“Owning a Saab is like joining a cult,” my Swedish friend Martin told me when I impressed him with my selection of a used 2006 Saab 9-5 some years ago. “You don’t make jokes about someone’s Saab,” he added. After a rich history of building quirky and sporty cars “Born from Jets,” Saab ceased production at its Stallbacka, Trollhättan, Sweden facility with the 2014 model year. This 2014 Saab 9-3 Aero, the last Saab built, stuck around the factory for a while and soon goes to auction at bilwebauctions.se where it will be sold to the highest bidder. Thanks to reader Jiří (George in English) for submitting the tip on this era-ending find.
After passing through the hands of General Motors in the 2000s, Saab now belongs to National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS), and an all-electric version of the 9-3 may be produced later in 2019. Though perhaps less fearsome than the post-apocalyptic “Last Interceptor” from Mad Max, this 9-3 can probably reach a higher top speed while consuming far less fuel.
If the stereo has a familiar look you may know the Chevy Impala, as the entertainment system and HVAC controls come from the GM parts bin. The key slot in the console is all Saab, however, for safety of course. My 9-5 showed evidence of excellent engineering and construction, including door panels that could be removed and replaced many times without stressing or destroying the mounting hardware, the only such car I’ve encountered on the planet.
The Aero’s 220 HP turbo inline four cylinder engine displaces 2.0 L. Though not as wicked as the 2.3 Turbo in my 9-5, the 2.0 has a fine reputation and will not disappoint. Do you have what it takes to purchase and pilot the last Saab?
Great story Todd. If I were King I would like to see it go to The Saab Car Museum.
I was there in the late 1980s. It’s definitely worth seeing.
It is, of course, a small museum. Saab was a small company, building small cars. But they saved one of just about everything that was important to the company. And, at least when I was there, almost all the cars were in good running condition.
I miss my Aero wagon. And the Viggan.
A guy did this summer and made a video https://youtu.be/oW5P9_hZ9Yc
I love the subtle digs at Government Motors in the add.
“An engine generation from GM:s world of engines, but still with some input or tweaks from the Saab engineers.”
“ingenious aircraft inspirered Saab-feeling is very much still there regardless of GM:s involvement.”
This one would have been built by NEVS after the Saab bankruptcy. I’ve read that the last 9-3 that was left on the assembly line when Saab went belly up was completed and is residing in the Saab Museum. (NEVS was subsequently denied the right to use the Saab name after their own financial difficulties.)
This is supposedly the very last of the 420 vehicles completed by NEVS between 2012 and 2014. It was to be a test mule at the factory but finances did not allow this to come to fruition. It has 40 miles on it’s odometer but they were reportedly all done on the test circuit at the factory. I would love to have it myself but in no way would I trade it for any of the 3 that I currently have. Besides, none of mine were built in Sweden. 2 verts in Finland and 1 vert from Austria.
Loved my 9 5 Sportwagon. Miss it,still.
If you have a door panels that need to be removed and replaced many times, how well engineered can it be?
The ignition switch on the floor was always intriguing to me. Always liked SAABS. I just like to say the word SAAB.
Just another SAAB story..
Had a 9-7x for a while. Yes, it was a Trollblazer, but still had a SAAB on the front. Ran like ‘ell as long as the lifters didn’t collapse – stupid cylinder defeat system. But I did get good at yanking LS heads.