The Swedish engineers at Saab excelled in ignoring conventions and thinking outside of the box. It was the 900 that made Saab a household name and earned the brand its reputation for being unconventional. With smart – yet quirky – features, unique styling, and increasing rarity, the Saab 900 is shaping up to be a valuable collectible.
Saab, or Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget, is a car brand with a literal name and straightforward lineup. These cars were “born from jets” and they truly carved out a unique place on the road. When talking about modern collectibles, the 900 is a perfect candidate that could make you some money in a few decades.
Saab’s Unconventional Design Is Inherently Collectible
While the 900 had a seemingly ordinary inline 4-cylinder under the hood, the setup was actually quite unique. The engine was installed backwards (the fan belts were towards the firewall), and the engine was leaned at a 45 degree angle. The clutch was up front, and the transaxle/transmission was mounted underneath the engine. This unconventional setup increased interior space, as the transmission didn’t intrude into the cabin. It also allowed Saab to install a double-wishbone suspension up front, which gave the 900 excellent handling in its time.
The 900’s unconventional engine setup also meant that the vehicle had a relatively long overhang (the distance between the front bumper and the front wheel well. This long overhang might have stuck out as unusual or “odd” had it appeared on any other car, but for the 900 this was just part of the vehicle’s unique character. Indeed, the Saab 900 is a unique looking vehicle even today.
As mentioned above, the engine’s reverse design allowed for a relatively massive cabin compared to contemporary vehicles. What’s more, with flat, vertical body lines, the 900 offered nearly as much cargo capacity as a mid-80s mini-van, no small feat when you consider the 900’s relatively small size.
In keeping with Saab’s aviation background, the 900 was designed to be more like an aircraft cabin than most vehicles. Buttons and dash controls were carefully placed. Softly lit green gauges gave the vehicle a unique feel back in the day.
Turbos, Knock Sensors, and More Give the 900 a Historical Quality
The Saab 900 Turbo was one of the first mass-produced turbo factory cars, and while Saab rarely gets credit for it, the company helped turbocharged engines become more mainstream in the eyes of America’s driving public. Of course, Saab didn’t simply bolt a turbo into their vehicles – they were one of the first automakers to incorporate a knock sensor into their turbocharger electronic controls. This allowed the turbo to run at high boost pressures without fear of engine damage, a significant advancement for the time.
Saab also introduced the seat heater to the world, the first cabin air filters, headlight washers, and the 900 was really the only car to ever do three-spoke wheels in style. A commercial success (Saab sold about 900,000 model 900s over their 15 year lifespan), the Saab 900 is a car that any child of the Eighties will recognize and appreciate.
How Collectible is The Saab 900 Likely to Be?
While Saab is no longer a mainstream automaker (having fallen victim to the 2008 financial crisis), Saab’s imagination and innovation is a unique chapter in automotive history. The 900 is the quintessential Saab product in many minds, and for that reason it should become a valuable collector car in the years and decades to come.
What’s more, many of the 900s available today are highly affordable on eBay, and there are numerous online resources that Saab 900 owners/restorers can reference for help with parts and repairs. Assuming you can purchase a Saab 900 for a fair price, and assuming you don’t mind dealing with some transmission issues (900’s are sort of notorious for requiring replacement transmissions), the 900 is good example of a modern collectible. It is relatively rare, not too expensive, and highly unique.
See Saab 900 for sale on eBay.
