1984 SAAB 900 Turbo 3S DOHC 16

We know this particular Saab 900 Turbo very well as we sold it to the current owners at auction, in July 2018. It was a corking example back then and since that the co-owners have continued to improve the car – sourcing many rare and original parts, and spending in the region of £5k on further mechanical and cosmetic detailing.

During the last two years B500MHN has been stored under a car cover in an underground car park in Central London and used for weekend trips to Kent, Sussex, Essex and beyond.

“We haven’t held back with the car,” says one of the vendors. “We could have had some stonechips touched up or the plastic skirts removed and refitted, but decided not to change anything cosmetic. It’s so original and we wanted to leave it looking like a well cared for 35 year old car.”

They did however want to ensure it started on the button whenever required. “We were happy with our purchase, but realised it needed brakes, clutch etc, so entrusted it to Bell & Colvill and there’s a six-page invoice of the works carried out.”

The sellers only recently discovered this particular car, originally registered in Darlington, was actually purchased new by one of their father’s friends, bringing an even greater sentiment to their ownership of the car

The owners have just lost one of their secure underground parking spots and face a fifty per cent hike for a new one; coupled to that, the Turbo only saw around 300 miles of action last year. “It’s just not getting enough use so, combined with the parking issue, it’s now time to let it go. Someone is going to get a very good car.”

Prior to their ownership, the Saab had been comprehensively re-commissioned by a Saab Owners’ Club enthusiast, after it had spent the years 2004-2017 carefully stored in a garage. That was after its first and only owner had finally laid the car up after a gradual decline in usage due to his advancing years (please see a summary of this car’s full history in the Photo Gallery, below).

It remains completely original and is one of the earliest UK Saab 900s with the 175bhp 16-valve engine (first registered on 7th September, 1984). It’s also a desirable early “flat-front” variant.

Back in 2018 we called it “fast and rare” and commended its impeccable service history, before going on to state that “…you’re more likely to see a mermaid cleaning up unicorn poop than pass another on the road.” The latter was a grandiose statement, but one that we’re happy to repeat here!  

According to DVLA data on HowManyLeft there are only 5 Licensed and 9 SORN 1984 cars left in the UK.

The Saab’s bodywork remains in the same first class condition as it did in 2018; that is with, “tight, even panel gaps”, paintwork that’s “…glossy and free of dents and serious scrapes’ and ‘black cladding… in good condition too.’

Only better. How so? Well, the owners have invested serious money in detailing. That’s both of the paintwork and engine bay, but also their attention to car’s finer detail.

First up, they had the car fully detailed by London-based Bellissimato Bespoke Car Detailing; this included clay bar work and a single stage paint correction process. The engine bay was also cleaned and treated (and the interior deep cleaned at the same time. Total cost, £540.

They also sourced rare items such as the OEM rear edge guard rain gutter caps (the little fins that sit at very end of the gutter at the top of the C-pillar). Find another 900 with these in place and we’ll eat our respective hats (maybe), but that offer demonstrates the lengths he’s gone to in order to ensure it’s quite possibly the sharpest example out there.

The only touches of corrosion we could see on this hyper original car are a small area the size of half a ten pence piece on the lower inside edge of the passenger door and some minor surface rust on the corresponding area of the driver’s door. Aside from a few stonechips, the only thing to mention is a couple of small marks on the nearside ‘C’ pillar by the tailgate.

The alloy wheels are generally very sharp, although the o/s rear wheel has a touch of light scratching (not kerbing) to its face. All wear fresh, matching Michelin Cross Climate 195/50 R15 tyres.  

Functional, yet intelligently designed, Saab interiors are just as pleasing as their exteriors. Everything is within perfect reach of the driver and filled with novel design touches – centre column mounted ignition, oh yes please!

The blue velour seats are glorious and in lovely, virtually unmarked condition – it really is incredibly rare to find one like this. The headlining, carpets and overmats are in similarly smart condition, although the headlining is sagging slightly above the rear seat (please see photos). There’re also very few marks on the various plastic surfaces. In fact the only blemish we can find is a very slight bit of trim damage in the driver’s door.

