Photos from the Cohort by Eric Clem.
You may like or dislike old Saabs. Regardless of where you sit on that fence, no one can deny that old Saabs had gobs of character, and I doubt anyone can remain indifferent to them. They’re either charming curious things or weird unappealing oddballs. Love it or leave it, they’re cars that are bound to create a reaction. From their drivetrains to their looks and interiors, everything exuded personality. Even the name, Saab, felt different. Yet it was easy and memorable.
But as we know, character didn’t really translate into sufficient sales. And when GM acquired the ailing brand in the ’90s, that was just the easiest plot to foretell; a tiny conglomerate with tons of character swallowed by a characterless multinational. How would that ever end well?
But I’m delving too quickly into those sad Saab blues. Rather than dwell there, let’s rejoice in this find. Ever rarer and more precious after these many years. Obviously, these 1960-1980 Saab models have been covered at CC before, told by folk far more savvy on their background (links below).
The few times I came across an old Saab during my California days of the ’90s, I found them to be curious and charming. A foreign object that awoke curiosity and admiration. Such different solutions to motoring, in a tight and aerodynamic little body. How could I not like them?
It’s always fun to see a surviving old Saab, particularly if it’s getting some use. I’m admittedly not enough of a fan to know each little variation, and I’m pretty sure this one has a few pieces taken from other members of the Saab family tree. I’ll let Saab experts add to that in the comments.
So yes, I liked these little cars and did get the blues when I learned of the company’s inevitable demise. But a few are still around, and those blues turn nicely bittersweet when a running one still appears.
Further reading:
Curbside Classic: 1968 Saab 96 – Healing the Emotions, If Not The Company
Curbside Classic: 1967 Saab 96 – The Last Two-Stroke
Curbside Classic: 1973 Saab 95 – Now That’s A Real Saab!
Vintage R&T Review: 1967 Saab 96 V4 – More Power, More Fun, More Money
Vintage Review: Saab 96 – Car And Driver Tries Three Cylinders
My first car, bought with my own money, a ’67 2 stroke 96 bought in August 1971. Amazing in snow but not so on the highway flat out at 70 mph. Weird 4 spd on the tree, and when tha clutch gave out in Feb of ’74 bought a new ’73 99 SAAB leftover, great trip car and a story for another time.
PS the US never got the rectangular headlights shown here, the last 96s (up to ’74?) had round headlights in square bezels. When we bought our new 99 the dealer (also a Pontiac dealer!) had blue and green (Verona Green like ours) 96s on their lot. It took them forever to sell them off in our small town. My best friend liked ours so much he bought a new red 99 and kept it for 20 years. The dealer, Bohn Pontiac, dropped the SAAB franchise around ’76 but continued selling Pontiacs until GM axed that brand many years later.
Until they were sucked into the Yuppie-mobile era of the early-to-mid 1980s, SAABs weren’t even on the radar of most people (I’m talking about the US here). There were a tiny bunch of fanatics who perceived brilliance in the engineering and design and intent of these cars, but SAAB never converted other folks to their church in very large numbers.
It may just be coincidence, but the Saab’s styling sure seems similar to that of the recently featured 1951 Buick Super Sedanet..
This example was registered in 1974 (August to December) and has the German Ford designed 1498cc V4 engine. SAAB’s were a slightly off-beat choice in the ’70s, a bit like big Citroen’s were but, as Evan notes, the Turbo versions became popular with Yuppies in the ’80s. Perhaps it was that that piqued GM’s interest in the brand.
Seen in light, there was only one Yuppie-SAAB: The 900, especialy the 900 convertible.
As a lighting afficianado, i note the trio of serious driving (not fog) lights on the grill, but despair at their aim point! Looks like the bumper got pranged on the RH side sending them up. Also..NO reversing lights? to shame! 🙂
Let me repeat Mr. Reisner’s phrase: “perceived brilliance in the engineering and design and intent of these cars.” Indeed. If I could go back in time I would buy a new 99 Wagonback. Hopefully, I would be wise enough to keep it as long as I could.
The SAAB 99 Turbo imo was one of, if not, the most advanced mass production family cars in the world when introduced in ’77/78, well ahead of BMW and M-B in many respects. SAAB owners had the highest % of owners with postgraduate degrees of any make for many years. GM didn’t understand the brand, or their owners, and even Bob Lutz, formerly of BMW, just didn’t get their unique appeal..
Reversing lights were introduced only with MY 1978 cars (production ended in January 1980).
Nice survivor .
-Nate
Love these. They – the 96’s as well as the more-refined 99’s – are not too infrequently seen on the streets of some of our quirky-ier, nerdy-ier, cities here in New England.
I’d like one so that I could have one of these window stickers (this from a 99 frequently seen in Cambridge).
Saab were selling Porsche volumes at Audi prices to quote an old industry saying, leadin to miniscule profits. This was before today where Porsche volumes are nothing to sniff at.
Also, despite having the best educated customer base with the highest disposable income, Saab never quite shook off the lunatic fringe image it acquired even under GM stewardship.
Many also fail to realise that had GM not bought into Saab, it would have gone under much sooner as they had massive over-capacity when their Malmo plant came on stream just as the economic turmoil of the late 1980s began.
I own a 1991 Saab 900 turbo red convertible with just 69,000 miles drive it all summer looks and runs great sure is a eye catcher think about selling because l am 80 yrs old if interested text or call me at 704 202 6788 in North Carolina ask for Moose 😊👍don’t do email
Most don’t realize that Saab only got into the car business to keep their skilled workers employed during lapses in fighter plane production. Profit came mostly from aircraft & weapons. Originally the company was wholly government owned. Volvo was founded by a consortium of Swedish companies to license build RR jet engines for Saab, and also got into the auto business to stay afloat during production gaps between Saab aircraft types.
“Volvo was founded by a consortium of Swedish companies to license build RR jet engines for Saab.”
There were no jet engines when Volvo was founded. Originally, “Volvo” was just a trademark of SKF, the world’s biggest manufacturer ball-bearings (now and then, if memory serves well). Later on, it became an independent enterprise. Car production started in 1927.
The fact that Volvo also produced aircraft components during WWII is another story.
I miss “Saab’s”. The “brilliant blue” one pictured here is a handsome specimen. The rather crowded, jumble of lights up front; needs a bit of organizing there.