RIP Saab (A Thread for Saab Lovers)

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AutoTopNL review of a 1999 Saab 93 2.0T Monte Carlo

 

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Saab's estate is for sale again as Chinese giant Evergrande struggles - Autoblog​

Several investors are interested in buying NEVS

The seemingly never-ending Saab story has taken another unexpected turn. China-based Evergrande Group is trying to either sell or lure investors to National Electric Vehicles Sweden (NEVS), the unit that owns Saab's assets, as it struggles to claw its way out of a financial rut.

Evergrande is a real estate conglomerate that purchased a controlling stake in NEVS in early 2019 as part of a diversification campaign that recently backfired; it has also poured a significant amount of money into Faraday Future.

Its debts amount to over $300 million, according to Reuters, so selling part or all of NEVS could solve this problem.

Executives haven't publicly revealed how much the carmaker is worth, though an anonymous source told Reuters it could be valued at up to $1 billion, but company boss Stefan Tilk said that several investors (including venture capital firms and industrial partners) are already interested. Official details like who these companies are aren't available.

There's a lot more at stake than Evergrande's creditors: NEVS will likely collapse without either a major investment or a sale. It laid off about half of its 650-strong workforce in August 2021, according to the same report, and stock exchange filings show that it's running out of money.

What happens next will largely depend on what the folks who invest in or buy NEVS have in mind. Although the firm purchased Saab's assets in 2012, including the factory in Trollhättan, Sweden, it has struggled to resurrect the brand. It's notably not allowed to use the Griffin logo.

It built a handful of electric cars, like an updated and electrified version of the Saab 9-3, but it never launched mass production.

One of its most promising and credible projects was a joint-venture with Koenigsegg but the partnership was quietly dissolved in September 2021.

Before it fell into dire financial straits, NEVS had seemingly turned its attention to the crowded autonomous shuttle market.

In July 2020, it unveiled a box-shaped prototype named Sango (pictured) that was tentatively scheduled to start carrying passengers in Stockholm, Sweden, in 2022.

Where the project stands is up in the air, but it may be one of the most valuable and viable parts of the company.

Saab's estate is for sale again as Chinese giant Evergrande struggles

China-based Evergrande is in the process of selling NEVS, which owns Saab's assets, to avoid collapsing under a $300 million debt.

www.autoblog.com

 

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2006 Saab 9-3 Aero Convertible 20th Anniversary Edition​

This 2006 Saab 9-3 Aero is one of 412 convertibles equipped with the 20th Anniversary Package for the model year, and it is finished in Electric Blue Metallic over Parchment leather.

Power is from a turbocharged 2.8-liter V6 paired with six-speed automatic transmission, and equipment includes the Touring Package along with a power-retractable soft top, power-adjustable heated front seats, and navigation.

The car was delivered new to Saab of Troy in Michigan, and it has 55k miles. This 9-3 Aero convertible is now offered by the selling dealer in New York with manufacturer’s literature, a window sticker, a clean Carfax report, and a clean Michigan title.

2006 Saab 9-3 Aero Convertible 20th Anniversary Edition

Bid for the chance to own a 2006 Saab 9-3 Aero Convertible 20th Anniversary Edition at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #58,838.

bringatrailer.com

 

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We Broke Down In A Saab Sonett - Classics World

 

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2011 Saab 9-4X Aero​

No Reserve: 2011 Saab 9-4X Aero

Bid for the chance to own a No Reserve: 2011 Saab 9-4X Aero at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #59,615.

bringatrailer.com

 

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The Saab 900 Turbo was the Tesla of its day | Revelations with Jason Cammisa | Ep. 15 - Hagerty​

The Saab 99 Turbo and 900 Turbo were Swedish Crystal Balls: they more accurately foretold the future of automotive powertrains better than perhaps any other car until Tesla's EVs.

The similarities are many: Saab wasn't a car company; it was an airplane manufacturer, so it did things differently than other automakers.

Saab was obsessed with safety. And Saab was concerned about real-world speed and efficiency rather than looking just at numbers. And as a result, Saabs were bought by non-mainstream buyers. Just like today's EVs.

In this episode, Jason Cammisa explains why the 99 and 900, which were effectively the same car, were revelations. They included a handful of world-firsts, including low-boost-pressure, high compression-ratio four-cylinders that more closely resemble today's turbos than anything else of the era.

 

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Saab 900 - The last Great Saab? - Big Car

 

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At $6,500, Could This 1990 Saab 900 Turbo SPG Show You The Aero Of Your Ways?

As one of only 7,625 cars imported, the SPG is likely the most collectible of all 900 models.

Today’s Nice Price or No Dice 900 SPG represents the ultimate edition of the last independently-developed Saab model ever. Back when new, owners were fanatical about these cars. Let’s see this one is now priced to get its own cheering section going.