Just as with the exterior, this model’s cabin was superbly specced as standard when new, so its first owner received electric windows, mirrors, aerial and sunroof, tinted windows, cruise control and heated front seats as standard. In fact the last of those don’t just warm your buns, they turn on automatically when it’s cold and off again once the temperature reaches optimum toastiness.

All the electrics work correctly, except the interior fans - the cause? a melted fuse 9 – a new one was fitted but it hasn’t rectified the issue (a new fuse box being required) and the driver’s window switch, which is a bit intermittent. Both these issues would have been dealt with at the recent service, but the garage didn’t have the parts at the time so it’s something the next owner may wish to tackle.

In the boot you’ll find a number of spare parts including an OE fuel pump, headlamp reflector and rear light cluster. The original tool kit remains, although one screwdriver is missing, as does the space saver spare wheel, jack and punctured wheel/tyre storage bag.

Again, they’ve continued to improve the fine detail, and you’ll find the parcel shelf now complete with clip to hold it up (another rarity) now firmly in place.

As well as detailing of the car, a whole raft of mechanical work all aimed at improving both reliability and performance has been carried out. Most of it by a combination of Surrey-based specialist Bell & Colvill and Cambs-based independent garage GT. Paxton Motor Co [Workshop] Ltd.

The big-ticket items include new tyres (and battery, £599.55), full health check and required fettling (£1,747.25), new clutch (release bearing, slave cylinder, oil seals and bushes, £903.04), new fuel injectors and regulator and rebuilt front brake callipers (£794.53). There’s more of course (including that recent service), so prospective bidders can take comfort from spending time browsing this document.

The upshot of all this work is that the big Saab performs absolutely on the button. Power comes in a large responsive dose of mid-range torque and that surge is still an impressive today as it ever was. The brakes and gearbox work just as you would expect, and the suspension (recently re-bushed) cossets the cabin beautifully. It certainly feels like the sort of car you wouldn't think twice about jumping in taking off for a long drive somewhere, just for the hell of it and the car was driven the 50 or so miles to us here at The Market HQ.

Back at a standstill, if you hinge that large bonnet forward and lift (always a satisfying manoeuvre) you’ll find a very clean engine bay. Perhaps a job for any new owner to take it to the next level would be replacement of screws and clips with fresh items.

The underside is also beautifully protected, having been recently cleaned and re-sealed.

The original owner’s manuals and service history book were water damaged when the car was off the road between 1999 – 2017, but remain in the history file. You’ll find the latter stamped up to 1999 and 94,000 miles, as well as a comprehensive printed service history.

All the bills from the previous owner’s re-commissioning of the car are available, as are those from the current vendors’ ownership. They’ve even provided a typed tally of all expenditure on the 900 Turbo, which can be seen in the Photo Gallery below.

You’ll also find the original handbooks, some period road tests, numerous copies of Saab Driver magazine and a Saab 90, 99 & 900 Haynes Service and Repair Manual.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of the paperwork to support our claim that this car has been maintained to the very highest of standards.

Be in no doubt at all that this is one very, very sharp car. You’ll travel long and far to find a superior example of Saab’s superb 900 Turbo. As an earlier ‘flat-front’ car with the factory fitted aero bodykit and alloy wheels it’s even more desirable, and bloomin’ rare.

All that is before you consider the lengths that the current owners have gone to in order to make it as close to perfect as practicably possible. Originality like this is an outlier; most 900 Turbos will have led hard lives, as they’re just such hardy cars. Believe us, having covered 103,898 miles in just 36 years this example is barely broken in.

With impeccable provenance, a superb service history and lots of recent well-targeted expenditure, we think this example will sell for somewhere in the region of £7000 to £12,000.

That’s surely not a lot for what we think may just be the best, and most original, example out there.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located at The Market’s Abingdon headquarters; to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.