Home » The Strangest, Sleekest, Rarest Saab You’ve Ever Seen Is Up For Auction

The Strangest, Sleekest, Rarest Saab You’ve Ever Seen Is Up For Auction

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If you’ve always wanted a Saab but never pulled the trigger on one because they’re just not, you know, weird enough, then boy do I have good news for you. Up for auction, right now, at this very moment, is one of the strangest, sleekest-looking Saabs ever to reside on earth. The sleek part is important, because as glorious as Saabs have always been, sleek is not necessarily an adjective commonly used to describe them. Well, except maybe the Sonett, but even those were peculiar and funky enough that I’m not sure “sleek” really fits. They’ve looked wonderful and strange and incredibly aerodynamic, from their aviation roots, but I’m not sure if “sleek” as an adjective would ever be applied. And yet once, in 1997, on the 50th anniversary of Saab, a Norwegian auto body shop owner named Per Ekstrøm had a vision to create a tribute to Saabs, one that somehow ended up looking like the sportscar Saab should have made, but never did.  This is the Saab EX.

Ex CxEkstrøm was based in Oslo and by all accounts was a car body expert, something that is borne out by the quality of the cars he ended up building. There were actually two re-imagined Saabs, the CX and EX, both of which weren’t modifications of existing Saabs, at least not exactly, but were more like originally-designed cars that used all Saab parts. The CX was a coupé, shorter than the Saab 99 and with a chopped green house and a more dramatic wheel-to-body ratio, with parts from the 900 Turbo and the 9000, built on a very heavily chopped-up Saab 99.

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Saabcx

That’s not the car for sale right now, though. Somehow, after pouring about 2,500 hours into the CX, Ekstrøm decided that just wasn’t enough and went all-out on a new Saab, another design pulled from his Saab fever-dreams and forced into reality: the Saab EX.

Saabex1

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This one was based on a Saab 9000, and is an even more dramatic re-imagining of the Saab design language and vocabulary. It’s lower and sleeker, with a chopped greenhouse and a roofline that feels almost like a Porsche 911. The wheelarches are dramatically flared, and the car has a low, athletic, feline stance. It feels like a pure sports car, just one that’s made with Saab parts, like Saab 900 taillights and a narrow rear window from a Saab 900 convertible and a load of interior and other parts from the Saab lineup. The drivetrain uses the Saab 2.3 turbo engine making about 220 hp. It’s quick, too, so it’s not all show.

Interior

Remarkably, SAAB Trollhattan, Saab’s parent company, and the Norwegian road authorities were all somehow involved and gave this car some amount of official blessings, which is certainly odd for a one-off car like this. Mechanically, it’s all Saab 900 stuff, as is the VIN, so it should be able to be registered and driven pretty much anywhere you’d drive a Saab 900 anyway.

Int 2

Bohams thinks it’ll pull between $64,301 and $96,452 at auction, and seeing as how this is the only one of its kind, that guess is about as good as anyone’s really. I think it’d likely be worth that money: it looks incredible, it’s dizzyingly rare, it has some sort of “official” factory approval, and the quality seems great, making this a very rare drivable, practical one-off car.

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The car comes with all kinds of paperwork and I think it also comes with this small clay styling model, too:

Model2

I’m not positive, though, so don’t rope me into anything if you win the auction and they don’t throw in the model.

This is a really unusual and unexpected car to see at an auction; I’m curious to see how it does, and I hope whoever gets it plans to drive it around and really enjoy it, because, damn, look at it.

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J Ludwik
J Ludwik
1 year ago

The Saab Capri

Taargus Taargus
Taargus Taargus
1 year ago

Wow. I haven’t wanted something so badly in quite a while. This thing is absolutely bonkers, and I’ve never heard of it. Well done.

Double Wide Harvey Park
Double Wide Harvey Park
1 year ago

I’ll fight you for it. That thing is hot.

Scott
Scott
1 year ago

Cripes, I agree! Both the EX and CX look like fantastic almost-factory creations, adding some additional sport to the 99/900. Were I in the tax bracket that permitted me to bid on and import such a thing, I’d be calling my money manager (or whoever rich folks have) to prepare the funds right now.