The latest James Bond film is titled No Time To Die, and that’s also the mantra many of you applied in response to last Friday’s 1991 Toyota Crown Miyagata hearse. Few of you could get over either the car’s limited applicability or its $9,000 price. In the end, an insufficient number of you were dying to buy it, and the Crown was toppled in a 60% No Dice loss.

When you think about automotive brands that have died off, Saab is perhaps the most tragic of them all. After all, the company’s closure represented the loss fully 50 percent of Sweden’s major automotive manufacturing. That’s a big hit. Of course, the closure came long after Saab had come under the mishandling of General Motors, and the cars it was building at the time of its demise sadly didn’t embrace the true Saab ethos like their forebearers. They were instead, thinly veiled Opels.

This 1990 Saab 900 Turbo SPG is a real-deal Saab. In fact, it’s one of the last of the real-deal Saabs, and, being the SPG (Special Performance Group) model, it’s also one of the quickest.

This special performance model was dubbed the Aero in Europe, in honor of its lowered ride height, specially smoothed lower cladding, and hatch-mounted ducktail spoiler. The model was re-branded SPG in the U.S. as GM (yep, those guys again) contested the use of the Aero name since it held an existing copyright.

The special model wasn’t about just being all slippery-making either. The SPG was also given a hotter edition of the 1985cc DOHC turbo four that in this instance was able to muster 175 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque. That may not sound like a hill of beans today but remember, the 900 tips the scales at just 2,900 pounds dripping wet so it can totally get out of its own way. A five-speed manual sits just under the hot mill and drives the front wheels. Upgraded suspension and special three-spoke wheels help the car put the power to the pavement.

At $6,500, Could This 1990 Saab 900 Turbo SPG Show You The Aero Of Your Ways? - Jalopnik

Today’s Nice Price or No Dice 900 SPG represents the ultimate edition of the last independently-developed Saab model ever. Back when new, owners were fanatical about these cars. Let’s see this one is now priced to get its own cheering section going.

jalopnik.com

 

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Used buying guide: Saab 900 Turbo

It’s easy to succumb to the charms of Saab’s 900 Turbo – a comfy, robust and stylish car that paved the way for today’s turbo era

Given how ubiquitous it’s become, it’s strange to think that turbocharging was once relatively rare.

Although it all started for production cars in 1962 with the Oldsmobile Jetfire V8 and Chevrolet Corvair Monza, there were still only a handful of cars running a blown engine by the late 1970s. But with vehicles like the BMW 2002 Turbo and Porsche 911 acquiring legendary status, the technology was on the up.

In 1977, Saab revealed the turbocharged 99, featuring improved wastegate technology that proved turbo power was feasible for everyday driving – not just the track. The following year, the firm launched the 900 – a car that truly popularised mainstream turbocharging.

The 900 was available during its long life as a characterful hatchback, saloon and convertible, with a sleek body and prominent bumpers. The first generation (1978-1994), dubbed the ‘classic’, was launched with four other trim levels but we’re focusing on the sportier Turbo model here.

Used buying guide: Saab 900 Turbo | Autocar

It’s easy to succumb to the charms of Saab’s 900 Turbo – a comfy, robust and stylish car that paved the way for today’s turbo era

www.autocar.co.uk

 

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Saab Automobile 10 years bankruptcy homage - Marcus & Manuela ́s Saab Channel​

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Hopefully many of you Saab fans are free from work and can watch Saab YouTube videos.

In sad recognition of the 10 year since the Saab bankruptcy we made this homage to Saab.

Everyday between 18 of Dec to the 9 of January there will be a new video posted about Saab from the Saab archive over the internet.

I can not believe that it has been 10 years since Saab went bankrupt - it is really sad.

It would have been exciting if Saab had been able to survive to guess what kind of company it would have been today? Guaranteed more electric cars than Volvo for example.

Have seen friends move on from Saab to Volvo and then to completely different car brands. But still we hope that Saab will return one day.

 

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Saab Automobile 10 years bankruptcy homage - Marcus & Manuela ́s Saab Channel​

Nice vid.

The rear light bar of the 9-5 was very ahead of the game ito design & style.

 

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(photo courtesy of Paul Nieuwenhuis on Twitter)

 

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At $4,500, Would Buying This 1999 Saab 9-5 Wagon Be A Walk In The Park?

The ad says the options list includes a picnic table, allowing for snacks under the hatch.

The ad for today’s Nice Price or No Dice Saab 9-5 assures us that while it has a ton of miles under its belt, many of those were accumulated under the ownership of a former Saab mechanic. Let’s see if that ownership history sways us to formally consider its price.

