One of 400. Saab 900 Cabriolet 1986 is looking for buyers.

In 1983 the Saab 900 Cabriolet was the big star of the IAA. A cautious test, because the management had a number of reservations about including an open Saab in the program. But the audience response was encouraging and in April 1984 the go-ahead was given for production.

Saab 900 Cabriolet MY 1986. Image: Saab Automobile AB

The construction of the first open Saab since the Sonnet I should take place in Finland. The Saab 900 CD / Finlandia has already been produced there. But it should take until the year 1986, until finally the 900 Cabriolet rolled off the tapes.

The first model year included only 400 pieces, and all went to North America for export. The annual production for the following year was 2.500 units. 2.000 went to the US, with 500 piece the rest of the world had to be satisfied. Who signed 1987 at the Saab dealer for an 900 Cabriolet in autumn, had to be patient with the delivery until the year 1989.

Saab 900 Cabriolet. Delivery time more than 2 years.

Crazy times. The convertible was initially only in the smallest dosages for the customers. The open Saab and its successors should mark the success of the Saab brand for years to come. It would almost have come to it, had not a certain Robert (Bob) J. Sinclair persisted with perseverance to the management. But that's a different story.

One of the model 400 1986 Saab convertibles is now available in the US Sales, His condition is far from old beauty. The Saab needs a lot of work, but it is worth it just because of its extreme rarity. Called 2.000,00 US dollars, which should not be too much for a restoration base. When rebuilt, the value will be many times higher.

The location is Denver, contact should be possible through the local ad page. Maybe someone brings this unique piece of Saab history back to the European homeland?

7 thoughts on "One of 400. Saab 900 Cabriolet 1986 is looking for buyers."

  • There are very few stabs because only a few were built and most of them disappeared in US. Of course no one has it in his search profile when he thinks about convertibles. A good restoration but I find interesting and worth somewhere between 20 to 30k.

  • 2000 was also my cost price ... but it was almost 5 years ago. After that, a year of moving with joy and since then only with investment needs in the garage. Would like to get it back on the road, if only because there is so little of it and the history of the Steilschnauzer in particular is hardly known. But other things have more priority right now.
    Regarding the post above: I doubt that the value will be “many times higher” after a restoration. Yes, certainly more valuable than before, but not as much as a good oblique schnauzer CV in the same condition / equipment. The Steilis are not so popular, less well known and they seem to many CV drivers somehow more “antiquated” due to their Steili front. Selling a Steili CV seems pretty difficult to me, there is only a very small market for it. The value mentioned above is then more of an ideal nature, but cannot be converted into monetary values.

    • Hi Andrew,
      My experience coincides with yours. The grade Schnauzercabrios that I've seen in recent years were all offered at relatively fair prices and sold very slowly (or not at all). The cars are rare and that's it. I once had one of these convertibles, bought in USA. Unfortunately, the car was much worse than described, which is a basic problem American vehicles (it does not stop SAAB unfortunately stopped) would be. The Americans can and should drive their cars, as long as they do not collapse on their own and the Americans do that too. And I would never buy an 30 year old car there unseen, you need local people. I also know counterexamples where somebody shot a really good car for rather small money, but with the said risk.
      Therefore, I think that someone who collects rare SAABs and has a bit of money too much can buy such a convertible for two thousand dollars, I do not see any potential in these cars.

      • Hello fami,
        thank you for your “confirmation” 🙂
        Fortunately, I had someone locally in the States, who looked at the car and found it worth buying. Otherwise I would not have done that. But still, I honestly have to confess that on arrival in D I was a little disappointed with the condition. Tin substance quite ok, but paint and interior almost completely dodgy. Well, is in photos just poorly documented (at that time was not so en-vogue with FullHD photos, etc.). So much remains to be done.
        @Bajuware: I find 20k to be very, very optimistic. The last ones (unrestored, but still in good condition) didn't go away for 1/3. If at all ... As already mentioned: with their “rustic” front they do not fall into the search grid for an elegant convertible. Conversion to EU headlights makes it a little better, but is still quite "angular" 🙂

  • After all, the car has ever gotten a new driver's seat

  • Difficult to understand today,

    that someone from the management should have had reservations about the production of SAABriolets. The 900s are cult and the coupé line is predestined for convertibles ...

    The 9-3 II only really reaches its top form as a convertible. Far from being as practical as the station wagons, but definitely the most perfect variant. No wonder, there was no longer a coupé ...

    • ... so the convertible was only possible on the basis of the often unpopular sedan. The traditional Combi-Coupé didn't even begin to have what it takes to serve as the basis for a convertible. But no matter how: the 901 convertible is a really ingenious design - timeless and durable. But the timeless and almost elegant design is more likely to come out in the later years of construction. A convertible from 1986 with a US-Steili front is certainly a rarity and collector's value, but at least does not activate the want-to-have reflex in the convertible group. In the case of a CC or Sedan, it certainly looks different. Perhaps through this article you will find someone who likes the convertible just as much and builds it up regardless of the possible resale value. There are enough positive "crazy people" in the Saab world ...

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