Back in 2000, GM scooped up Saab as a wholly owned subsidiary following a 50-percent stake purchased in 1989. GM eventually sold Saab to Spyker N.V in 2010. However, prior its sale to Spyker, Saab produced a few interesting models, including this – the 1997 Saab EX Prototype, a one-off tribute car marking Saab’s 50th anniversary. Now, this slice of Saab history is up for grabs at auction.
Although it was built during GM’s ownership years, the 1997 Saab EX Prototype was constructed from 100 percent Saab parts by Per Ekstrøm in Oslo, Norway, complete with Saab factory cooperation. The project took an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 working hours to complete, and carries chassis number YS3CC55D4H1026144. It’s also fully road legal, with bones from a 1987 Saab 9000CC.
The exterior is certainly a striking thing to look at, and incorporates a two-door layout, a long curving roof line, and a wide stance. The overall look is said to incorporate styling details pulled from four different Saab generations. This prototype also maintains its original paint, with a two-tone red-on-black, while a 2+2 interior layout can be found in the cabin.
According to the auction listing, this prototype still runs and drives “excellently.” It has apparently been on exhibition for the last five years, housed at Leif Gjestrum Larsen AS in Larvik, one of the few remaining Saab specialists in Norway. Motivation is sourced from a turbocharged 2.3L engine producing an estimated 220 horsepower. The mileage is set at an estimated 154,000 km, or 95,691 miles.
Now, the 1997 Saab EX Prototype is up for grabs in a new Bonhams auction. The lot includes full documentation, such as traffic authority approval papers, concept drawings, build calculations, magazine feature articles on the car, a 40-minute video compilation documenting the build process, and a fresh EU control tech inspection performed this summer.
Estimated value is between 60,000 pounds and 90,000 pounds ($73,000 and $110,000 at current exchange rates). The lot is available at auction without reserve. The car is currently located in Belgium.
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Comments
I had a ’97 900 2.0 T. I sold it to my Dad in 2009 and he still drives the damn thing today. It had a lot of problems when I owned it, but after those were fixed, he’s had hardly any problems. I guess that is what I get for racing 5 Series on the highway.
GM ran Saab into the ground during its ownership. It never understood the heritage and passion of the brand and resorted to badge engineering even involving Subaru ! I remember being shocked when the US VP of personel (already recognized as a total loser) and put him in charge of SAAB. The rest is history–the real end of a great brand and almost the end of Subaru as well.
GM couldn’t even figure out what in the hell to do with their own brands, let alone SAAB. SAAB lived off of GM table scraps for years waiting to die a slow death. Trendy to own a Euro name plate, so GM took SAAB and did uhhhhh…nothing. Volvo got a second chance, SAAB not so much. Still drive my 2008 9 -3 Aero with 145,000 on the clock. Still drives good.
Had two Saab’s, a 1999 9-5 manual and a 2006 9-5 auto. Loved them both. They came after a couple of Volvo 740Ts. The Volvos were good, the Saabs were great. I still miss Saab. Too bad GM murdered Saab, and Volvos lost their soul.