5k: Sports PackaGe: 1988 SAAB 900 SPG Turbo
In 1984 SAAB introduced a performance version of the 900 that was called the Aero in Europe but was designated the SPG, short for Sports PackaGe, which somehow was trademarked by GM, so SAAB had to call it the Sports Performance Group. Find this 1988 SAAB 900 SPG Turbo for sale in McLean, VA for the bargain price of $2750 via craigslist.
A total of about 7000 SPG editions were sold between 1984 and 1991 and they featured unique paint scheme, aerodynamic side skirts, unique SPG wheels, lowering springs and larger anti-sway bars. The SPG was the first model introduced with the 2.0 liter 16-valve turbo engine that put out 165 horsepower and 195 ft-lbs of torque in 1988. The SAAB 900 mounted its inline-4 cylinder engine in a ‘backwards’ position, with the flywheel near the radiator and the power going down into an under-mounted 5-speed manual transaxle.
The SPG wasn’t sold in large quantities and is sought after by 900 enthusiasts as one of the best of the original breed. The strangest thing about this SPG is the owner’s selection of a Cherry Bomb glasspack muffler and we are really curious to hear what the turbocharged SAAB engine sounds like with minimal muffling.
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Holy Smokes… I live in McLean, VA and never have seen this car. My Mrs. would seriously question my sanity if I dragged it home…but I've always loved these, especially in SPG trim.
That's 2 more front plates than I normally like, but OK. I've always wanted an SPG but with the overheating in this one's past and the "I adjusted the speedometer with a drill" story, I'm not sure if this is the one I'd get