Junkyard Gem: 1989 Saab 900 Turbo Convertible

I dwell in Colorado, the place Saabs had been liked deeply by residents going manner again to the 96 (and I am certain a number of 92s had been offered right here within the Fifties, although I have never discovered any in native automotive graveyards … but). By far the simplest pre-GM Trollhättanites to seek out in Centennial State wrecking yards today are the 1978-1993 900s, and I stroll by a half-dozen for each that I doc as a Junkyard Gem. We admired a gloriously brown 900 Turbo two-door a number of months again, however at the moment’s 900 Turbo is a particularly uncommon cabriolet model, the primary I’ve present in a boneyard in at the least 15 years.

The convertible 900 was accessible solely as a turbocharged model in the US when it was launched for the 1986 mannequin yr, and that continued by way of 1991. After that, a naturally-aspirated 900 convertible could possibly be purchased right here.

When in very good situation, these vehicles can carry tidy sums. A brilliant-low-mile ’87 900 Turbo convertible simply offered for $145,000 just lately, in actual fact.

This automotive has greater than 843 instances as many miles on the odometer as that automotive, nevertheless, and it exhibits each one among them.

It is not terribly rusty, contemplating, however the sheet metallic exhibits many battle scars, and the inside is about what you’d anticipate with 33-year-old leather-based.

Final yr’s movie adaptation of Haruki Murakami’s brief story, “Drive My Automobile,” put the Saab 900 Turbo again into mainstream cultural consciousness. Nevertheless, that automotive is a two-door sedan; the best-known Saab 900 Turbo Convertible in cinema historical past is the one pushed by Iben Hjelje’s character within the movie adaptation of the Nick Hornby novel, “Excessive Constancy.”

These vehicles had been pretty fast for his or her time, with 160 horsepower from this DOHC 2.0-liter straight-four in 1989. Having seen greater than my share of 900 Turbos going up towards same-era BMW E30s and Acura Integras on highway programs, I might put my cash on the Saab in a wheel-to-wheel race (that’s, in a race brief sufficient to maintain the Swede’s nervous engine alive).

Whereas a three-speed automated was accessible on this automotive, the sort of People odd sufficient to purchase Saabs in 1989 additionally tended to be the kind that wished guide transmissions. In actual fact, I can not recall ever seeing a (non-Opel-based) 900 with a slushbox.

Sure, Opel! Beginning within the 1994 mannequin yr, the 900 title went on a automotive based mostly on the Opel Vectra platform. In a while, the Saab 9-5 and Saturn L-Collection lived on the identical chassis.

Given all the posh options and real efficiency, this automotive was a fairly good worth for the value in 1989. The MSRP was $32,095, which involves about $78,495 in 2022 {dollars}. A BMW 325i convertible price $33,850 ($82,785 now) and had eight further horsepower from its straight-six engine, however it weighed near 100 kilos greater than the Saab. The Alfa Romeo Spider Graduate had a $16,700 price ticket ($40,840 at the moment) however had simply 115 horses.

When you did not insist on a European convertible in 1989, you had extra inexpensive choices. A brand new Toyota Celica GT ragtop listed at $18,318 ($44,800 at the moment), whereas a Chevrolet IROC-Z Camaro convertible price $18,495 ($45,230) and had extra energy than the Saab. Whilst you had been that Camaro, you might need thought-about the Cavalier Z24 convertible, which price $16,615 ($40,635) however had simply 125 horsepower. The 1989 Corvette convertible price greater than the Saab ($36,785, or $89,965 now), however not a lot extra that its mighty 245-horse V8 would not have appeared tempting. Or how a few new Chrysler LeBaron convertible, at $14,795 ($36,185) and boasting 174 turbocharged ponies?

Ditch that hooptified outdated Volvo and horrible Swedish climate for a Saab 900 Convertible … simply by snapping your fingers!

Smart but loopy spirited.