When most Saab fans think of the 92, they imagine the two-stroke hum, the charming simplicity, and a body designed to slice through Scandinavian winters. Tobias, a Swedish tinkerer with a penchant for challenging norms, saw something else: a platform for an all-electric, homebuilt outlaw project.
And thus, the world’s only electric Saab 92 – now christened SAABEL – was born.
This unusual project was captured in detail by Motornörd, the well-known Swedish YouTube channel that dives into obscure and fascinating automotive stories. Through his video available here, Motornörd brings us an up-close look at Tobias’ one-of-a-kind creation, offering insights into the process, the challenges, and the rebellious spirit that fuels it. We will also embed the video for our readers to experience firsthand.
Table of Contents
A Mad Idea Nobody Else Wanted to Try
Tobias is the first to admit: this wasn’t supposed to happen.
He calls it “the dumbest idea no one else would come up with.“ The car started as a half-rotted, multi-colored wreck that was more destined for the scrapyard than a comeback tour. But thanks to a pile of discarded Nissan Leaf parts lying on his garage floor, inspiration struck.
“I liked the Saab 92, but I also wanted to try building something electric,” Tobias explains.
“And before I knew it, I had the parts, and the project kind of started itself.”
Yet, this wasn’t about saving a pristine collector’s item. The donor car was already too far gone for restoration. In his words: “Everything under the doors was completely gone. It had been standing in grass for years. No one can say I destroyed a Saab 92—I probably saved it from the crusher.”
Not a Saab—A SAABEL
Crucially, this isn’t an electric Saab 92. It’s an all-out amateur build that only looks like a 92!
By SFRO (Swedish Vehicle Builders Association) regulations, it’s not even considered a modified vehicle—it’s registered as a completely new build.
Underneath the battered skin sits a homemade skateboard chassis, grafted together from Saab 9-3 front and rear axles, Nissan Leaf drivetrain components, and even a few Volkswagen Lupo parts.
The drivetrain? A 40 kWh Nissan Leaf motor and inverter combo, paired to a battery pack bolted directly under the cabin floor.
“It’s about 300 kilos of battery, six bolts holding it to the frame,” Tobias says casually.
“And yes, the car weighs roughly 1,000 kg now. It’s surprisingly light for an EV.”
Power, Range, and DIY Ingenuity
This Frankenstein EV isn’t chasing Tesla Model S Plaid acceleration times. Tobias estimates a range of about 300 km (186 miles) per charge, consuming a modest 1.1 kWh per 10 km at steady 80 km/h cruising speeds.
That efficiency comes from the Saab 92’s slipperiest virtue: its aerodynamic teardrop shape. And unlike many modern EVs, the SAABEL has no power steering, no brake booster, and—most amusingly—no sound insulation.
“It still feels like sitting in a metal box,” Tobias laughs.
“Even though it’s electric, you need ear protection. There’s metal-on-metal noise everywhere.”
The car is fitted with Toyo R88 tires, giving it an almost comically good grip considering its humble origins. And while the turning circle is about what you’d expect from a Saab 9-3 front axle shoehorned into a car never designed for it, Tobias says it still manages Swedish roundabouts just fine.
A Patchwork of Donor Parts
The SAABEL is a rolling testament to the art of scavenging.
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Steering column and rack? Volkswagen Lupo.
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Gaspedal? Volkswagen Passat.
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Dashboard? Original Saab 92, now hiding digital gauges and a servo from an RC car to drive the speedometer.
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Rear hatch and trunk? Recycled from a Saab 9-5.
“It’s about using what’s lying around,” Tobias shrugs.
“And besides, in Norway, the only cheap thing at the scrapyard is EV parts.”
Should It Be Painted? The Great Debate
The car’s looks are what you’d call aggressively unfinished.
Its patchwork body, bare interior, and raw welds are part of its charm.
Yet, Tobias faces the dilemma: should it be painted to look like a showroom car, or kept as a rolling piece of garage art?
“If you paint it, it loses some soul. It becomes just another shiny car,” he muses.
For now, the car remains in its barn-find aesthetic. Tobias jokes that he’ll do the opposite of whatever the online audience tells him to do.
The Road Ahead
This summer, the SAABEL will hit the road, visiting meets and shows across Sweden.
It’s not built for show car competitions—it’s built to provoke questions, start conversations, and challenge what automotive heritage can be in the age of electrification.
“You can’t get more anti-purist than this,” Tobias smirks.
“I don’t think anyone else is going to build another one. And honestly, I’m not sure I would either.”
But for now, the SAABEL lives—and rolls—loudly and silently at the same time.
And while Tobias’ SAABEL might be the only electric Saab 92 roaming the streets, it’s far from the only EV Saab conversion we’ve seen. On SaabPlanet, we’ve previously documented several equally daring projects—like the WIMA 442 EV, a Saab 9-3 Convertible reborn as an electric cruiser, as well as multiple Saab 96 and Sonett conversions, and even Jonas Wallerström’s impressive electric Saab 900 build.
These projects all share the same rebellious spirit, pushing the boundaries of what a Saab can be in the electric age—and proving that Saab enthusiasm doesn’t end where the two-stroke or turbocharged engine stops.
