Unique Saabs including 2012 Saab 9-5 SportCombi to be sold at auction in Sweden

[nordwulf]

Article from sverigesradio.se:

Now there is the opportunity to purchase unique Saab cars at auction. These include the Saab 9-5 SportCombi that never hit the market, however, the car can not be put into service.

It is the administrators who now sells out cars that were in Saab Automobile's property. Among the cars there besides 9-5 Sedan and SportCombi also 9-7X and 9-4X.

The auction, which includes a total of 68 Saabs, begins today and ends December 15 to 16.

- We believe that there will be a lot of interest, both internationally and nationally. We have noticed an interest in advance, says Day Thyselius, Information Kvarndammen, who is now auctioning the cars.

Among the eyebrow-raising vehicles is also a fully equipped Saab 9-5 Aero V6 with 300 hp that was run by Victor Muller, according Kvarndammen.

Some of the cars may not be driven on the road, others are ready to use right away and some need to be completed or registered under Thyselius.

Find the details about all the Saabs being auctioned here: http://www.kvdauctions.com/en/auction/saab.html

[dickerin]

Why can't some of the cars be registered for road use? Is that permanent?

[nordwulf]

Why can't some of the cars be registered for road use? Is that permanent?

Probably all the 9-5 SportCombi because they are pre-production models.

[rpiereck]

That red 9-5 Wagon is to die for, what a gorgeous car with such a sad history. They'll become collector's cars for ever now.

By the way, here is a link to the auctioner's website, KVD, with a full list of cars being auctioned: https://www.kvd.se/sv/auktion/search.html?q=Saab

There are 18 9-5 SportCombi on the auction block, probably all the ones that were ever made. I wonder if any of them can be legally road registered? https://www.kvd.se/sv/auktion/search...earch=S%C3%B6k

[nordwulf]

Some of them are US-spec and appear to have all the right labels already. Besides the hatch, they appear to be exactly the same as any other 9-5. I would be curious what it takes to import one to the US and register at your local office of the DMV.

There seems to be a really small market for Saab collectors cars besides museums. It'll be interesting to see how much NEVS is going to get for these cars.

[rpiereck]

There are a few Saab collectors in the US who are probably getting ready for some bids if some of these 9-5 Wagons are already US models...

[Dave T]

I wonder if the cars actually pass U.S. regulations or if the stickers are just prototype stickers? I would guess that you won't be able to get a Saab certificate of origin, which is needed to title the car. I read that someone imported an East German Trabant but they had to either export it or crush it within a year. I don't know how lax they would be for a museum piece. They might require removal of the engine. I write this because I did some research before I put in a bid for 3 Saab museum cars, two of which were not U.S. spec. (In a way, I was glad that I did not win all three because it would have been too much for me to spend.)

If the cars were a prototype 9-3, like an imaginary 9-3 3 door hatchback or a 5 door hatch, I might buy it. I don't have a 9-5 so it doesn't have as much sentimental value. Still, I'm intrigued about bidding. It is very expensive to ship a car from Sweden if it is not running. It would have to be shipped by a cargo container.

[rpiereck]

I read that someone imported an East German Trabant but they had to either export it or crush it within a year. I don't know how lax they would be for a museum piece.

Any car over 25 years old is fair game for importation into the USA, and legal to register in most states. The Trabant in question must have been less than 25 years old. My C900 for example is a 1987 model and therefore legal to import into the US today, even though it doesn't have all the Federal stickers. As long as it passes emissions where I register it it is good to go.

[Dave T]

Excerpts:
Object number: 554344
Saab 9-5 2.0 Turbo4 SportCombi Aero (Aut+Helläder+Panoramatak+220hk) -12

25330 km

Specification: US
Remarks:
Heavy scratches / dents to the rear bumper and right rear fender. Dent on roof, left side, ca 15x5 cm. Scratch left rear fender ca 5 cm. Several minor scuffs / scratches on the edge of the trunk and rear bumper.

----
Another one: Remarks:
Minor brake vibrations. Some mold on clothing, somewhat bad smell. Rear lightbar covered. Button grid on the handbrake is not as specified. Drill holes, glove compartment. Adhesive residues on dashboard.

Remarks:
Tire Pressure Monitoring System inoperative. Large parts of the car has been repainted. Several small dents on both roof bars.

Remarks:
Small scratches, rear bumpers. Condensation on the trunk lightbar. (this seems very common, maybe a design flaw)

Remarks:
Brake vibrations and somewhat poor brake performance. Indicates a problem with adaptive cruise control. Indicates for service / repair of electric handbrake. Several heavy scuff marks and scratches to front bumper, right side. Dent / deformation to left roof arch, about 6x2 cm. Paint scrape to right front door, about 40x5 cm. Some chafing to driver's seat, backrest.

At least they are disclosing these problems. In short, they are test cars, not shiny cars on the showroom floor. The minimum acceptable bid is about $25-30,000, so they are not cheap, not as cheap as the 9-5's stranded at U.S. ports that were auctioned.

If there is a large dent that can't be fixed, then the dent will remain forever. There are no 9-5 Sport Combi parts at all, unless you buy two cars, one as a parts car.

Yes, the article about the Trabant was probably from the 1990's when it was less than 25 years old. Canada is better. Only it only has to be 15 years old.

[nordwulf]

If there is a large dent that can't be fixed, then the dent will remain forever. There are no 9-5 Sport Combi parts at all, unless you buy two cars, one as a parts car.

The only difference between the sedan and combi is the rear hatch, glass and probably the bumper. Those are not items that need to be replaced often so you probably could keep it on the road for a long time.

It is listed as a 2.0T Aero. Wasn't there going to be a 2.8T Aero?