Someone’s going to get a very special looking vehicle, and should they drive it around, it ought to be maintainable/fixable by any competent Saab mechanic like Saab and Raffi’s in Hollywood near me: https://www.yelp.com/biz/saab-and-raffi-los-angeles

Mike Hess
Mike Hess
1 year ago

I want a SAAB again so bad. I had three 900s. My first car was an ’86 900S. Then I had an ’89 900S through college. My final one was an ’88 900 base model, three door. I never had a 9000, and I would kill for a CSE.

All that said, the idea of a pre-GM model sounds like a nightmare to maintain becuase of lack of parts availability. Getting a GM model sounds like a let down. If a nice 900 SPG falls in my lap, I wouldn’t kick it out of my garage.

Gerontius Garland
Gerontius Garland
1 year ago
Reply to  Mike Hess

Saab’s parts division is its own company and is still around. Parts aren’t hard to get. Labour is what will get you, if you can’t wrench yourself. Shops seem to charge ridiculous rates for the special skill of. . . owning a set of torx tools.

M0L0TOV
M0L0TOV
1 year ago

I really like this car. For some reason, I’m trying to figure out what the tail lights came from. I don’t think that’s from a Saab model. Kinda reminds me of some of older Mazda’s from the 90’s. The car looks like a sleeker version of the ninth generation Ford Thunderbird.

Highland Green Miata
Highland Green Miata
1 year ago

Forget the Saab, when in that same auction you could buy the Alfa Romeo answer to the VW Type 2 Bus! With the most charming name ever: “Autotutto” (Car Everything)

Highland Green Miata
Highland Green Miata
1 year ago

What the world needs now is more 3 spoke wheels!

Phantom Pedal Syndrome
Phantom Pedal Syndrome
1 year ago

Wow!
That car is fuckin ugly.
From all angles.

Phantom Pedal Syndrome
Phantom Pedal Syndrome
1 year ago

And yet you sacrificed valuable time out of your life to read about it and post a comment?

Phantom Pedal Syndrome
Phantom Pedal Syndrome
1 year ago

Two comments now, thanks to you.

Phantom Pedal Syndrome
Phantom Pedal Syndrome
1 year ago

Nobody cares about your opinion here.

Phantom Pedal Syndrome
Phantom Pedal Syndrome
1 year ago

I know. This places comment section is flooded with engineer type know it all’s.

Phantom Pedal Syndrome
Phantom Pedal Syndrome
1 year ago

It’s always the same 12 east coast morons dictating the conversation.

Phantom Pedal Syndrome
Phantom Pedal Syndrome
1 year ago

Half of them are probably retired morons. They most likely set an alarm to wake up to “cold start”. It’s always the same old gang of “gotta post a funny quip now or I mean nothing” types.

Last edited 1 year ago by Phantom Pedal Syndrome
Phantom Pedal Syndrome
Phantom Pedal Syndrome
1 year ago

How do they actually accomplish any of the shit they talk about when they spend half their day here?

Phantom Pedal Syndrome
Phantom Pedal Syndrome
1 year ago

They don’t. They just google stuff and lie about their lives.

Phantom Pedal Syndrome
Phantom Pedal Syndrome
1 year ago

Five worthless comments now.

Phantom Pedal Syndrome
Phantom Pedal Syndrome
1 year ago

You’ve gone and fallen victim to the digital manipulation of the social feedback loop!

Phantom Pedal Syndrome
Phantom Pedal Syndrome
1 year ago

No! Not me. Never.

Phantom Pedal Syndrome
Phantom Pedal Syndrome
1 year ago

What are you doing right now?

Phantom Pedal Syndrome
Phantom Pedal Syndrome
1 year ago

Touché.

Phantom Pedal Syndrome
Phantom Pedal Syndrome
1 year ago

I mean… if you stand back and take it all in for a minute… even Rootwyrm is a moron for even being here.

Phantom Pedal Syndrome
Phantom Pedal Syndrome
1 year ago

Hahaha! They are probably wearing a headset with a hundred browser windows open.

