This design is so eye catching. Idk how to explain, it's not beautiful, it's not ugly either, it's mesmerizing in a weird way lol. All I know is I love its looks but don't know why.
I once read that the shape is so unique and that it basically ran unaltered for so many years that it is now a classic symbol in the automotive world, dare say in the territory of 911s. The only difference being a much smaller audience who appreciate them.
@@ivanlievendag9820 Only the pillar, the windscreen itself is more slanted much in the same way as on many small aircrafts (like SAABs Draken and Viggen).
@@RetrocarStyle Most cars have a rather flat windscreen, the one on the classic 900 is very curved if you look at it from the top and its sides wrap inwards from the centre thereby creating the difference between the angle of the windscreen itself and the A-pillars.
@D 1997 saab 9000 I believe. I mean that's what Google gives me, didn't have time to read the badge on the saab I mistook for a e34 by the tail lights while driving. Only figured it was a saab after seeing the front of it in the mirror.
@@Tu11iy Well the Saab 9000 came out in 1985 so I guess the E34 looks like the Saab and not the other way around. The updated look in the rear came with the 1991 9000 Aero.
The orange of the 99 is just stunning as it negotiates its way on the streets. Also the shots of the 900 taken on the waterfront is iconic. Great video, thank you.
I fell in love with Saab when I got a $700 1992 Saab 900s, working on that car taught me so much and I treated it was my child. Up until I needed a trans rebuild and couldn’t even afford to pay my insurance and stupidly got rid of it for a shitty $200, getting rid of that car was the biggest regret of my life. Ever since then I’ve been trying my absolute hardest to get a 90’ spg 900 turbo and it’s these videos that keep giving me the motivation to save for it
@@IanCharlesPearce I'm still baffled at how GM failed. Just a few years before GM bought Saab, Toyota introduced Lexus. GM's vision for Saab was the same: to create a brand to compete with the prestigious Germans. And in spite of having all the resources in the world, GM bodged the job by doing the exact opposite of Toyota. Where Lexus first car was made on a bespoke platform, Saab were forced cancel the platform they had been developing to use the shittiest platform made in all of Europe. Where Lexus' first car took about a decade to develop, the mkII Saab 900 was forced out the door in less than a year and a half. Where Lexus to my knowledge haven't offered a single FWD-only vehicle, Saab had to stick to FWD until mere months before GM decided to terminate the brand. Where Lexus' range constantly expanded, Saab were stuck making two models.
@@dukeofspeed2072 Not in any meaningful way. SAAB got bought out by NEVS in 2012. While the the 9-3 is still being produced it's as an EV built in China for the Chinese market only. And they don't have the rights to the SAAB brand so they sell them as NEVS.
GM’s a peculiar company tho.. Those in the know hints they had a habit of moving around red & black numbers to fit their purposes. And it was clear long ago that Saab was a case of ”rip all great patents and dump’em”… And Saab had a lot of patents. Travelling U.S. in 2011 I was surprised to see as many Saab’s as Volvo’s…. Which just doesn’t add up!
just picked up a 1994 Saab 900 Classic convertible a few months ago, been obsessed with researching these vehicles. it’s awesome to see some modern recognition!!!
I drove a 95' Turbo 900 for a few years. Granted, it was a GM Saab but it had enough of the original flavour for me to have a lasting love of these Swedish beauties all these years later. Great piece!
I love this! There are some of those 900s still around in Sweden but you don't see them too often. My dad worked at Saab military aircrafts and employees got discount so we had a lot of Saabs i our family. My first car was a 99 L from 1977 and today im driving a 93 cab. Keep up the good work Magnus!
I work at the Saab airplanefactory and Saab cars for me is a big part of my life. I hoped it incl some of the pinnacle in saab-history in this video, like the saab 99 turbo , the 96 v4 , 9000 turbo (holded the world speedrecord 1986 at talladega)
I had a late 80s 900 turbo in the mid 90s. Loved that car. Turbo lag was phenomenal. Not terribly fast of the line until the turbo kicked in. Once it kicked in, it didn’t have torque steer so much as torque NO steer. It felt like the front end lightened up and the front wheels had no control of direction. Extremely comfortable car in Long trips. Ultimately the head liner drooped. It ended up over heating on the Jersey turnpike. Sold it for $9k with just shy of 100k miles. I replaced it with a Jetta. Didn’t have the same class and quality.
