A French perspective on the Saab 900 Convertible
The French YouTube channel 100 Bornes recently devoted an entire 26-minute feature to one of the most distinctive convertibles of the late twentieth century – the 1991 Saab 900 Scarabée Convertible. Filmed in Paris, it is not just a walk-around of a preserved classic, but a portrait of a car that still serves as a dependable daily driver after more than three decades on the road.
Although the film is in French, the story is accessible to Saab enthusiasts everywhere thanks to the auto-translated English subtitles on YouTube. This makes the Scarabée’s tale relevant beyond its original audience, offering international viewers a chance to experience how a single car blends design, practicality, and nostalgia.
Watch the full video here:
Une Saab 900 Cabriolet – Une voiture de légende ?
The Scarabée edition
The car featured in the video is no ordinary 900. Known as the Scarabée, or Scarab Green, this edition was commissioned by the Belgian importer and sold in very limited numbers. It carried a subtle but intellectual aura and quickly earned a reputation as “the car of architects” – understated, tasteful, and quietly individualistic.
Its color scheme alone explains much of its appeal: a deep green exterior paired with rich cognac leather upholstery, a combination that perfectly complements the 900’s wedge-like silhouette. In this case, the car has lived a long and full life, with 237,000 kilometers on the odometer, yet it continues to serve its Parisian owner every single day, from commutes to family holidays that cover thousands of kilometers.
Scandinavian design, American impulse
When Saab first unveiled the 900 in 1978, it was built with a northern climate in mind: thick steel construction, reinforced pillars, and a chassis strong enough to survive a collision with a moose. The convertible version, however, was born out of a very different market dynamic. By the mid-1980s, Saab’s American importer was convinced that a drop-top version would resonate with U.S. buyers. Saab obliged, working with a U.S. partner to engineer the folding roof mechanism. The result was launched in 1986 and became an instant success overseas before returning triumphantly to European showrooms.
The Scarabée shown in Paris embodies this history. It carries the characteristic U.S.-style bumpers, the quirky headlamp wipers that became an unforgettable Saab signature in the 1980s, and of course the center-mounted ignition switch that doubles as a safety feature, since the key can only be removed when the gear lever is locked in reverse.
Mechanical character
Under the hood lies a 2.1-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 140 horsepower. Known informally as the “small turbo,” this variant was most common in Belgium and the United States, where tax regulations favored slightly reduced displacement. It might not deliver the explosive performance of the full-spec Turbo 16, but it provides a smooth, flexible character ideally suited to everyday driving.
Servicing is straightforward, a fact underlined by the enormous clamshell hood that opens almost vertically and exposes the engine bay like a workbench. In Paris, this Saab is maintained by Saab Héritage in Gennevilliers, a specialist workshop where models ranging from early 96s to late 9-5s receive expert attention. The car’s current condition – even down to the pristine wiring looms – testifies to both Saab’s build quality and decades of careful upkeep.
A cultural footprint that lingers
Beyond its mechanical traits, the 900 Convertible remains deeply embedded in cultural memory. In Hollywood films of the late 1980s and early 1990s, it was often the car of choice for university professors, psychologists, or creative professionals – characters who valued intellect and style over flash.
In 1996, the Museum of Modern Art in New York recognized Saab’s design legacy by adding the Saab 92 to its permanent design collection – a testament to Scandinavian functionalism and mid-century innovation.. Standing alongside icons such as the Citroën DS, Porsche 911, and Jaguar E-Type, it was recognized not simply as transportation, but as an industrial sculpture that captured a moment in automotive history.
Today, well-preserved examples of the 900 Convertible command prices around €20,000, while rarer editions such as the Monte Carlo Yellow Turbo 16 – limited to about 300 cars and rated at 185 horsepower – fetch nearly double. Yet for many owners, including the Parisian enthusiast featured in the film, the true value lies not in resale but in the joy of use.
More than a collector’s item
What makes this story compelling is not that the Scarabée is carefully preserved in a climate-controlled garage. Instead, it is driven. Daily. In the rain, through traffic, and on cross-country journeys with children in the back seat and luggage in the trunk. It functions both as a family car and as a rolling design statement – proof that durability and timeless style are not mutually exclusive.
As the presenter notes, “C’est une voiture qu’on ne se lasse pas de regarder.”
Translated: It’s a car you never tire of looking at.
For Saab enthusiasts, this video is a reminder that the 900 Convertible is not frozen in time, but remains a living icon of Swedish engineering, cultural sophistication, and enduring practicality.
Watch the video
If you have not yet done so, we recommend watching the full 26-minute feature on YouTube. Even if you do not speak French, simply turn on the subtitles – the story will resonate across languages.
Yes absolutly amazing timeless beauty really.