This feature explores the story of an Icelandic 1983 Saab 900 Turbo rescued twice by the same family. From harsh roads to scarce parts, it remains one of the island’s rare surviving flat-nose Turbos — and a deeply personal piece of automotive heritage.
When Dutch Saab enthusiast Olav Davidse tracked down an aquamarine 1979 Saab 900 Turbo, he wasn’t just buying another classic – he was reclaiming a childhood image of his father’s 99. After a careful refresh and a full inspection on AutoWeek’s “Klokje rond klassiek” lift, his early Turbo now stands as one of the clearest surviving examples of Saab’s first turbocharged hatch era. This article follows the car from doctor’s driveway to camera lights, with engineering details, owner passion and period driving impressions.
German magazine Autobild recently compared the Saab 9-3 and 9-5 Aero SportCombis, offering a surprisingly appreciative outside perspective on Saab’s final era. In this SaabPlanet analysis, we explore their findings and place them within the broader arc of Saab history.
After spinal cancer left him paralyzed, David refused to stop driving. With simple hand controls and a 1993 Saab 900 Convertible, he reclaimed independence and shared it with his family. Watch TalkSteer Ep17 by Peter Bruce to see how a classic Saab helped rebuild a life.
A rare 1999 Saab 9-3 Viggen in iconic Lightning Blue is now on Bilweb Auctions, owned by one woman for nearly 20 years. With full history, pristine condition, and only 105,000 km, it’s a Swedish performance legend ready for its next chapter.
A once-modest 150 hp Saab 9-3 1.9 TiD has been transformed by Polish workshop Auto Krak into a 290 hp, 580 Nm powerhouse. Using a GTB2260VKL turbo, Insignia-spec fuel system, and a custom ECU map, the team doubled the output while keeping Saab’s trademark drivability and refinement. It’s one of the most impressive diesel tuning stories yet - and still, another Saab TiD holds the record with 310 hp.
This 2003 Saab 9-3 Vector spent its entire life on Sweden’s salt-free island of Gotland — a place where rust is almost unheard of. After two decades and over 300,000 km with one family, the car was moments from being scrapped when Alexander Andersson rescued it, gave it a new engine, restored its red paint, and brought it back to life in Stockholm. What began as a routine rescue became a tribute to Saab’s enduring spirit — individuality, engineering, and heart.
Saab’s XWD wasn’t reactive - it was predictive. From the Turbo X to the 9-5 NG, XWD and eLSD embodied Saab’s engineering ethos, while the tested e-AAM electric AWD showed where the brand was headed before the lights went out.
More than a decade after Saab stopped producing cars, a passionate entrepreneur in Trollhättan has restarted authentic leather upholstery manufacturing using original Artex machines and patterns. With help from former Saab seamstress Eila Lilja and support from Hedin Parts, Joakim Bratell’s workshop is once again crafting interiors for classic Saabs—by hand, and with unmatched precision.
After years in the Netherlands under Mark V. Kampen’s care, the legendary 9-5NG Turbo6 Hirsch prototype has returned to Sweden. Philip Salonen, co-owner of Mannes Bilservice, tells the incredible story of how he couldn’t let this piece of Saab history slip away twice.
