78K Original Miles: 1987 Saab 900 Turbo Convertible – SOLD!

June 16, 2021 Update – we confirmed the seller of this Saab “Classifind” deleted their listing, so we’re now able to call this one “SOLD!” While this one got away, please reach out either by email or call Rudy directly if you’d like to be informed when we come across something similar.

June 2, 2021 – We just spotted a fresh listing for this Saab 900 we first featured in early May 2021. The price, pictures, and description all remain the same for now.

If you’re looking for a four-seater convertible that is just at home on the Vineyard as it is at the local cars and coffee meetup, a Saab 900 Turbo convertible is a fairly ironclad choice. Recognized universally for being a country club darling, the 900 Turbo today is a fast-appreciating collector car that represents the best days of the Saab brand. This 1987 model originally listed in June 2021 on Craigslist in Brookline, Massachusetts was a California car up until 2015 when it was shipped east; today, it has just 78,000 original miles and is listed with an asking price of $7,900.  Comparing this price against the NADA Price Guide shows us the seller is spot-on in his assessment with “High Retail” pegged at $7,125, but that number isn’t exactly accurate given what we’ve seen for sale prices of clean 900s lately.

Among vintage cars, the Saab 900 is likely one of the more recognized shapes from the 1980s class of game-changing imports. It’s not that the 900 and the 99 before it hadn’t firmly cemented Saab’s place in automotive history as the individual’s choice if you were shopping the European makes, but the 900 Turbo made the Swedish front-driver more contemporary, and certainly more accepted, among its peers. Heck, people were putting ski racks on the trunks of convertibles so they could continue reeking of Swedish sophistication well past the typical expiration date for driving a drop-top. The 900 could be had in naturally-aspirated four-cylinder form, but the Turbo allowed buyers to stay true to their wonky selves while still driving a legit performance car, a vehicle that could give a Mercedes-Benz 190E and BMW 3-Series of the same era a run for their money – and there was certainly no competition when comparing those cars on novelty factor alone.

The seller of this example doesn’t include many photos, but the description seems to address the right details. Despite living in Brookline, it’s a California car that was likely shipped east for summer driving only, and the seller notes the lack of seat-time as a primary motivator for selling. The colors are subdued, but that dark gray will also hide scratches pretty well. With under 80,000 miles, it seems fair to assume that a professional detailing and/or paint correction would bring back the shine with ease. The seller notes everything works, from the power top to the factory radio. Another encouraging sign is what’s included with the sale, which ranges from a car cover to all service records as well as the window sticker, all indicators of fastidious ownership. The icing on the cake? It’s a manual transmission example with an interior in excellent condition. The price is fair considering what clean 900 Turbos are going for these days, so good luck with the negotiations if you try to take this turbocharged Saab home.

Here’s the seller’s description:

“Just add driver!

This beautiful vintage Saab 900 convertible is an original California car (no rust). It was shipped east in 2015 and has been garaged ever since, only taken out for the occasional summer ride.

I am selling because I simply don’t get to enjoy it enough. At 78k, this car is barely broken in. There are some small dings on the body that make it either a great daily driver or a good candidate for a restoration to its original glory. Again….with only 78k there is a ton of life left in this vehicle!

Everything on the car works including roof, windows, radio, signals, turbo, etc. Selling with extra tires, a car cover, and all service records. I even have the original window sticker.

I will try to answer questions via email. Serious inquiries only please.“

Do you have a Saab 900 Turbo story you’d like to share?  Comment below and let us know!