Back in January 2025, SaabPlanet.com reported on what was then considered the most expensive Saab in the United States – an immaculate 1986 Saab 900 Turbo SPG offered by Hyman Ltd. Classic Cars of Saint Louis for an eye-watering $83,500. The article quickly went viral among enthusiasts.
Eight months later, that very same car resurfaced – not in a glossy showroom, but on the digital auction floor of Bring a Trailer. This time, the numbers told a very different story. Despite fierce bidding that reached $32,000, the car failed to meet its reserve and went unsold.
For most vehicles, such a gap between dealer price and auction bid would be alarming. But when it comes to Saab, it’s not about numbers. It’s about conviction — and a certain refusal to compromise.
The Same Car, A Different Stage
Yes, it’s the exact same Edwardian Gray 900 Turbo SPG, chassis number YS3AD35L9G2024964, showing just 60,000 miles and presented in what might be the finest unrestored condition seen in years.
At Hyman Ltd., it was displayed as a museum-grade artifact — “a pristine survivor from Saab’s golden turbo age.” On Bring a Trailer, it became something else entirely: a public referendum on Saab’s true collector value.
The listing was detailed to perfection: Bridge of Weir Scottish leather, original Pioneer CD stereo, factory cladding, freshly refurbished three-spoke alloys, and full documentation back to its Illinois roots. It even included the Clarion graphic equalizer and the original window sticker listing a 1986 MSRP of $22,806 — proof of just how far Saab’s cultural value had climbed.
But on October 13, 2025, the final bid of $32,000 blinked on the screen, and the words “Reserve Not Met” appeared. The Edwardian Gray SPG stayed in Saint Louis.
How an $85,000 Saab Became a $32,000 Saab
It’s easy to misinterpret this as a loss of value, but the reality is more nuanced.
The $83,500 dealer listing represented an aspirational price — an interpretation of rarity and condition. Hyman Ltd. positioned the SPG as a collectible piece of design and engineering, much like a BMW M3 E30 or a Lancia Delta Integrale. And to be fair, this Saab had the pedigree to justify the ambition.
The $32,000 auction result, on the other hand, represents the cold logic of the open market — where passion, perception, and purchasing power collide in real time. Bidders recognized the quality, but not everyone was ready to bridge the emotional gap between admiration and acquisition.
The truth probably lies somewhere in between: serious collectors agree this car would sell comfortably in the $35,000–$45,000 range if presented again under the right conditions.
A Community Reacts: Nostalgia and Realism Collide
The Bring a Trailer comments section became a fascinating snapshot of Saab culture in 2025.
User ShineOn, a self-described former SPG owner, called it “the best one offered in many, many moons.” Another bidder, Dave0, offered a vivid flashback:
“Back in the 80s people mocked drivers of Saabs. You’d think it just landed from Mars. But once up to speed, they were remarkable… I still remember riding in the backseat as my mother smoked a C4 Corvette on the interstate.”
Others debated the removed catalytic converter, the dashboard cracks, or the non-functioning cruise control — but no one questioned the soul of the car. Even those who found flaws admitted that this SPG was “in the top 1% of surviving examples.”
What emerged from those comments was not criticism — it was reverence. Saab enthusiasts understand imperfection as part of authenticity.
Why the Reserve Price Matters
Every Bring a Trailer auction is a dance between seller optimism and market reality. When Hyman Ltd. entered this Saab into auction, it was clear they weren’t looking for a quick flip.
This was a benchmark car, one of those rare survivors that define the top end of the market. Setting a high reserve wasn’t arrogance — it was protection of provenance.
After all, this was the same car once featured in SaabPlanet’s article titled “The Most Expensive Saab in the U.S. — This $83,500 Saab 900 SPG Is Turning Heads”. Back then, the listing emphasized its originality, limited ownership history, and investment potential.
The failure to sell at $32,000 doesn’t contradict that story – it reinforces it. This SPG isn’t an ordinary driver’s car. It’s a museum-grade Saab with a museum-grade reserve.
The Emotional Currency of the SPG
Among classic car enthusiasts, there’s a unique emotional calculus surrounding Saabs – especially the SPG.
This isn’t a car for speculators. It’s a car for believers. For those who know that the turbo whistle isn’t just a sound; it’s a signature. For those who see the wraparound windshield and forward-hinged hood not as quirks but as declarations of independence.
In that sense, the $32,000 bid was not an insult – it was a compliment. It means that even without mainstream hype, even without a factory or a brand behind it, a 39-year-old front-wheel-drive Swedish hatchback can still inspire people to bid more than the cost of a new BMW 3-series lease.
That’s the kind of staying power you can’t engineer — only earn.
What Happens Next
There’s little doubt this car will reappear – possibly again on Bring a Trailer, perhaps through a private sale or a high-end dealer network.
If it does, expect the reserve to remain firm, likely close to $80,000–$85,000, consistent with Hyman Ltd.’s original valuation. Whether the market catches up to that figure remains to be seen.
But one thing is certain: this Saab 900 Turbo SPG has already cemented its legend twice in a single year — first as a symbol of aspiration, and then as proof that Saab enthusiasm is still alive, unbending, and unwilling to sell itself short.
A Lesson in Value — and Values
In the end, the story of this SPG isn’t about missed bids or price tags. It’s about what Saab has always stood for: doing things differently, even when the world doesn’t understand it.
A car that once cost $22,806 new, later listed for $83,500, and drew a $32,000 bid without selling – that’s not a failure. It’s a statement (but also the impact of inflation and the global decline in currency values - there is also that).
The Saab 900 Turbo SPG remains a time capsule of intellect, individuality, and engineering integrity. The market may fluctuate, but Saab’s spirit doesn’t.
Not Sold — Because It’s Not for Everyone
When the final seconds of the auction ticked away and the “Reserve Not Met” message appeared, you could almost imagine the Saab itself smirking quietly — dignified, self-assured, and entirely unbothered.
Because this isn’t a car for everyone. It never was. And that’s exactly why we love it.
The pioneer cd is NOT original. Details matter, especially when offering one as a top 1% car. I haven’t read the comments on the bring a trailer auction for this car but I’m sure details were part of the conversation.
This is a story about someone who waaaaaay overpaid for that car.