The 900, an automobile from Saab, was released in 1978 for the 1979 model year. It was based on the Saab 99 chassis, but longer. The drag coefficient value was 0.34. The 900 was produced in 2, 3, 4 and 5 door versions, with a low or high pressure turbocharger, and a convertible version.

Overview

The Saab 900 could be ordered with different options. One highly sought-after option is called the Aero. It incorporated (depending on the market) a body skirt, sport-suspension, 175 PS (172 hp/129 kW) 16-valve turbocharged engine, leather seats, and air conditioning. All these could of course be ordered independently. The Aero version was marketed as the SPG (Special Performance Group) in the US.

The 900 was slightly redesigned for 1987. The front of the car was restyled, although the metal body parts were not changed. Only the grille, headlights and bumpers were changed. Being a small car factory, Saab kept the basic undercarriage fairly unchanged until the end. Also in 1987, the 900 shared the same wheel hubs and brakes with the Saab 9000 and the hand brake only affected the rear wheels.

History

The 1979 900 was available in three versions: The GL had the single-carb 100 PS (99 hp/73.5 kW) engine, the GLS had two carburettors for 108 PS (106 hp/79.5 kW), the EMS and GLE had fuel injection for 118 PS (116 hp/87 kW), and the 900 Turbo produced 145 PS (143 hp/107 kW). A five-speed transmission was introduced in the EMS and turbo for 1980.

The 900 sedan was introduced in 1981 along with the phase-out of the old Saab B engine in favor of the lighter Saab H engine.

A big change for 1982 was Saab's Automatic Performance Control (APC) turbo computer. It employed a knock sensor, allowing the engine to use different grades of gasoline without engine damage. Another new feature that year was the introduction of central locks (on the GLE and Turbo). Asbestos-free brakes were introduced in 1983, an industry first. A new model also appeared that year in Sweden — the GLi used the fuel injected engine.

1984 saw the introduction of the 16-valve DOHC B202 engine. With a turbocharger and intercooler, it could produce 175 PS (172 hp/129 kW) in the Turbo 16 model. The Turbo 16 Aero had a body kit allowing the car to hit 210 km/h (130 mph). A different grille and 3-spoke steering wheel appeared across all models.

The dual-carb model (and "GL" nomenclature) was gone for 1985. Now, the base 900 had the single-carb engine, while the 900i added fuel injection. Two turbocharged models were offered: The 900 Turbo had the 8-valve engine, while the T16S had the 16-valve intercooled unit. The 8-valve turbo got the intercooler the next year, while the 16-valve cars got hydraulic engine mounts.

A new grille, headlights, and bumpers made the 900 look fresh for 1987, though the sheet metal was unchanged. The 900 convertible was introduced as well, making a major splash in the United States market. Common parts for the 900 and 9000 were introduced for 1987, including the brakes and wheel hubs.

The 8-valve engines were phased out in 1989 and 1990, with the turbo versions disappearing first. A non-turbo 16-valve engine replaced the 8-valve FI unit in the 900i (900S in North America) as well, while the carbureted engines were dropped. Anti-lock brakes were introduced on all models, and were standard on the turbo cars. A light-pressure turbo engine was added in 1990 as well.

A 2.1 L (2119 cc/129 in³) (B212) engine was introduced in 1991. This engine was available in the United States until the end of the Classic 900 but in most of Europe this engine was replaced a year later with the earlier B202 because of the unfavourable tax regulations in some European Countries for engines with a displacement of more than 2000 cc.

Front seats (from the 9000) were standard as from 1991 on and electronically-adjustable ones available as an option.

"Classic" 900 production ended on 26 March 1993, with the new Opel Vectra-based NG900 entering production shortly afterwards. The final classic convertibles were still sold in 1994, with the Special Edition commanding top dollar in the resale market even today.

In all, 908,817 Saab 900s were built, including 48,888 convertibles.

Convertible

In the mid 1980s, the president of Saab-Scania of America, Robert J. Sinclair, suggested a convertible version to increase sales. The first prototype was built by ASC, American Sunroof Company (now American Specialty Cars).

The Trollhättan design department, headed by Björn Envall, based its version on the 3 door hatchback and the Finnish plant used a sturdier 2 door version, which also looked better and was selected for production. The initial production was not planned to be large but the orders kept coming in and a classic was born.

The new car was shown for the first time on the International Motor show (IAA) in Frankfurt in the autumn of 1983. The first prototype aroused enormous interest and in April 1984, Saab decided to put the car in production at Valmet. The production of the first 900 convertible started during the spring of 1986.

The convertible usually a had 16-valve turbocharged engine, some with intercooler, but it was also offered in certain markets with a 2.1 L naturally-aspirated engine (with fuel injection).

Influenced by General Motors (GM), in 1994 a "New Generation" (NG) 900 SE, based on the Opel Vectra chassis, was introduced. The cabriolet/convertible was made on the 'classic' chassis for an additional year.

This model is affectionately known as "The Goose", as the emblem on the back reads "Saab 900 SE", which looks a bit like "GOOSE".

Engines

Saab introduced a turbocharger in 1978 in its 99 Turbo with a motor called the B engine (based on the Triumph Slant-4 engine designed for Saab by Triumph). This motor was also used in early 900 turbo models, which in export markets made Saab a household brand.