Phantom Pedal Syndrome
Phantom Pedal Syndrome
1 year ago

I kid.

Phantom Pedal Syndrome
Phantom Pedal Syndrome
1 year ago

I don’t.

Phantom Pedal Syndrome
Phantom Pedal Syndrome
1 year ago

It’s shit like this that leads humankind to their downfall.

Phantom Pedal Syndrome
Phantom Pedal Syndrome
1 year ago

Ok. So… the sky is falling?

Phantom Pedal Syndrome
Phantom Pedal Syndrome
1 year ago

Yup

Phantom Pedal Syndrome
Phantom Pedal Syndrome
1 year ago

And nobody knows what to do about it.

Phantom Pedal Syndrome
Phantom Pedal Syndrome
1 year ago

Are you saying you’re done?
I have my doubts…

Phantom Pedal Syndrome
Phantom Pedal Syndrome
1 year ago

Fuck this noise!

Phantom Pedal Syndrome
Phantom Pedal Syndrome
1 year ago

You’ll be back…

Phantom Pedal Syndrome
Phantom Pedal Syndrome
1 year ago

What if the point of life has nothing to do with the creation of an ever-expanding region of control? What if the point is not to keep at bay all those people, beings, objects and emotions that we so needlessly fear? What if the point instead is to let go of that control? What if the point of life, the primary reason for existence, is to lie naked with your lover in a shady grove of trees? What if the point is to taste each other’s sweat and feel the delicate pressure of finger on chest, thigh on thigh, lip on cheek? What if the point is to stop, then, in your slow movements together, and listen to the birdsong, to watch the dragonflies hover, to look at your lover’s face, then up at the undersides of leaves moving together in the breeze? What if the point is to invite these others into your movement, to bring trees, wind, grass, dragonflies into your family and in so doing abandon any attempt to control them? What if the point all along has been to get along, to relate, to experience things on their own terms? What if the point is to feel joy when joyous, love when loving, anger when angry, thoughtful when full of thought? What if the point from the beginning has been to simply be?

Phantom Pedal Syndrome
Phantom Pedal Syndrome
1 year ago

Whoa! Calm down.
I hereby revoke our stupid as fuck internet privileges.

We have real life to attend to.

*extends a pale, quivering hand*

Last edited 1 year ago by Phantom Pedal Syndrome
Phantom Pedal Syndrome
Phantom Pedal Syndrome
1 year ago

*slaps it*

Obnoxious 986 Peasant
Obnoxious 986 Peasant
1 year ago

Please do less drugs

Obnoxious 986 Peasant
Obnoxious 986 Peasant
1 year ago

Or more drugs

I’m not sure which

Double Wide Harvey Park
Double Wide Harvey Park
1 year ago

I reckon you spend your free time hovering up lead battery particles off Torch’s lawn with your nose.

Chronometric
Chronometric
1 year ago

That was so beautiful and inspired me to shut off my computer and go outside to breathe the crisp Autumn air and look at the stars.

Chronometric
Chronometric
1 year ago
Reply to  Chronometric

Almost.

Double Wide Harvey Park
Double Wide Harvey Park
1 year ago

What if the point is to extract foxglove and small insects with tweezers out of your lover’s sensitive, poison-ivy riddled parts after rolling around naked in a shady grove of trees?

Spyrius Robot
Spyrius Robot
1 year ago

What the fuck did I just read?
Are you okay, bro? Maybe lay off the drugs.

Last edited 1 year ago by Spyrius Robot
OSpazX
OSpazX
1 year ago
Reply to  Spyrius Robot

Using my super special psychoic powers, I can tell that PPS is male, probably in his 40s, married with 3 to 5 female offspringers.

He is used to being the only person who listens to him.

Elhigh
Elhigh
1 year ago
Reply to  Spyrius Robot

That right there was what we call in the literary world keyboard-based masturbation.

Double Wide Harvey Park
Double Wide Harvey Park
1 year ago

Wrong. You’re projecting. What your ex said to you as she served you the divorce papers wasn’t true.

