The Saab 9000 was built on a shared Saab/Fiat platform that was also used in the 1984-1998 Lancia Thema, Saab 9000, Fiat Croma, and Alfa Romeo 164. This next example of the Saab/Fiat Type 4 platform features an unbeatable combo for a sub $5k car — executive class luxury, front drive safety, and Giorgetto Giugiaro […]
One owner, faded paint, and an issue where it won’t stay running upon acceleration would scare away “normal” people, but that’s not who I’m talking to here. I’m talking to the guy (or gal) who understands wasted spark systems and how to use a Harbor Freight tire plug kit…show up with a few tools, drive […]
The Volvo 122S Amazon has been a budget hero for the average car guy for as long as I can remember, and today’s example is additional proof that you don’t have to be a Rockefeller or Jeff Bezos’ side piece to drive something cool from the mid 60s. It’ll be helpful if you know how […]
Another day, another V8 powered Volvo wagon offered for sale, but this one has a manual gearbox and some sweet gold wheels and a bunch of other upgrades. The asking price is a smidge more than I’d like to pay for something as silly as a V8 Volvo, but this one is gonna be as […]
If you find a true boxy Volvo fan they will tell you a few things. First, the 140/240/740 is the best car to have ever been built because it can be a: daily driving sedan, family wagon, race car, drifter, sporty 2-door classic, custom wagon, autocrosser…you get the picture. I’m not convinced that the boxy Volvo is the best car ever, […]
This next car came in as a tip from Cory and I was excited to see a Volvo that had been modified so you can haul around your old rusty deck chairs, used wheels, 55-gallon drum lids, and other assorted flotsam AND it keeps the back doors/seats for you kids. But wow the kids are gonna be disappointed when they find there are no rear seats, just some old wood/rope/algae on top of rusting metal. Find this 1983 Volvo 240 Ute offered for $1300 on the Faceute Elcaminobook in Easton, MD.
When I first got a look at this next car, I thought that perhaps someone had restored the Draken…but no. This next Saab 99 is not a simple 99 EMS, but it is the real deal 99 Turbo. The Turbo was the car that put Saab on the map for performance oriented folks who cared more about snow/sand performance and 30-70mph acceleration than they did the 1/4 mile times printed in magazines. DT’s Editor-in-Heaven Hunsbloger could tell stories about racing 911s in the 99 Turbo back in the day, and the result wasn’t good for the rich did in the Porsche. But this Turbo does have the same Saab Inca alloys, spleen colored exterior, and blood red interior that charmed me for many miles in the Draken…but it also has a boosted B-series 2.0 liter pushing power to the front wheels. Find this 1978 Saab 99 Turbo offered for $20,000 in Choiniere, RI via saabnet.com. Seller Submission from Ben
The Volvo 780 was a limited production (~8,500 examples built from ’86-’91) 2-door coupe version of the popular 700-series sedan (’82-’92), of which 1.4 million were produced. The unique body was designed and built by Carrozzeria Bertone in Turin, Italy and was thankfully free from the silly vinyl top that covered the top of the earlier 262C Bertone Coupe. Find this 1989 Volvo 780 Bertone Coupe offered for $3500 in Southern Maine via facecoupe marrakesh.
The Saab 96 was the final evolution of the original aerospace derived and teardrop shaped Ur-SAAB. In typical Saab fashion, the 96 continued in production long after its planned replacement (the 99) was released, in fact the 96 continued in production through 1980. Today the 96 makes a great uncommon alternative to something like the VW Beetle and can be picked up for not a lot of cash. Find this 1968 Saab 96 V4 offered for $2000 in Mountain View, CA via craigslist.
A few months back we featured a cheap Volvo 240 sedan (244) that had a small block V8 attached to a 3-speed manual gearbox. It wasn’t a bad build, but strange that the Muncie 3-speed would have been selected as the transmission, but who cares, it was cheap. A few months later and it is for sale at a new place a few hundred miles away with new shoes and for more than double the earlier price. Find this 1979 Volvo 244 V8 offered for $12,500 in Chino Hills, CA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!