Classified of the Day – 1976 Saab 96

The Saab 96 was Saab’s first true foray into the mainstream, though even then, it was still a delightfully weird and quirky machine. Introduced in 1960, early cars were fitted with a tiny 841cc three-cylinder petrol engine. That soon made way for the more torquey Ford V4 though. In modern traffic, both engines would struggle to keep up. It’s handy then, that the Saab 96 we’re looking at today has neither of those engines. Though purists can rejoice, because it does still have a Saab engine. Just a much more modern one.

What you’re looking at here is a Saab 96 like no other. It’s a bespoke car from bumper-to-bumper, and have been built by Neo Brothers. Saab owners will be familiar with that name thanks to Neo Brothers being the go-to company for Saab parts old and new. Though as it turns out, the team there are also a bit of a dab hand at building cars, too. That’s just showing off.

The 96 you’re looking at here has been modified and stretched to fit over the chassis of a 2003 9-3 convertible. This has made the 96 leaner and longer, and while it does take the eyes a moment to adjust, we’ve come to the conclusion that it really works. It’s made the once humble 96 more purposeful. The roof has been ‘chopped’, which lowers the overall profile of the car. The rear end has been resculpted to be more of a fastback and the whole lot has been sprayed a deep yet menacing shade of metallic grey. We approve.

Underneath, there’s that 2003 floorpan, which has been expertly stitched to the 96 upper half. The engine and transmission are from a ‘99 9-3 Turbo, so this is a 96 with a lot of go. The suspension is all freshly rebuilt with Bilstein parts as well as Powerflex bushes, the brakes have been refreshed, too. The whole thing looks like it’s brand new, though in essence, it is. And that’s reflected on the inside care of the interior with 9-3 dash and the leather-trimmed seats and door cards. It’s not been thrown together. Just look at the pictures and you’ll be able to tell that a lot of time and thought has gone into this build.

The advert states that the car was built for promotional purposes, but is now surplus to requirements, having done a tour of all the big car shows and events. It’s now up for grabs for a very reasonable £24,995. That’s a lot of bespoke and truly unique car for the money. And what’s more, given the relatively modern underpinnings of this old 96, you could very easily use this car every day. Imagine turning up to the office in this!