Last edited 1 year ago by Double Wide Harvey Park
Scott
Scott
1 year ago

Obviously, you don’t posses the Saab-appreciation chromosome. Sorry ’bout that. 😉

Dogisbadob
Dogisbadob
1 year ago

Looks like someone stepped on an NG900 LOL

Voeltzwagen
Voeltzwagen
1 year ago

I was 110% ready to smash that “take my (pretend) money” meme button, but then I saw the rear 3/4 view and am now at a 75-80% level.

I wouldn’t kick it out of my garage.

Dead Elvis, Inc.
Dead Elvis, Inc.
1 year ago

I dig the CX, but can I have it with the EX drivetrain? TIA

Jeremy Aber
Jeremy Aber
1 year ago

Wow! This is the first time I’ve come across these, and they both look fantastic! I would love a world where the EX body styling had been adopted by Saab for full production.

ApexAlexandros
ApexAlexandros
1 year ago

I’m already a fan of Saab 900s, so I absolutely love this. A custom one-off that actually looks… legit for lack of a better word. The design works.

Lardo
Lardo
1 year ago

I see the Porsche roof and rear window for sure. Well done, but Porsche was not the only car with those design elements, it was just the most successful with them. The CX is super nice. It of course does not have the huge hatch, but the squared off roof line looks great from the front at least. I imagine that with the custom work it could still be a hatch. But the original hatchback was beyond useful. Huge, more cubic ft. than some wagons of the time. So with either they could have had a “wagon” and a coupe. Might have sold more units in aggregate. Not much different what the other manufactures were doing. The era of personal luxury what ever that means. Divorced and don’t have kids to drive around?

Ron888
Ron888
1 year ago

I’m not a SAAB guy so i scrolled straight to the comments to see other’s reactions.
It’s interesting there’s no strong preference for or against

Crank Shaft
Crank Shaft
1 year ago

Gorgeous! I wish I had some Euro’s to waste.

Andy Individual
Andy Individual
1 year ago

Apologizing in advance to any Saabstans I might offend. I have never liked Saab’s styling. There’s plenty of good in their designs, but the styling has always put me off. With one exception, the near bolt upright windshield. I think it’s unique and handsome in a functional way and combined with the (in appearance at least) large greenhouse, is the best Saab characteristic. This thing does not have that, so meh.

Oh, and I also like that their hatchbacks have openings roughly the same size as those cargo 747 nose cones.

OSpazX
OSpazX
1 year ago

Saabstans?

I thought they preferred to be called Saabstanians, or Saabstanites.

Learn something new everyday!

Sensual Bugling Elk
Sensual Bugling Elk
1 year ago
Reply to  OSpazX

I prefer style over Saabstance.

Double Wide Harvey Park
Double Wide Harvey Park
1 year ago
Reply to  OSpazX

Saaburai?

Chronometric
Chronometric
1 year ago

I have Saab friends. He raced a 99 for years, ironically always losing to a Volvo 240. She had a 900 and would take us to lunch. I admired the almost cylindrical windshield which looked freaky with Rain-x in a light shower, the grippy velour seats that made entry and exit a sit and hop affair, and the manual sunroof that opened with a simple grip and pull. Great cars.

Lardo
Lardo
1 year ago
Reply to  Chronometric

Like a SAAB poem or non conforming Haiku.

Toecutter
Toecutter
1 year ago

The 1st gen 96 and the Sonett I and II are the sleekest cars Saab ever sold to the public, at least from the standpoint of CdA value.

You will be hard-pressed to find a more efficient donor candidate for an EV conversion.

I’ve seen figures for the Cd value of the Sonett ranging from 0.29 to 0.32. Assuming that the frontal area is 1.34 m^2(1.448m width x 1.161m height x 0.83), this is a CdA value of 0.39-0.43. This entire range is LESS than that of a 1st generation Honda Insight.

