Vehicle Details

• Year: 1988
• Make: Saab
• Model: 900 Turbo Convertible
• VIN: YS3AT76L5J7002091
• Mileage Shown: 197,941
• Transmission: Automatic
• Title Status: Clean
• Color: Red
• Seller Type: Private Party
• Location: Hollis, NY 11423
• Lot #: V-0043245

This 1988 Saab 900 Turbo is powered by a 2.0-liter 16-valve turbocharged inline-four engine paired with a 3-speed automatic transmission. Finished in red over tan leather upholstery, it comes equipped with 15″ alloy wheels, fog lights, heated front seats, power windows and mirrors, air conditioning, and cruise control. Accompanied by an extensive service history, this open-top Swedish sports car is now being offered for auction at no reserve by its seller out of New York with under 198k miles showing on the odometer.

This example comes finished in red and features a power-retractable tan soft top, fog lights, front and rear spoilers, "turbo" fender and trunk badges, a power antenna, and a heated glass rear window. It rides on silver-finished 15” alloy wheels wrapped in Ironman tires with approximately 50% tread life remaining. The seller notes the paint was refinished at some point, noting chips on the nose, touch-up marks on the driver's side and rear quarter panel, and evidence of poor taping on certain rubber areas. The rear glass, windshield, and windshield gasket have been replaced previously. Etching is visible on the passenger side, and grease stains on the driver's side of the top. Additionally, rust is present beneath the side rubber trim, on the trunk floor, and in the seams at the rear passenger-side wheel well. Detailed images are available in the gallery, along with a CARFAX report indicating minor damage in December 2020.

The cabin is appointed with tan leather and features power-operated windows and mirrors, air conditioning, and cruise control. The seller notes signs of wear, such as dashboard cracks and missing facia padding in some areas. Minor seam splits are evident on the driver's and rear seats, while the carpet and tan plastic show slight discoloration. The power mirrors operate correctly, while the front seat heating function is inactive, likely due to a fuse issue. The gas gauge and instrument cluster lights intermittently malfunction. However, the CD player, radio, and power antenna are reported to operate properly. A gas smell in the trunk is said to become evident after the car sits for more than a few days.

The turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four was factory-rated at 160 HP and 188 lb.-ft of torque, and power is delivered to the front wheels through a 3-speed automatic transmission. Four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes facilitate braking power. Over the past 30k miles, the front and rear shocks, brakes (both pads and rotors), front wheel bearings, ball joints, switches, sensors, belts, and hoses have been replaced. Recent maintenance within the last 3k miles includes the installation of a new steering rack and hoses and professionally rebuilt torque boxes. Recent replacements include thermal switches, the alternator, the battery, sway bar bushings, and a new air filter. Additional work undertaken by the seller upon acquisition in 2017, at approximately 150k miles, includes the replacement of brake hoses and the catalytic converter and muffler. The head gasket was replaced in 2015 at 147k miles, with accompanying inspection notes confirming the good condition of the chain and guides. A transmission rebuild was conducted in 2009 at 134k miles, and the convertible top was replaced in 2016.

This sale will include the owner’s manuals, a spare tire, a convertible top cover, a wooden dash kit, a plastic dash cover, a Saab-branded blanket, 2 new oil filters, spare parts, and a clean title.

The seller would like you to know: “Runs and drives very well. I drive it most days, including for 200-mile round trips 2-3 times per week, plus lots of run-around driving, all year round. Lots of blemishes and wear, but the car looks good, drives well, and turns out to be fairly practical, for a 30-year-old convertible. I list all the issues below, but overall, it’s a good little car and is ready to go. Lots to do if you want to make it perfect, but no immediate issues. The following are the conditions and issues: 

Paint/Body: It was resprayed at some point (less orange than the original Saab red). The paint has chips on the nose, and a cluster of touch-up marks on the driver's side (came that way!), below the black rubber thing over the rear quarter. There's evidence of bad taping on some rubber. Overall, it looks pretty good (and fine after a long-coming wash) but is far from perfect.

Glass/Rubber/Top: Glass is original, minus the top glass and windshield which is a replacement. The windshield gasket is not OEM and not perfect cosmetically (no leaks). Some up/down etching on the pass side. All other rubber is decent but old. Overall, it's pretty tight- airtight up to 80mph or so, and no water leaks, other than maybe a drop or two in super-heavy rain. The top has some grease staining on the driver's side but is in good shape. The mechanism works well.

Rust: On the body, there is one spot beneath the side rubber trim (see pic). A drop or two in the trunk floor and a bit in the seams at the front of the rear passenger-side wheel well are all the rust on the car's body/structure that I know of. I just had the torque boxes rebuilt upfront-- rust was cut out and metal replaced.

Interior: The most worn part of the car, to be sure. The dash has cracks, and facia padding is missing in places. Driver's and rear seat have small seam splits in leather; carpet and tan plastic have some minor discoloration in places. That said, the seats are still well-bolstered and comfortable, the steering wheel is very nice, and everything is cleaned up decently.

Power locks and windows work. Cruise control works. The gas gauge jumps around once in a while, but is generally accurate, and the res. light works consistently. All other gauges work. Instrument cluster lights are spotty-- not usually on. Interior dome/reading lights all work, as do all outside lights and signals. CD player, radio, and power antenna all work.

A/C: converted to R-134. It was working fine but I left it on for an entire winter accidentally and moronically, and it has no gas at this time. Presumably, some sort of leak developed but I don't know how long it will hold if filled again.

Drivetrain: Runs, idles, and shifts fine. Turbo might be a bit low, but it works. The connector to the valve solenoid over the radiator had a run-in with the exhaust and melted, thus the admittedly jury-rigged wire setup seen in the pictures. I promise there are no other wire nuts on the car, at least that I put there or have seen. The injection system has been good since I've had it, other than an occasional high idle in very cold weather and a very, very occasional stall at idle (like 5 times in 4 years). Oil drips occasionally (though currently, it has been clean under it in the garage), but no added oil is needed except at changes, at 5,000K intervals. The oil seen on the exhaust in the pictures was from a leaking steering reservoir, which I had replaced just before the pictures were shot. No leaks under the car currently.

Electrical: The top fuse blows sometimes (not when the top is in use, but if the fuse if left in for a month or more); one brake-light bulb needs wiggling now and then; dash lights and gas gauge are spotty. The wiring is old, but not cracked or super-brittle.

Suspension/Steering: the handling is one of the best things about this car: steering is perfectly straight and solid at all speeds; shocks, front ball joints, and front wheel bearings are recent. The rear end is less tight than the front on bumps, but nothing awful.

History: I've had it almost four years and put 50K on it, which is longer and more than expected. I bought it mostly on a whim because I wanted a four-seat convertible, but it has turned out to be my main vehicle. It's been a great car, and much more reliable and practical than I expected, and I've learned a lot about Saabs in owning it. I'm a bit conflicted about selling it, but it does like to be worked on, and I am ready to let someone else have the privilege. I never met the previous owner, but based on the records it seems to have had two major owners before me, one in Florida more recently, and before that in Maine, where most of the miles were put on. Records show a front-end accident, with lights and bumper cover replaced; everything looks original as far as the car itself goes."

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Seller: yhazut 

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