The character of the 900 SPG had my full admiration from its inception. These cars always exuded a sensible, classy quality. The early SPGs were the cars to beat in their time. A common criticism of other cars back then was often “it’s no Saab Turbo”
That's the strange thing about Saabs... they're kind of built around a temperament, a mindset, not around performance. I've always felt like you could go much faster than the brakes would allow... but in a weird way I think the creators never intended for you to use 100% of the power. It's more of a leisurely adequate power with not great breaks and lovely handling. Definitely about the experience of the drive, not how fast you can complete it.
I love this show teaming Hagerty with Magnus. I dig how Saab always rethinks everything. Right down to the square climate vents. Just always cool. I wonder how many comments there are going to be that one of the SPGs multiple brake lights is out.
The Saab 900 SPG was the best looking Saab ever build. In Denmark, it was also available as a two-seater commercial van. Very popular among vets. Sadly, Saab isn't around anymore.
In the UK we had Aero APC, Saab were ahead of their time with production car turbocharging. My dentist back around 1980 had a 99 turbo, it was very very cool parked outside his practice.
The Saab 900 has always been adored by fans of the brand and the turbo was fantastic but as for will it ever reach super expensive territory... I doubt it, but that's what makes them great they are very attainable for a person wanting to get into classic euro cars.
Never super expensive. But the days that you could buy them for a couple of thousands are over in Europe. A good spg without rust and well maintained will cast around 20k or more
He is awesome. I have yet to own a Porsche like he has and is known for. But my first car was an XJS, I had a Grand Wagoner and I have a Saab 9-3 convertible. Wonder he is is going to cover any other cars I have owned? I( I know he really didn’t cover the 9-3) but Saab’s never get their due.
I live in Norway and I am an early E34 die-hard enthusiast and I just love all 70s and 80s BMWs, been a pretty big fan of classic Citroen and Saab as well, looked more on the old v4 when comes to Saabs however, but seeing this Saab it's now also on my radar, damn I like thoughtful engineering, after I started studying mechanical engineering do I like new computer infested "cars" less and less, lol
Most sources define EMS as Electronic Manual Special. Most 99s of the era had Zenith Stromberg Carbs. The 99 E introduced Bosch D-Jectronic Fuel injection in 1970. The EMS introduced the 2.0 liter "B" engine in 1972 for Europe. The USA got the 2.0 for the 1973 Model Year. For the first two years, the EMS added a special interior ,the "soccerball" wheels, and a couple of color choices not offered on other models. The color of the EMS Magnus is driving was used on lesser models. Despite what it looks like, SAAB called it "Brilliant Yellow." We had a 1974 99 LE in that shade.
I've got a red T16S (that's what the aero/SPG is known as in the UK). Had it modified by the now defunct Trent Saab on their Stage 1 kit. It was a 220bhp kit, but was underrated and made around 240bhp. Somehow I've never grenaded the gearbox!
My sister in law had a Saab 900 turbo from the mid-eighties. That thing was a blast to drive. Manual transmission, by the way. There was so much turbo lag that you would mat the accelerator before a tight corner to time the boost to pull you through the apex. Hilarious fun.
Man, oh man! SAABs were the cars I cut my teeth on. My first car was a 1982 900 4-door, and my second car was a 1984 900S 2-door hatch. Both had the 8-valve Jetronic-D. I miss them dearly...
I wish Hagerty would put some effort into interior shots for once. Maybe more than 1 single second showing the dash and gauge cluster? This video should be called "Magnus Walker deserves your love," because there's virtually zero Saab footage.
Das ist gut !...Nice Car, Nice Szene, Nice Nice Nice..Rode around in a 99 back in the early 70's..Where was MY Swedish blonde ?..My bro had a 900 for YEARS..Bulletproof, stock and FUN...Laughed at snow...Great Iconic marque...Unbeatablely FAB !...Great Video...In Da Hood...Thanks
I had an 88 spg that was highly modified, sold it with 240k on it and it still ran like a top. That was a great car. Bought a 2002 viggen which was also great, but the 88 was better.