I had considered one from among the list of potential donor chassis for my conversion, but could not find one anywhere near me, and found the Triumph GT6 instead. While not as slippery as the Sonett, the GT6 had more going in its favor overall, the most important being the fact that it was RWD, but kept stock, the Sonett was far more efficient a donor. The GT6 is going to have a bunch of aeromods when its finished, and its low frontal area helps its case tremendously, so as a donor where keeping the car looking stock is not on the to-do list, the GT6 is the better donor.

AKA Rukh
AKA Rukh
1 year ago

Could you say this inspired the Lancia Aurelia B20GT Outlaw, since the Saab predates the chopped-roof restomod? Because the greenhouses look remarkably similar…

Last edited 1 year ago by AKA Rukh
Whatsanautopian
Whatsanautopian
1 year ago

that last photo gives me chrysler 300 vibes, and that seems okay.

Canopysaurus
Canopysaurus
1 year ago

I drove a Saab for 30 years and this is such a unique take on the marque I’d love to have it, but I was listening to The Pretenders and Chrissie Hynde sang to me, “It is time for you to stop all your Saabing,” and I took that as a sign.

Taco Shackleford
Taco Shackleford
1 year ago
Reply to  Canopysaurus

I recently lost my Volvo and have been pining after another Swede recently, and really thinking of dipping my toe in Saab pool.

Canopysaurus
Canopysaurus
1 year ago

I daily an ‘88 240 DL these days. It’s solid, reliable, and simple to work on. Still miss my 900 Turbo.

Dead Elvis, Inc.
Dead Elvis, Inc.
1 year ago

I recently lost my Volvo and have been pining after another Swede 

I recently sold my Volvo (’02 V70, base model with 3 pedals, 210K mi), and I’m definitely feeling some regret. First time I’ve been without a Volvo in decades. I grew up with both Swedes (New England was just filthy with ’em in the ’70s & ’80s), but OG Saabs are a considerably rarer breed in the PNW.

Last edited 1 year ago by Dead Elvis, Inc.
Rusty S Trusty
Rusty S Trusty
1 year ago

Sorry to hear that. Did you check all of your local tow yards and post lost Volvo signs around your neighborhood? Maybe try the next town over too. I hope it shows up. It’s always difficult losing a Volvo, they’re a member of the family, too.

Taco Shackleford
Taco Shackleford
1 year ago
Reply to  Rusty S Trusty

Unfortunately in this case lost refers to my Volvo joining its ancestors in Valhalla.

Rusty S Trusty
Rusty S Trusty
1 year ago

I remember when I had to put my v70 down. I turned right around and bought a v60 even though everyone told me it was too soon. It made me feel better, though. Now I love my v60 no less than I did my v70 while still being able to look fondly back at the memories of the time shared with the old car.

Last edited 1 year ago by Rusty S Trusty
Jack Beckman
Jack Beckman
1 year ago

It’s certainly one of the best-looking Saabs I’ve ever seen. I wonder if there’s an accident how hard it would be to get those unique bits, though. And I love that the sale estimates aren’t “$64k to 96k” but “$64,301 and $96,452.” Why would you estimate down to the dollar?

TOSSABL
TOSSABL
1 year ago
Reply to  Jack Beckman

Auction estimates in Euros

I think this may be something one needs to see in person to appreciate. I like the early 911 feel the (rear of the) model has, but I can’t quite envision the whole. That chop looks good, though

Last edited 1 year ago by TOSSABL
Scott
Scott
1 year ago
Reply to  Jack Beckman

Well Jack, the 99/900/9000 components under the skin ought to be sourceable (albeit perhaps expensive, from the tiny bit of research I’ve done in that area) but the exterior body parts that are unique certainly wouldn’t be ‘getable’ I imagine. They’d likely have to be remade either from scratch, or by adapting panels from some other Saab vehicle (if that’s how they were done originally). Driving a one-of-one car on public streets means always having that sword of Damocles hanging above your head, ready to strike you hard in the bank balance.

It almost seems worth the risk though, given how alternate-universe Saab this car is. 🙂

TOSSABL
TOSSABL
1 year ago

The Saab Sonett has 1 ‘n’ and 2 ‘t’s, not the other way around.
-gotta watch spellcheck with this model!

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