Classified Find - 1985 SAAB 900

The demise of SAAB has to be one of the saddest losses in modern automotive history.

We won't linger on why the company floundered as it did, Top Gear covered it off succinctly a few years back. In short, mismanagement and misspending dug the grave for the Swedish marque, much to the sadness of car-enthusiasts around the world.

It wasn't always like this. During the late 70s and up until the early 90s, SAAB were a healthy manufacturer of handsomely designed and strongly engineered saloon and estate cars. They were the left-field Scandinavian choice of transport for those bored by the equivalent staid offerings of the big German three.

This cult appeal won SAAB many long-term fans, but cult appeal only runs so far and running a global business for the small percentage of fan boys and girls can only last so long, especially when those fans coveted the old stuff and shied away from the newer, GM-based offerings of the early millennium, that SAAB were forced to produce when the company was taken over by the American behemoth to try and save it from it's eventual downfall.

The silver-lining to this sad story, is the non-existence of a brand makes their back catalogue all the more alluring. That brings us to this Classified Find. A 1985 SAAB 900.

This 900 looks like a cherished example, from the pictures at least, the interior and exterior appear straight and true. The ad claims the car has lived with one family through it's entire 35 years and been given the TLC it deserved to keep it in fine fettle.

OK, yes, it's probably not the 900 everyone wants. It's a five-door, it's an automatic and it's lacking in any turbos, but that is reflected in the price, which is advertised at just €3200. Try finding a 900 Turbo, every a tatty one at anywhere near that price. It's a classic too, so tax, insurance and registration will be next to nothing. Plus, with SAAB no longer around, you're not going to lose money on your purchase.

Now, someone buy it before I do.