The most popular classic in Sweden is a Saab

Regardless of the corona pandemic, the antique automobile business continues to boom. It's not only going well in Germany, but also in Sweden. The scene suffers from the cancellation of trade fairs and major events. But that doesn't detract from the love of old metal. Now a Saab overturns a Volvo from the throne of the most popular national classic. Is there a Saab renaissance now?

Saab 96 - the most popular classic in Sweden
Saab 96 - the most popular classic in Sweden

Saab 96 replaces Volvo 120 (Amazon)

The portal Blocket.se regularly publishes a list of the most popular classics. Last year, the Volvo 120 (Amazon) led the ranks. This year the Volvo crashes to 8th place, the brand from Trollhättan takes over. The Saab 96 is currently the most popular classic in the country and the one with the shortest downtimes. There are nostalgic reasons, says blocket.se, that drive the Swedes to Saab. Many grew up with Saab and are now bringing back their memories of childhood and youth.

Volvo 120 (Amazon) - slips to 8th place
Volvo 120 (Amazon) - slips to 8th place

The Volkswagen Beetle, which has also been the market leader in Germany for years, follows in second place. Behind it finally comes a Volvo. It is the 142 and thus a sedan that rolled off the production line from 1966 to 1974. The Volvo is the newcomer this year and a sign that a generation change is looming. 142 instead of Amazon, the scene is getting younger. The Chevrolet Bel Air (4) and the Cadillac De Ville (5) occupy positions 1955 and 1961. They represent the Swedes' traditional love for American tin.

Prices are low

Blocket.se also publishes the average prices at which the most popular classics in Sweden are traded. By German standards, these are low. However, one must note that average goods with a need for action dominate the advertising portal. Top specimens from the restoration are rare.

Volvo 142, newcomer in 3rd place
Volvo 142, newcomer in 3rd place

The Saab 96 is traded for an average of 29.500 kroner, which is equivalent to € 2.900. A VW Beetle from 1967 costs 45.000 Swedish kronor (approx. 4.400 €) and a Volvo 142 costs 30.000 kroner (2.950 €). As attractive as the prices seem, so great is the caution that is required when getting a classic from the north.

When it comes to the bodywork, the Swedes show a high level of tolerance. What may look great at first glance often turns out to be a grave for many € and a long-term employment for the bodybuilder.

With images from Volvo Cars (2)

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Robert
Robert
2 years earlier

In dry weather I'm happy to drive my 96 EVERY day, it's by no means an obstacle to traffic...
And the old ladies wave

Black Saab
Black Saab
2 years earlier

About the Volvo 142: sedans are trending among the young. Papa's SUV is out. Just like Grandpa's family van. That is the passage of time.

Volvoab Driver
Volvoab Driver
2 years earlier
Reply to  Black Saab

It's a little more special. Today the 142 is perceived more as a classic, large coupe than a sedan ...

If young Swedes were into sedans and 4-door cars, the 144 would be ahead of the 142 in the ranking.

THE Swedish sedan of this time would be the Volvo 164. There are several conversions to the “162”, which - apart from a single prototype - never existed.

It is a kind of longing fantasy of Swedish youths and also mature men that their own automotive industry could theoretically have built two-door cars that are not inferior to any pony car on the quarter mile.

The effort that is put into evidence is sometimes grotesque. As I said, a 142 is merged with a 164 to form a 162 and then an entire car is thrown away.

Anyone who is less strict about the evidence throws both of their engines away and puts other makes under the hood.

But there is also the meticulous faction that absolutely wants to provide the evidence with the original engine block and does not shy away from any effort.

Both factions have in common that they prefer to take 2-door cars and, if necessary, weld them themselves. This has little to do with a preference for limousines ...

There's a completely different and very unique film going on in Sweden ...

Black Saab
Black Saab
2 years earlier
Reply to  Volvoab Driver

That is a special but exciting interpretation. 2-door limousines were once the money-saver among limousines. The possibility of seeing it as a coupe today is understandable. I like the 142nd better than the 164, by the way. The 142 is cleaner 🙂

Volvoab Driver
Volvoab Driver
2 years earlier
Reply to  Black Saab

Is that how I see it ...

To be honest, I thought about converting my 164 into a 162 myself ...

The sideline is much nicer, “cleaner” as you say. The division of windows and doors in the 144 and 164 is simply too small, the B-pillar too far forward, the front doors are too short, the rear doors too long. Everything looks much, much better on the 142. Sometimes less is more.

Volvoab Driver
Volvoab Driver
2 years earlier

That's a nice development. Hopefully it will help maintain a lot of Saab.

One problem is the “young wild ones”, the many shy ones, the long winters and the low entry prices in S. In addition, there is a certain national pride and the high tolerance of the authorities and insurance companies.

I hope the 96 is spared the fate of many Amazons and Volvo 142s, some of which are grotesquely rebuilt and tuned. In S it is a kind of national sport to show the taillights with old Swedes, newer German vehicles and US muscle cars.

These conversions cannot be approved in Germany and are permanently lost to the classic car scene.

As a 142-door sedan, the Volvo 2 was actually and originally the cheap entry-level model, in which you had to fold down the front seats in order to get onto the back seat. Today its perception by the young savages is completely different.

As a 2-door model, it is visually more similar to the US muscle cars. One part of the scene places turbochargers in front of the original engines and squeezes around 500 hp from a B20 (which had a maximum of 125 in the original) and another simply throws the engines out and away. V8s from the USA and occasionally more recent BMW engines are installed. The fact that the Volvo is then only half a Volvo does not seem to be a problem for this part of the scene.

Nothing against tuning & driving fun, but I find the loss of historical substance regrettable. As I said, I hope the Saab 96 will be spared that.