For Sale at Auction: 1967 Saab 95 in Saratoga Springs, New York

1967 Saab 95 Station Wagon.

This may be the finest example of a SAAB 95 wagon in existence. It has undergone a remarkable, ground up, total restoration to the highest standards, all photo documented.

The odometer reads only 586 miles since completion of that restoration. The result is a stunning vehicle in a Mercedes deep wine colored metallic red and the interior has been redone in "Palomino MB-Tex" weave with bamboo rattan pattern accents in the cargo area.

SAABs are highly prized in the Northeast thanks to their front wheel drive that worked so well in the region's sloppy winters. Surprisingly this was actually a California car which spent some 20-years in storage so escaped the ravages of winter snow. SAABS have always had a strong fan base particularly in this region. They were beloved in the day with their two stroke engines and unique styling.

Interestingly, this car has the original Ford derived four stroke engine but is still front wheel drive. The 1498cc V-4 puts out 65 bhp with a four-speed manual transmission. The engine in this SAAB was completely rebuilt and the transmission seals, gaskets and bearings were replaced as needed. Parallel wishbone independent front suspension with coil springs and the rear swing axle with coil springs were also included in the restoration. The carburetor, wiper motor, brake and clutch master cylinders, starter, alternator, water pump, steering rack and CV joints were all rebuilt. "Soccer ball" SAAB Sonnet wheels with body color inserts were added during restoration along with period white wall radials.

This 2-door wagon has seating for seven with a folding, rear facing seat. In front it sports bucket seats.

The Scandinavians have always done well in internal rallying and famed rally drive Erik Carlson drove a SAAB 95 wagon to a strong finish in the 1961 Monte Carlo rally. Not bad for a station wagon.

SAAB was and is today an aerospace company based in Sweden. However, the automobile branch was sold to GM in 1990. It was sold off by GM during the 2009 recession. Efforts to keep the SAAB name alive failed and there will be no more SAAB automobiles. Despite the demise of SAAB, at least in this region, there continues to be a strong legacy for these rugged little cars with clubs and repair/restoration shops keeping the flame alive.

This SAAB 95 wagon is extraordinary, meticulous in every detail. It is clearly at a unique level and will be an award winning concours entrant for a new owner.

Estimate: $36,000 - 40,000