In life, there’s good and then there’s just good enough. The latter is usually realized when a multitude of factors is taken into account and the pluses barely manage to edge out the minuses.

That seemed to be the case with yesterday’s 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser convertible. It was a car that no one seemed to care for much, but which, at $2,900, proved an undeniable bargain, earning a solid 86 percent Nice Price win. As we say, good enough.

This past Sunday proved an auspicious if sad anniversary. It was on that date 10 years ago — December 19, 2011 — that Saab finally declared bankruptcy and called it quits. After years of being a hot potato to various owners, the Saab brand today is around only in ghost form, and as manifested by older cars like this 1999 Saab 9-5 wagon.

Much like Saab the company, this 9-5 has had multiple owners. The second, and current owner until the prospective sale, claims to have once owned a Saab repair shop. That, of course, is a handy advocation for any Saab owner. If you’re not a Saab mechanic, or if you lack access to a good one, then maybe this isn’t the right car for you. Even if you do consider yourself up to the challenge of old Saab ownership, perhaps this car’s 235,000-mile history will put you off.

At $4,500, Would Buying This 1999 Saab 9-5 Wagon Be A Walk In The Park? - Jalopnik

The ad for today’s Nice Price or No Dice Saab 9-5 assures us that while it has a ton of miles under its belt, many of those were accumulated under the ownership of a former Saab mechanic. Let’s see if that ownership history sways us to formally consider its price.

jalopnik.com

 

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Saab Automobile’s Bankruptcy Procedure is Over - SAAB Planet​

Two days after the tenth anniversary of the declaration of bankruptcy, the company “Saab Automobile” is going down in history after a long bankruptcy procedure.

The car brand, once worth several billion, was not allowed to be sold during the bankruptcy proceedings, and the brand name itself was kept by the Saab Group.

Bankruptcy proceedings have been completed​

On Tuesday, the bankruptcy trustees submitted their final report and proposal for a final dividend in the bankruptcy to Vänersborg District Court.

The total accumulated debt was 13 billion Swedish kronor, and the bankruptcy trustees managed to collect 3.2 billion Swedish kronor that goes to creditors. In addition to this, about 3,000 former employees have an additional 17.7 million Swedish kronor to claim.

Not to be confused by this information, on August 31, 2012, NEVS finalized its acquisition of the main assets of Saab Automobile AB, Saab Automobile Powertrain AB and Saab Automobile Tools AB.

NEVS bought the assemblies, not Saab Automobile, which is entering bankruptcy proceedings with huge debts that have only accumulated. And so, until yesterday.

Only a fraction of the large debt will be paid to the company’s creditors​

A large number of suppliers and creditors of this company will be able to collect little from their receivables. In this whole bankruptcy procedure, as always, the lawyers profited the most.

Bankruptcy trustee Hans L. Bergqvist testified at a press conference yesterday about the size of the debt, saying the following: “An astronomical sum and we had a modest wallet at our disposal. There were 20-30 million in the company and we estimated that it cost ten million per week.”

The Saab car brand has not been sold​

The biggest value in the bankruptcy was probably the car brand Saab, which sets the hearts of many car lovers on fire. The Volvo Cars brand is currently estimated to be “worth SEK 165 billion”.

Even if Saab’s car brand are only worth a fraction today, it should be billions according to marketing experts.

But the car brand Saab could not be sold by the bankruptcy trustees in the bankruptcy. Initially, NEVS was allowed to call new cars Saab, but the defence Saab Group withdrew the right to use the name Saab in 2015, when Nevs got into trouble and applied for reconstruction.

Will there be Saab cars in the future?​

Today, the right to manufacture cars with the Saab car brand is held by the defence group Saab AB. The logo with a Griffin also belongs to the defence group as well as model names such as 9-3 and Saab Aero. The name 9-5 belonged to the bankruptcy estate.

As recently as September, Saab renewed its rights to the Saab car brand.

At the moment, for a company such as the high-tech Saab Group, starting the production of electric vehicles that are in the market would not be a problem.

With the new electric car technology, it would be much easier than before to share the platform with another group of vehicles and start production.

What do Saab Group say?​

However, according to the latest statements from this large company, there are no announcements about starting car production, at least for now:

– “We have no plans to use our brand for car manufacturing”, says Mattias Rådström, press manager at Saab Group, which owns the rights to the car brand.

Saab Automobile's Bankruptcy Procedure Is Over

Two days after the tenth anniversary of the declaration of bankruptcy, the company "Saab Automobile" is going down in history after a long bankruptcy

www.saabplanet.com

 

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Here's a YouTube channel for EVERYTHING that's SAAB-related...

https://www.youtube.com/c/MarcusBergfeldt/videos

 

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