Remaining new Saabs up for Web auction
There are still 68 brand-new Saabs left, and one could be yours.
Swedish auction house KVD Auction is selling the last 68 Saab vehicles owned by the company as part of the former automaker's bankruptcy deal.
Everything must go, including a handful of 2012 models never sold, along with a few special editions like the 2011 Saab 9-3 Cabriolet Independence Edition.
The Independence Edition was made in 2011 to celebrate Saab's first year as an independent car manufacturer. The intention was to produce 366 examples of the car, but production was stopped due to bankruptcy. Today, according to KVD, there are only 38 examples in the world.
Also up for sale is a selection of 18 new 9-5 SportCombis as well as 29 9-5 models, including the last car produced in Trollhättan. Only 30 SportCombis were produced and 54 9-5s.
“Saab has always had a unique position on the international market and many customers have had a long and loyal relationship with the brand,” said Per Blomberg, business area manager of KVD. “Now that the last ever cars that were produced by Saab Automobile AB are coming up for sale, we expect interest from Saab enthusiasts all over the world.”
Of the last 700 Saab 9-4X SUVs built, 10 are in the KVD Auction, including chassis No. 1 for the European market. Additionally, one of the three existing Saab 9-3 SportCombis in Sky Blue is crossing the block, as is the 300-hp Saab 9-5 Aero that was used as a company car by former Saab chairman Victor Muller.
The auction ends on Dec. 16. Go to www.kvdauctions.com to bid and to find out more info on individual lots.
-- Jake Lingeman
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Make fun of the demise of SAAB's if you need to but an affordable car designed by airplane guys that was fun to drive was EXACTLY what the world needed in the 70's! Great MPG, decent power (especially if you drove the Turbo which SAAB stuck with long enough to get right!), gobs of storage and perfect handling were very welcome as the USA was pulling out of the gas shocks of the decade. American cars were sh*tboxes (Pintos, Vegas, Chevettes and Gremlins!); Japanese cars were functional but underpowered - Honda Civic, Datsun B-210's!, Italian and British cars were a joke. SAABs handled better than their Swedish cousin, Volvo, (which I have also owned but they drove like trucks!) And SAABs didn't require you to tap the trust fund like buying a Porsche or BMW might. You could have a SAAB for about 20% more than a VW Rabbit - and it was worth it. SAABs were great cars...yet very dear to repair....and hard to fix. So if you didn't have a game mechanic, taking it to the dealer eventually wore you out. Never had to do so much work to replace a water pump in my life!
Believe it or not, the beginning of the end for SAAB was the first Gulf War. A decade of a buck per per gallon gasoline here in the US brought high horsepower and low MPG rides back into fashion. Pity. We all would have been better off if prices had stayed high.
The last nail was SAABs acquisition by GM. If one car company has shown that it really knows how to eff up a good thing it has been GM. Too many bean counters winning arguments over the engineers. Joe Biden is happier and the nation's job outlook is stronger because GM is alive but from the marques that have died to keep it living ...Pontiac, Saturn and now SAAB...I am certain that some great things have been lost.
So long to the affordable driver's car. And if you are reborn as a Chinese-owned electric only vehicle (as I've heard rumored), I hope the new owners have a clear eye on what made you great.
I own and drive two. Love them both.
I'll drive them till they can go no more. I have no plans for Honda, Toyota or anything else..
My 900 had 400,000 miles when I sold it after nineteen years of ownership. It was still extremely fast. It consumed zero oil. It had 175-180 psi compression across the board and was still getting 27-28 mpg.
Show me another well engineered and safe modern car capable of that and not costing the bank?
Better yet..... Go have a chat with Peter Gilbert...he had 1,000,000 on his.
I loved my Saabs I had 3 at one time all were 3 cyl 2 cycle. I had a gt 750 with Halda speed pilot, a 95 and a 97. I used one as driver, one for rallying and the other for ice racing. I find it ironic at here in this point in time the auto industry is bringing out three cylinders again. The only car I ever had that made into bed. The 95 was only $1995 new about the same as a VW beetle back in the 60s.The auto industry has sort of lost itself. A lot of cars look the same and a kid can't really afford a new car today.
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