Guess which youngtimer..

[Solbekk]

I have recently replaced my modern BMW 3-series with a youngtimer that must be prepared to endure weather and driving conditions to which I will not expose the Pagoda.

1 owner car from 1983, bought from a German dentist. Question is what kind of make/model? 

[Tyler S]

The kind where the Ignition key goes in the center console. Saab 900s ?

[Jonny B]

 i would concur.

[Peter van Es]

Love those wheels...

[wwheeler]

My wife had one of these and was a wonderfully quirky car. Probably one of the reasons I was instantly attracted......

[Solbekk]

Seems like I made this one too easy to guess! I can list the car in my signature here then.. while also having an excuse to post a few more photos..

Those rims in the photo posted by Tyler are Inca's, a quintessential SAAB wheel design that supposedly echoes the angled vanes of a turbocharger's compressor/turbine wheel. And named after the tiered agricultural fields of the Inca people. How can you not love that? 

I grew up with these cars, my dad had several 900's. I never knew a moment of my life when I wasn't going to own one.

[Solbekk]

As shiny as new, I dare say.. not bad for 33-year old paint (though this crowd is hard to impress..!).

[Tyler S]

Solbekk, Great looking car!
What's really a shame is the cars were wonderful but Saab management, not so much. Lack of advertising and bad business practices did them in. GM got a hold of them and tried to turn them around but the damage was already done. They then started building the cars like crap and it all went down hill from there. They even started putting naturally aspirated V-6's out of Saturn's in them! Ruined the car. Then the Big GM Bailout-Restructuring. Goodbye Saab. Too Bad.
Tyler

[hauser]

How about parts availability?  How difficult is it to find parts?

[Iconic]

As shiny as new, I dare say.. not bad for 33-year old paint (though this crowd is hard to impress..!).

I certainly can't speak for everyone, but I am impressed.
Fantastic gloss.
Look like a great find.
"Enjoy the ride".
Mark

[mbzse]

How about parts availability?

Well, if one is in Norway a contact with the Saab Club in Sweden is easily established.
They (and many other vendors) have a decent parts supply.
See Web: https://svenskasaabklubben.nordicshops.com/ (English text at the end)
For some SAAB 2-stroke ambiance, I recommend Seinfeld's episode http://comediansincarsgettingcoffee.com/fred-armisen-i-wasnt-told-about-this-with-special-feature-im-dying-jerry

Of course, a red Pagoda is the car (star!) in this episode: http://comediansincarsgettingcoffee.com/alec-baldwin-just-a-lazy-shiftless-bastard
/Hans in Sweden

[Solbekk]

Thanks for the comments.

Spare parts should not be a major issue, especially not Scandinavia where the 900's were quite common.

SAAB had some good spells, with their rally achievements and some quite successful models. The 99 was good, and some of the earlier models were wonderfully quirky.

The classic 900 as shown here was above much of the competition in the beginning of the 80's, in it's own ways it was a sophisticated car - to some extent even over-engineered. But the 900 was outdated by the time it had been tweaked and tuned to last into the early 90's.

And somehow the brand lost it's mojo when GM got involved, I think. Though some of the criticism may be unfair as the Americans did pour significant amounts of money into the brand to keep it alive. At least for a while.

Here shown from a 'SAAB'ish' angle

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Nice cars all around .... The Pagoda of course being your best investment it is what my daughter said anyway when I got mine now almost 3 years ago. She said "Dad of all the cars you owned this will be the first car that actually will appreciate in value" guess she was right since two years later the value actually doubled.

[Solbekk]

Yes, the SL is absolutely the better investment. I had my first in -98, comparing the prices then to now is very pleasing. Like you say, the only car I've had that increased in value.

The SAAB is a (much smaller) investment in nostalgia.. but at least it seems to have stopped depreciating


SAAB, meet Merc. Merc, meet SAAB.