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Who doesn’t love an affordable, cool car? Well, and tragically so, collectors and enthusiasts get wise and drive the Porsche 911s and classic muscle cars of the world out of reach for the masses. Still, there are viable options for cool, cheap sports cars that you don’t see every day. Enter the quirky, love-it-or-hate-it Saab 900 Turbo, a Swedish lesson in individuality with origins in the jet aircraft industry.

The Saab 900 Turbo is still among the cheap, cool, jet-inspired sports cars you can take to shows unapologetically

Think you know every car James Bond has driven over the years? Think again. Sure, there are plenty of Aston Martins, BMWs, and a couple of Lotus Esprits in the mix. However, the 007 from the James Gardner novels swapped his old Bentley for a Saab 900 Turbo. Better yet, the “Silver Beast,” as Gardner named the Swedish car in the books, is a serious prospect for lovers of sports cars. 

According to Classic.com, the average cost of a first-generation Saab 900 Turbo in the United States is around $13,000. Of course, that price depends on factors like mileage, condition, location, and title status. Moreover, you might end up shelling out some extra money for the SPG or rally driver-inspired Carlsson Edition. 

Still, for the money, mechanically inclined enthusiasts can get a fun, trendy-as-it-is-torquey turbocharged Saab sports car with an available five-speed manual transmission. Moreover, if the hardtop doesn’t tickle your fancy, the 900 was available as a drop-top convertible, too. 

Beyond visceral driving joy, early Saab models boasted some ground-breaking advancements. For instance, the 900’s predecessor, the Saab 99, pioneered technology like seat heaters and carbon filtration for the cabin, per Hagerty. But more importantly, Saab was one of the first brands to recognize the value of adding a turbocharger to a small, already efficient four-cylinder engine in a practical car.

A Saab 900 Turbo from the front.
1988 Saab 900 Turbo | National Motor Museum, Heritage Images via Getty Images

At its core, the old Saab (we’re talking 1979 to 1994) is an engineer’s car. For instance, safety updates down the line included reverse-only ignition key removal and relocation. While that might not seem mold-breaking, it moved the ignition key away from where your folded knee would meet it in a crash. Furthermore, it locked the gear selector into reverse, which took the strain off of the oft-freezing emergency brake cable. Leave it to Swedish engineers to out-wit winter, right?

Better yet, the Saab was, first and foremost, a military aircraft manufacturer. As such, some of the interior design cues in the Swedish sports car, like the shape of the dash, take inspiration from the company’s aeronautical tenure.

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Staff Writer

Erik Sherman

Erik Sherman joined the MotorBiscuit team as an Autos Writer in 2022. An admitted petrolhead and an avid motorcyclist, Erik has owned everything from classic cars to motorcycles to modern driver’s cars. Erik also has extensive experience with military and emergency vehicles, ranging from ambulances and fire engines to MRAPs and M-ATVs. Erik is an eager car and motorcycle reviewer with experience covering everything from sports cars to pontoon boats and jet skis.

Erik holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations (IRG) from the University of Texas at Austin and has studied Chinese, Energy, and European Politics at the University of Glasgow in Scotland. Erik’s background is unorthodox; he is a United States Marine Corps (USMC) combat veteran, water survival practitioner, and a former firefighter/EMT. Additionally, Erik is a regular volunteer and former instructor with the American Red Cross (ARC).