The Saab 900 was an evolution of the Saab 99, which was in turn based on the 96, which was just an upgraded 93 which was a 92...which really goes all the way back to the original Ur-Saab prototype built in a barn by two guys named Sven and Karl who just borrowed the design from a guy who made sculpture out of frozen moose pucks. Anyway, that is what I was told -- and it was a long time ago and the details are fuzzy -- and who are you going to believe, me or some anonymous bonehead in the comments anyway?. Find this 1986 Saab 900 Turbo offered for $3,300 in Anchorage, AK via craigslist. Tip from Zach.
Nothing looks cooler sitting by the snow than a pre-GM Saab riding sweeeeeeeeeeeeet set of vintage Inca alloy wheels. The reverse mounted engine up front adds mad lbs of grip for the front wheels so you can pull the car through the corners with loose terrain. Before the advent of 4WD, this was the fastest way around in the snow.
Under the hood is a 2.0 liter B201 intercooled turbo four that puts out 155 horsepower into a 5-speed manual box located directly under the engine. It is a strange setup (with the accesories mounted close to the cockpit firewall) but strange is good in the world of cheap drivers.
The interior is a bit torn up, but this is a winter driver and you aren't going to be dropped off for the Academy Awards with this anyway.
See a cooler set of wheels? tips@dailyturismo.com
This thing looks pretty solid. Do they use a lot of salt in Alaska?
ReplyDeleteNaahh, only when it snows..
DeleteI would love to see how they made the buck for the foundry mold for these wheels.
ReplyDeleteI am guessing slices of wood. Or maybe they were willed with an old bridgeport mill?
No salt in AK - build a nice ice foundation and use sand/pea gravel and snow tires for grip, like Thor intended.
ReplyDelete"The interior is a bit torn up, but this is a winter driver and you aren't going to be dropped off for the Academy Awards with this anyway."
ReplyDeletewhat if I were Paul Giamatti in "Sideways"?
I recall the transmission and crankcase where bathed in the same oil reservoir?
ReplyDelete(tranny in the pan?) Anybody?
No not a common sump for the engine and trans. The original Mini, MG1100 and Austin America did that. Nothing like circulating metal from the trans through the engine bearings.
DeleteThey do both use the same oil though. Two different sumps filled with 10w40 (or whatever it is, I don't remember)
DeleteLets see...a seller who knows what he's talking about, a perfect setup for the north woods. Its a freaking unicorn.
ReplyDeleteyou're right, solid advert - a 900 in good driver condition like this would fetch £5000 easy here in far north quidland, which is, like, $6250 this week - ship it over the pole when the ice melts, which should only be a few more springlike winters, right - ooh, except the steering wheel is on the wrong side
DeleteI had one in white, an 85. I tried to SPG it with some of their accessories. Absolutely loved that car. Awesome in the snow and had a heater that would fry you if you didn't watch it. I got rid of it at 280k when reverse quit.
ReplyDelete