1991 Saab 900 Turbo Carlsson – Auction Car of the Week

It still twangs at the heart to know that Saab is no longer with us. It was a wild, unruly company that refused to maintain trends or follow formulas. Saab was a rebel, it was there to build cars, but it would do so its own way. Saab, its bosses or its employees were not interested in building cars that would rival the competition. It instead built cars that had no competition. It was keen to trade on its heritage and ongoing links to aviation, it also traded heavily in the safety playground. Saab cars were wild, often fast and they looked like nothing else on the road. Man alive, we miss them.

We also miss seeing them in the world of motorsport. Saabs have been synonymous with speed and competition, especially since the launch of the now iconic 99 Turbo. But even before forced induction was at the fore, Saabs were competing. The most notable pilot being Erik Carlsson. A man with an unquenchable thirst for speed, and with an apparent significant disregard for his own safety. But he didn’t need to have one – he was driving a Saab, and Saabs were safe. How safe? Carlsson once deliberately rolled his car to avoid a mud pit on stage. The press were having none of his claims of it being deliberate. So he did it again. Ford thought this was a great PR op, so their driver tried it. The Cortina was ruined. The Saab carried on rallying.

Carlsson became the jam to Saab’s crumpet, and celebrated, promoted and served as a spokesperson for the Swedish brand for years. Saab rewarded him by building special Carlsson editions of its cars. And that is what you’re looking at here. A bona fide, one of six-hundred, Saab 900 Turbo Carlsson. If you want a Saab that is the ultimate expression of Saabiness, this is most definitely it. Available in white, black or red, the Carlsson boasted more power, more body kit and more leather. It was a 900 Turbo on giddy steroids, and it would go on to be one of the most sought after models to ever roll out of the now vacant Saab factory.

This car was initially owned by a Saab Club member for some 25 years, it was then sold on and subjected to a light restoration. Bit of welding in the transmission tunnel, transmission rebuild, and then a full respray to make the car look as good as new. The car was then sold on again, this time to another enthusiast who wanted to pair it with his equally rare 9000 Carlsson. Since 2019, the car has only covered a handful of miles, and as such, is still pretty much restoration fresh.

Make no mistake, this car is perfect for the Saab enthusiast. But that’s not all. If you’re a classic car lover and you want something unapologetically different and bold, this is it. And because it’s a Saab, and because it has been looked after so very will indeed, you can use this and enjoy it whenever you like. And you’ll want to. The pull from that turbocharged engine is addictive, the tight, agile chassis is going to beg that you play with it through every bend, and you’re going to love the admiration this thing gets on the road. This 900 Carlsson is a head turner and then some. And so it should be, this isn’t just a car, it’s a Saab.

If you snooze you lose, so if you miss out on this one, you’ll have to keep your eye out for another rare Saab 900 for sale.