Description
This car has had three owners, including myself. It was purchased new by an aeronautical engineer who kept it for several years. Although this gentleman initially maintained the car at the Saab service network, after some time he began performing maintenance at general aeronautical maintenance shops, on his own and likely with the help of his colleagues. It was during this period that he made some upgrades to the car. Since this car was a final version of the 1978 vehicle, that is, a final version of the 1st series still with the original 900 specifications, he made some upgrades to the subsequent version launched in 1981/ 82, such as installing an intercooler, APC electronic management with a modified electrical system, and a limited-slip differential (LSD). Furthermore, since he used a wrecked vehicle from the next series as a parts donor, he took the opportunity to replace the hood with one from the dual air intake version, install the side turn signals from the 16V version, and replace the instrument panel with updated gauges. I'd say these were the most significant changes, improving the car, but strictly speaking, I have to admit that for a collector car, they might not be as appreciated.
The second owner of the car, from whom I bought it, basically did nothing beyond regular maintenance. The only significant thing he did was reupholster the entire car, as the original velour was already showing significant wear. He chose to replace the velour fabric on the seats with gray Alcantara, keeping the original stitching. This was probably due to the difficulty in finding original fabric, but the car actually looks much better, as it was a very well-done upholstery job without significantly damaging the car's originality.
When I heard from my mechanic who was servicing the car for this gentleman who was looking to sell it, I rushed to buy it and realized he was a passive user, meaning he rarely used the car except for occasional trips. It wasn't his everyday vehicle, but rather a classic car for short trips.
Having owned about 12 Saabs in my life, I'd never had the opportunity to own an 8V Turbo Coupé in this blue color, I found it very beautiful, with the potential to regain its former shine, but with some care and adjustments I felt were necessary to keep it trouble-free for a few more years. Since I bought it, I've spent over € 4. 000 on maintenance and improvements, including a complete paint job in its original color, removing some rust spots that were already beginning to appear. I reupholstered the headliner, replacing the cardboard base because the existing one was already quite dented. I also reupholstered the trunk with new carpet, trying to maintain the original color and quality. Mechanically, the steering box was repaired, the alternator belt was replaced, the distributor cap, spark plugs, and wires were replaced, a new exhaust system and muffler were installed, front and rear shock absorbers were replaced, injection valves, lines, and brake shoes were replaced, the oil pump was replaced, the float and fuel sensor were replaced, the fuel pump and rubber seal were replaced, the instrument panel was repaired and cleaned, the battery is new, the air conditioning was repaired and charged, the upholstery and carpets were thoroughly cleaned and sanitized, and, of course, all the car's fluids were changed and are up to date. I installed a Blaukpunkt Stockholm radio from the period as I thought it was more suitable than the one I had when I bought the car.
I think this is a good example of the first-series Saab 900 Turbo Coupé. Although not in its original condition, it has many original upgrades that have only improved its performance, comfort, and economy of use. This car is a very pleasant drive, pulls well, and its power is clearly felt. It is a true classic, not only because of what this model symbolizes in the automotive world, but also because it reflects the irreverence of the Saab brand.
