Saab is one of the most beloved automakers out there, and no, it’s not the kind of brand that appeals only to turtleneck-wearing architects. Founded in 1945 with know-how from the aeronautical industry, the company merged with Scania in 1969 until General Motors entered the scene in 1989.
The 900 remains the most popular series and biggest commercial success, but Saab under General Motors wasn’t too bad either. For starters, the engineers often went overbudget during the development process because badge-engineering was not acceptable. These high standards infuriated the bean counters and executives in Detroit, and back in 2010, GM threw in the towel.
Bouncing back from the global recession was hard enough for General Motors, but under the control of Spyker, the once-successful Saab didn’t stand a chance. Making ends meet became impossible by 2011, money ran out, and Spyker couldn’t afford to cover the losses of the Swedish automaker.
NEVS acquired the company in 2012, and not long after that, the last-ever Saab left the factory in Trollhattan. That car is the 9-3 Aero listed by Bilweb Auctions, which shows less than 70 kilometers on the odometer. The top estimate is 450,000 Swedish krona, translating to approximately $45,415.
Whoever bids the most and ultimately gets the car will be treated to a VIP tour of the NEVS facility and Saab museum in Sweden. What’s more, a percentage of the proceeds will benefit sustainable mobility research.
The technical, exterior, interior, and overall condition of the 9-3 were all rated five out of five, and if you look through the photo gallery, it’s easy to understand why. Chassis number YTNFD4AZXE1100257 is a time capsule in its own right, finished in Diamond Silver and first registered in 2019.
Under the hood of the Saab is the 2.0-liter EcoTec four-cylinder turbo, connected to a six-speed automatic transmission from the Aisin AF40-6 series. Being based on the Epsilon platform, spare parts should be easy to find for those who plan to use the car as a daily driver or preserve it.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?
Google News