1999-’02 Saab 9-3 Viggen

Like thunderbolts, the best examples of this hi-po Swede are accelerating in value

BY MARK J. McCOURT

The recent, record-breaking $55,000 auction sale of a 1990 900 Turbo SPG set the Saab community on its collective ear. It seems serious collectors are waking up to the unique appeal of Saab’s turbocharged flagship sports models. The last Saab to follow in the SPG’s front-wheel-drive tire tracks was the 155-mph 9-3 Viggen, and top-condition examples of the coupe, five-door, and convertible are handily besting book values and trading hands at auction for healthy sums. Representing “born from jets” years before this tagline appeared, the high-performance original-generation 9-3 Viggen took its name–“thunderbolt” in Swedish—from the Saab Aerospace 37 jet fighter. It was a collaboration of Saab Cars’ Special Vehicle Operations branch and TWR that was built by Valmet (home to Saab convertible production) in Finland. The manual-only 9-3 Viggen was reengineered…

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Hemmings Motor News (Digital) - 1 Issue, April 2022

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