to live with when maintained, but so many of the convertibles were purely summer cars for owners that they often sat idle for several months every year. That, and they made great college cars for kids of a certain age, which only furthered the lack of proactive maintenance. For the Saab connoisseur, this is a collection worth looking at to have access to years’ worth of spare parts, but the price may still be somewhat high for most die-hards.