Cant remember how many of these i have owned, 10 or more, Yes im from Sweden Edit: My first car was a 88 Saab 900 NA 8 valve, Bought it with my own cash. White with blue interior. Added 16 inch wheels to it and had a Rockford 12 inch sub in the rear, I was a real OG back in the days lol 2nd edit. Dont let me start with my history on Saab 9000, oh my
@@victorbitter583 88 was the first year for rear handbrake for 900 also the first year you could fit wheels from a stock 9000. while Saab 9000 had the rear handbrake from the start, its not a hard work to replace 900 front handbrake to rear handbrake
Always brilliant engineering from SAAB, should never have sold my 900 turbo, just a great driver's car, your on the right path with this one Magnus, Rj in Oz
Wow I had a 1991 Red 900 SPG with the bigger "Whale Tail" drove it over 12years! Car travel well n once I moved my Aunt's full size bed in it!? Gorgeous car👍😍
I drove my stock 4wd '78 Chevy pickup almost every day for 21 years and over 300,000 miles. I replaced the valve seals twice, replaced the timing gears/chain twice and had the transmission rebuilt at 140,000 miles (reverse gear broke). Pretty robust I'd say.
Not being too familiar with US laws as a german jurist: the aktiebolaget seems to be the equivalent of the US corporation, with liability being limited to the capital contribution of the shareholders and ownership of the company being split between shareholders.
a friends cousin had one 900 Aero 16v, with 2 tone paint, silver and the aero spoilerkit and side skirts was darker grey metallic. Dark red (oxblodsröd) leather interior and black revolution wheels i think with polished dish. so damn cool car at that time.
Finally Saab’s getting some coverage! I drive a Saab 9000 CSE Manual and it is a fantastic car. The straight line performance is impressive, even by today’s standard. I bought it coz it was a more practical version of the 900 but imo the second most iconic shape Saab produced. Some say it’s also the “last real Saab”. One day I hope to get a 900 Aero, but finding the right one is proving tricky!
I had the 1987 9000. Had to sell it when I went overseas. I loved it, still do and think it was magnificent. When I had to buy a new car (Saab not available anymore) I said to the Audi dealer "You are my second choice; my first choice is no longer available. A4 Quatro is OK, but I can't love it like the 9000. I do have a mint '93 900 that looks like it just came out the showroom. All original other than headliner.
@@aeomaster32 Very nice! Funnily enough I bought an Audi A3 Quattro for my mrs. I think if you get the higher end Audi’s they aren’t too bad in terms of quality. The entry models are terrible!
Buy one now if you can, big money soon these. Following 15 911's (GT2/GT3 loads of turbo's) Ive just bought one in Red SPG, always liked them and nothing like it on the road even more so nowadays
As a previous owner of the very same orange 99 and two SPGs and a 900 coupe I can't tell you how sad I am that SAAB is gone. GM ruined them. I'm proud and happy I got to experience these wonderful cars for 25 years. My 99 EMS had the Super Inca wheels. 😍
Always loved Saab’s and my mum rented them many times to deliver my sister back to school and I drove her back-often in awful rain. Superb cars and superb in bad weather Later drove a Saab in Asia - lovely cars Pity that the company didn’t survive as of all the automakers they had some of the best ergonomics and engineering
Always wantd a saab 900 turbo in red, closest i got was a red 900ng turbo, they are getting rare now in the uk. Have you ever seen the last shape 9-5 estate/wagon. its actually a thing of beauty but apparently there is only 20 of them in the world.
I have had the opportunity to drive many SAABs. The best for me was the 2003 or 2004 9-5 Aero. I will always have these cars in my heart, Im sorry it ended like that.
Some time ago, like almost 40 years ago my sister, and brother-in-law bought a new Saab 900 Turbo, must have been 1982, unfortunately they returned it the day after, but I remember the crush red burgundy velour interior, and the turbo badge on the metallic blue paint most however. It must have been 8 years later I found myself rebuilding a 1974 Saab Sonnet, the Sonett German V4 would have been an awesome car with a turbo..... lol
