Martijn bought a Saab 900 Cabrio for 580 euros and turns it into a neat youngtimer

Martijn’s Saab 900 Convertible

• Bought for? €580
• Owned for how long? Six years
• How many owner? At least the twentieth
• Driven kilometers? Over 30,000
• Biggest plus? Working on the car is very relaxing
• Biggest flaw? Difficult to keep costs under control
• Biggest expense? Replacing the transmission
• How long are you keeping him? At least fifteen years

The Swede was not worth much more than 580 euros, according to Martijn. “Only the bodywork was good, but there was a lot wrong with the technology, such as the engine, gearbox, drive and hood. Not surprising: the 900 was delivered new in Italy in 1995, had at least five owners there, after which export to Germany followed. There, the Saab has also worn out five owners, until the sun worshiper ended up in the Netherlands in 2002. Here he knew seven owners. He has finally found peace with me: for the next fifteen years I want Mr. Satisfaction – that’s what I call it – start enjoying.”

Martijn has already turned a Renault Laguna II into a reliable car

To let people know how it came about, the Drent lifts his baptismal certificate. “I was destined to become a farmer, but when I was 17 I was driven off my moped by a drunk driver. As a result, my walking was difficult and I could not practice farming. Since then I have received a benefit of 70 percent of the minimum wage. Not much, which is why I have a bed & breakfast here in Ruinen. So I like to tackle. I’m not very technically savvy, but I managed to improve my Renault Laguna II – the disaster generation – to the point that it has become a reliable car. That Laguna still serves as a family car elsewhere, because I sold it to buy Saab parts.”

Previously already a Saab 90 for a bottle of port

Saab is therefore a brand that has an advantage with Martijn. “That’s why: in 2016 I came into possession of a Saab 90 in exchange for a bottle of port. You understand: there was still a lot to do. I picked up the gauntlet and that’s how I came to appreciate Saab: the premium parts, the thoughtfulness and the class of the whole … A superior brand.”

Working on the entry-level Saab tasted like more, time for a bigger challenge. He found it in Coevorden, where a desolate 900 Cabriolet from 1995 had been collecting cobwebs in a shed for two years. “The technology was largely neglected. The starting point was the dull carriage and the worn-out interior. Then the hood was refreshed. That’s how I started to really enjoy it. That was a good thing, because under the skin a lot turned out to be wrong. Over the years, the complete engine has actually been overhauled. I did a lot myself, but if I couldn’t figure it out, there was help in the person of Wim Timmer from Saab Specials in Meppel, called the ‘Trollhättan van Drenthe’ by me.”

The Saab 900 Cabriolet has run more than 300,000 kilometers, but we are not shocked by that.

For wishbone rubbers to the blacksmith

Martijn went to the village blacksmith for another job: the wishbone rubbers had to be replaced. “In Berlin I found a set of original Mapco rubbers with multilink that Saab also used itself. The blacksmith pressed them into the wishbones. I have honored all Saab scrapyards in the north and east of the Netherlands with a visit. That way I got parts for little money, because I had and still have a limited budget. Hence the sale of the Laguna. On the other hand, I demanded that everything must be original Saab: the very best quality.”

Interior got an update, made one from 3 Saab radios

There is always room for improvement, even after thorough work and cleaning. When Martijn found a good automatic gearbox on his path, he bought it, after which his ‘tech buddies’ installed it. The interior also received an upgrade. For example, he made one well-functioning copy of three Saab radios. Unfortunately, the hood operation continued to cause problems. “What turned out? Marters had bitten the wiring. The resulting short circuit disrupted the complex roof computer, so recalibration was necessary.”

The headlight wipers also work again.

All in all, after the 580 euros for the purchase, Martijn spent a total of about 8,500 euros on the restoration. “I didn’t know what to expect in 2017. The purchase was a real leap of faith. Everything about the reconstruction was disappointing, but a real car enthusiast picks up on that and continues. But beware: do it for yourself, not for the money. Only then will you enjoy it. And I enjoy my 900 Cabriolet. That regal, pricey car I saw driving around in the ’90s is now mine. The driving is fantastic. The car has already worn out many owners. I hope to enjoy it for at least another fifteen years. If necessary, I can drive it all over the world.”