The 10 Best Old Saab Cars of All Time
From the Ursaab to the 9-5 Aero, these are the classic Saab cars you need to know about.
Written by Cassandra Hamilton
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
Table of Contents
- What makes an old car great?
- 10. 9-3 Viggen (1999-2002): a close BMW competitor
- 9. 900 convertible (1978-1993): a future classic
- 8. 9000 Carlsson (1990-1998): performance with responsibility
- 7. Sonnet III (1970-1974): more than performance
- 6. 92 (1951-1956): where it all began
- 5. 9-5 Aero (1997-2012): soothing performance
- 4. 99 Turbo (1978-1979): making history
- 3. 96 (1960-1964): international superstar
- 2. Ursaab (1947): a true rarity
- 1. 900 Turbo (1984-1993): an important classic
- How to find affordable Saab insurance
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Saab wasn’t originally an automaker—its history is in aerospace engineering. Saab brought this futuristic sense of design to the automotive industry to make unique, quirky cars that developed a cult following.
We've put together this guide on all the Saabs that kept its fans, well, fanatic through the years. From the classic Saab 92 to the ever-popular
900 Turbo
, these are the old Saab cars you should know about.
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What makes an old car great?
Saab enthusiasts know the brand had some hits and misses through the years, which means not all Saabs are equal. Since the company’s demise in 2012, all Saab models are getting close to classic car status. What separates the Saabs best left to the history books (like the charmless GM models) from those deserving of their cult status?
The Saabs we’ve chosen to include here hit different criteria. Some are historical marvels, like the 92, and some have stood the test of time in terms of whether or not they’re still fun to drive, like the 9-5 Aero. Whatever their reason for their place on this list, one thing is for sure—Saab fans are still falling over themselves to drive one of these old Saab cars.
10. 9-3 Viggen (1999-2002): a close BMW competitor
Originally designed to give the
BMW 330i
a run for its money, the 9-3 Viggen was Saab’s answer to German engineering. “Viggen” is Swedish for “thunderbolt,” and is a callback to when Saab produced fighter jets. Saab designed a truly weird car with the 9-3 Viggen, with everything from a flat dash to an ignition that lay between the seats. There was nothing like the 9-3 Viggen on the road in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
It’s generally agreed upon that the Viggen had too much power and torque for a chassis of its design, and you’d be right to fall in line with this sort of thinking. If you can get a handle on the power, though, and use it to your advantage, you’re in for a massively fun drive.
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9. 900 convertible (1978-1993): a future classic
If you’re looking for a car that screams 1980s careless chic, you can stop your search once you get your hands on a 900 convertible. A car that was once featured in a Jay-Z video, this car oozed sophistication in a way its German rivals couldn’t compete.
The 900 convertible lost some interest as the years wore on, but there’s been a recent revival of interest and prices have started to go up. Perhaps enthusiasts are beginning to take note of the classically fun, effortless drive this Saab model delivers with a dose of European sophistication that American automakers just can’t replicate.
8. 9000 Carlsson (1990-1998): performance with responsibility
The Carlsson blended a sporty, performance-driven exterior with an indulgently luxurious interior, which made it highly desirable in its time. Its turbocharged engine, first introduced in 1990, accelerates in a way that will kick you in the pants.
This car is all about performance. Its previously mentioned turbocharged engine packs 220 horsepower, which made it one of the most powerful FWD cars of its time. The real charm of the Carlsson is in its handling, with torque available to access at RPMs as low as 2,000. The Carlsson is unparalleled in driver fun and sporty performance.
7. Sonnet III (1970-1974): more than performance
Yes, the Sonnet III performs like no other thanks to its redesigned V4 engine, but that’s not why it’s on the list.
So why bother to mention this car at all if not for the performance? Two words: pop-up headlights. This quirkily designed roadster turned heads back in its heyday with its unique, sophisticated design.
To make its operation even more fun, the exciting pop-up headlights didn’t work at the touch of a button. You had to pull a lever to get these bad boys in operation.
6. 92 (1951-1956): where it all began
This old model is perhaps the most important car on this list because it was Saab’s first mass-manufactured automobile. This is where Saab went from aerospace engineering into full-throttle automotive manufacturing, and it’s what makes the 92 so special today.
The 92 was ahead of its time in terms of aerodynamics (just look at a side-by-side photo comparison of the 92 and, say, a Cadillac) and had the performance to match. The 92 got speeds up to 65 mph, which was extremely fast for its time!
The 92 is so important that Sweden commemorated it with a postage stamp. Plus, you’ll struggle to find a 92 that isn’t painted green—a result of a surplus of green paint Saab had leftover from WWII.
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Start earning now5. 9-5 Aero (1997-2012): soothing performance
One of the last cars Saab ever produced, the 9-5 Aero was another Saab model built to compete with its German rivals. The 9-5 Aero derived all of its power from its front wheels, which propelled the Aero at a breakneck pace.
It’s worth noting that the 9-5 Aero is meant to be pronounced “nine-five,” as opposed to “ninety-five.” This is to avoid confusion with the 95, released between 1959 and 1978.
The 9-5 was a serene, less imposing ride than its German counterparts, and packed a lot of luxury and comfort into a performance-driven package. You could buy a 9-5 with heated front and back seats, and it was a pioneer in safety technology for its time.
4. 99 Turbo (1978-1979): making history
The 99 Turbo was the first family car that Saab produced to be fitted with a turbocharged engine. This car is on the list because of its important history as the first turbocharged engine to be produced by Saab.
Saab introduced the 99 Turbo because it was short on cash and needed to offer something new to re-entice its American market. Taking a page from Porsche’s book, Saab decided to introduce a turbocharged engine, but rather than overloading a tiny car with a huge engine, Saab decided to pull back on the turbo and install a small Garrett T3 turbo. The result was an engine that built power quickly to deliver thrust at low RPMs.
The 99 Turbo is such an important historical marker, it’s been ranked number two on Popular Mechanics’ list of
top 10 turbo cars of all time
.3. 96 (1960-1964): international superstar
Another oddly-shaped classic Saab, the 96 was the car that launched Saab into its status as an international automaker. The 96 was popular thanks to its increase in size in the rear window and storage space, and for its simple but reliable engine.
Many Swedish rally car drivers named their 96 models, which helped the brand propel itself into international superstardom. The drivers began to win rallies in their 96s, and that helped drive public demand for the sturdy and reliable car.
2. Ursaab (1947): a true rarity
Never mass-produced, the Ursaab was the first car Saab ever designed. Saab only designed four of its prototypes and you’d have luck out of this world if you were to get your hands on one today.
The Ursaab went against the status quo with its teardrop design and commitment to efficiency, comfort, and practicality. Without the Ursaab, the Saabs we know and love now would have never existed. The Ursaab existed as a beautiful picture of the midcentury’s idea of the future.
MORE:
Classic car coverage
1. 900 Turbo (1984-1993): an important classic
Saab’s most popular model, the 900 Turbo, causes rabid reverence among contemporary Saab fans. This turbocharged car took what made the 99 special and elevated it into something performance drivers and the general public could both find value in.
Today, the 900 Turbo is a sought-after classic for good reason. Car collectors today wish they had purchased one in the 1990s when they were available and are now rushing to snatch one up. The 900 Turbo reduced lag and increased power, making it more powerful and fun to drive.
How to find affordable Saab insurance
If you’ve got a Saab today, hold it near and hold it tight. These cars are still cult classics among those who value left-field thinking and quirky design, and we probably won’t see another automaker like it for quite some time (if ever). You’ll need to protect your beloved Saab with quality
car insurance
, and that’s where Jerry
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