A new Finnish car - Saab 900c Sedan
It was in the late 90s. I was visiting Finland and one of my business friends had bought a new Saab 900 Sedan. A turbo equipped with an impressive flood of antennas for telephones and mobile communications. We were traveling in a convoy through the Finnish taiga. So somewhere in nowhere.
He with the Saab in front, I with my Wolfsburg brand, which I was obliged to buy, afterwards. The VW struggled to keep up, which was only partly due to the Saab's engine power. But much more on the miserable chassis of the Golf, which had no chance on gravel roads, not the slightest bit of it, against the 900.
My skepticism about products from the Mittelland Canal, which continues to this day, has its roots in Finland, but not my enthusiasm for Saab. Because I thought the 900 Sedan was an impressively fast, but also a very ugly car.
That ugliness has turned into its opposite over the years. What I didn't see as attractive in my early youth is at least interesting now. Or, more precisely to the point, striking.
Saab 900c sedan
In Finland, which can only be a coincidence, a Saab 900 Sedan is waiting for a new owner. Not really a thing - if it weren't for a sedan or a special vehicle. The classic 900 sedan has become rare, and the vehicle is a new car. Yes, again, and surprisingly what is parked in some garages remains. Excitingly, it is just 20 kilometers away from Tampere, which was the starting point of my activities over 30 years ago.
But it has nothing to do with the 900 at that time. First of all, it is in the condition of a new car and even has the factory's plastic film on the door panels. And second, he's a 900c. The absolute basic model with 110 hp, approved for road traffic for the first time in 1989.
He has not seen much of the paths and roads in Finland in 31 years. The meter in the cockpit reports just 9.600 kilometers. It almost goes without saying that there was only one owner over the years. The condition seems fantastic, the Inca rims exude a slight touch of luxury and the spoiler at the rear is a little turbo-charged.
Of course, the Saab 900c Sedan has two antennas, one for mobile communications and one for the radio. The minimal equipment of the 90s. The 900 was of course built in the country, by Saab Valmet, which speaks for quality and a long life expectancy.
Little equipment, great condition, a rare sedan? What can and may a car that no longer exists in this condition cost? A good question! Of course, as a seller, you tend to speculate. €29.000 is a lot of money for a Saab 900c sedan. This causes pain even if one sees the sedan as interesting or distinctive.
With images from mobile.de
A few years ago in Norrköping we looked at a Saab 96 V4 from 1979 in 167 chamotte brun. The protective films were also there. Not seen a good one since then.
@ Ebasil (foils & other wonders)
A 31 year old car with the original protective film is really bizarre. But what is more or less surprising? I can not decide.
Why do you order a bread & butter version, a commodity (especially with AHK) to protect it?
I can only explain this speculatively and only in such a way that someone has fulfilled the costly wish for a new car for the first time and has not had the heart to pollute & wear it out ...
Maybe I'm completely wrong? But there must be some probably touching story behind such a car. A fascinating offer & find ...
Interesting what else comes to light over time.
This body color 213-Rodonite Red was not in great demand although it remained in the range for 5 years and is available from model year to model year depending on the market; At that time the Scandinavian market was offering unusual paint colors, some of which were only available for a short time and which we in Central Europe had little to no knowledge of or were only available on request, e.g. 185-golden yellow, 155-ivory beige (white), 116- Azure blue, 157-zircon blue, 162-dolomite beige, 188-florentine beige, 217-ascot gray.
Assume that the engine does not have 110HP as described, but only 100HP; because the picture with the engine compartment indicates a carburetor, as originally the 900c (c = carburator) was equipped.
This model was exclusively for the Scandinavian market as an inexpensive basic model without a catalytic converter in various versions until the beginning of the 90s; the 2-door sedan was even still a steep schnauzer, until the Kat became mandatory in Finland, the last Scandinavian country. As a more luxurious model in Scandinavia, the 900i (i = injection) model with H-engine as an 8-valve without cat. With 118PS was also on offer. We in Central EU already offered this engine or partly only with cat. And only 110HP, and depending on the market, sooner or later it was replaced by the then new 900i-16v.
From this point of view, this example is an absolute rarity in Finland and thanks to its low mileage and well-preserved original condition, it is worth its price. Note that the price asked is a lot higher than the new car price at the time. This could mean that the market value of well-preserved SAAB classic cars in the basic version can increase over time, perhaps even for a short time, and consequently become more popular in other collector groups as there are fewer and fewer well-preserved specimens on offer. I am convinced that a conventional suction motor arouses the interest of some collectors and leads to a revival. Doesn't always have to be a more luxurious turbo version to arouse our interest.
Remember that today more and more people who are not Saab enthusiasts are interested in older Saab, as many of the technical active and passive safety advantages of this vehicle at the time were much more advanced compared to other classic cars of similar generations. Many collectors are only "today" aware of what is actually behind a real Saab. As a result, the 99 + 901 will also attract more and more interest from other collectors' circles.
Swedish cars and gravel roads. For many years that fit like a fist.
Younger Saab and Volvo, like other cars, are optimized for smooth asphalt. My 9-5 would only follow this 900 on many slopes despite twice the performance.
It's almost a shame that this 900 is too good for fun on the slopes.
Something very special and definitely unique nowadays - as my previous commentator wrote, I also believe / hope that there will be someone who will find this beautiful piece. That's why the ambitious price is okay.
However, two questions remain:
1. Then drive or put away? - Always the same crux!
2. Why do you drive almost 10.000 kilometers with plastic packaging on the doors ??? Very funny!
Many € are wished for ..., brave for this sedan.
But: there are enough people worldwide with a lot of money. Car collectors anyway. It “only” needs the one ...
So: I can indulge!
The new owner has a lot of fun with the rare oldie.
yes exactly, that was one of those Saab that kept the pant legs free of dirt because the door seal reached under the door sill - can be seen in the photo. My brother had such a Saab (of several), but with a turbo.
A lot of money, but there is probably only one such thing. Then the € 29 is put into perspective again.