The B-motor was further designed into the H engine, which was used until 1993. The H engine is very durable and due to fairly standardized engine management system, it can be easily tuned to 200 PS (197 hp/147 kW), and with further bolt-on modifications to a 250 PS (247 hp/184 kW) range. Saab used Bosch mechanical K-Jetronic Continuous Fuel Injection in the fuel injected and 8-valve turbocharged versions, and the Bosch LH 2.2 and 2.4 and Lucas Automotive electric fuel injection systems were used in the 16-valve versions. The 2.1 l. 16-valve engine uses the Bosch LH 2.4.2 electronic fuel injection.

What made a real difference to the competitors especially in the early and mid 1980s was the development and use of Automatic Performance Control (APC). The system enabled to use as much pressure developed by turbo as possible without engine knocking. The system had a sensor (knock-sensor) attached to the motor block and knocking of any kind was present, the APC-system would decrease the charge pressure by opening a wastegate, a bypass to the exhaust. This enabled the use of various octane fuels and also made the use of turbo more safe for the engine. The 900 Aero and Carlsson had special APC controllers in red enclosures which provided more maximum boost.

At first, Saab used a Garrett Systems turbo (T3), which was cooled by air and engine oil. From 1988 through 1990, water-cooled T3s were fitted. In 1990 Saab began using Mitsubishi TE-05 turbos in the SPG models only. Also water-cooled, the TE05 was slightly smaller than the Garrett T3s, which gave better spool-up. In 1991, all 900 Turbos were fitted with the TE05.

Engines:

• 1979–1989 — 2.0 L (1985 cc) B201 NA, single-carb, 100 PS (99 hp/73.5 kW) at 5200 rpm and 163 N·m (119 ft·lbf)
• 1979–1984 — 2.0 L (1985 cc) B201 NA, dual-carb, 108 PS (106 hp/79.5 kW) at 5200 rpm and 165 N·m (121 ft·lbf)
• 1979–1989 — 2.0 L (1985 cc) B201 NA, FI, 118 PS (116 hp/87 kW) at 5500 rpm and 168 N·m (123 ft·lbf) at 3700 rpm
• 1979–1985 — 2.0 L (1985 cc) B201 Turbo, 145 PS (143 hp/107 kW) at 5000 rpm and 235 N·m (173 ft·lbf)
• 1986–1989 — 2.0 L (1985 cc) B201 Intercooled turbo, 140-155 PS (138-153 hp/103-114 kW) at 5000 rpm and 235 N·m (173 ft·lbf)
• 1984–1993 — 2.0 L (1985 cc) B202 16-valve turbo, 160-175 PS (158-172 hp/118-129 kW) at 5500 rpm and 255-273 N·m (188-201 ft·lbf)
• 1989–1993 — 2.0 L (1985 cc) B202 16-valve, NA, 126–130 PS (124-128 hp/93–96 kW) at 6100 rpm and 170-177 N·m (125-130 ft·lbf)
• 1990–1993 — 2.0 L (1985 cc) B202 16-valve light pressure turbo (LPT), 145 PS (143 hp/107 kW) at 5600 rpm and 202 N·m (149 ft·lbf)
• –1994 — 2.0 L (1985 cc) B202 16-valve intercooled turbo (FPT) in the convertible.
• 1991–1993 — 2.1 L (2119 cc) B212 NA, FI, 140 PS (138 hp/103 kW) at 6000 rpm and 180 N·m (133 ft·lbf)

900 CD

An even longer "Finlandia" version called the 900 CD was made at the Valmet factory in Finland. The 900 CD was 20 cm (7.9 in) longer than standard, by adding 10 cm (3.9 in) to both front and rear doors, but only the rear seating space is larger. Optional extras for the CD were a leather interior, reading lights, rear blinds, footrests and even a car telephone.

900 Enduro

A special version of the 900 Turbo was assembled by Saab Australia. It was called the 900 Enduro [1] and only 12 cars were made. The package consisted of very flared fenders, added instruments (oil pressure, battery voltage and current drain) mounted where the radio usually was, improved suspension and big wheels and tires. To increase performance the wastegate was set at 17 psi (1.2 bar). Water injection came standard.

Specifications

• Wheelbase: 2525 mm (99.4 in)
• Front track: 1420 mm (55.9 in)
• Rear track: 1430 mm (56.3 in)
• Ground clearance: 150 mm (5.9 in)
• Length: 4739 mm (186.5 in)
• Width: 1690 mm (66.5 in)
• Height: 1420 mm (56.25 in)

Appearances in Media

The Saab 900 Turbo was James Bond's vehicle of choice in many of the John Gardner Bond novels of the 1980s, beginning with Licence Renewed. In the second novel, For Special Services, the 900 was dubbed the "Silver Beast". The car is Bond's private vehicle that he had outfitted with various gadgets by the real-life company Communication Control Systems, Ltd. (CCS). In conjunction with the release of Licence Renewed, Saab had a real "Silver Beast" created that was virtually identical to the specifications in the book. The car is currently located at the Saab Museum in Trollhättan, Sweden.

A black Saab 900SE convertible was Jerry Seinfeld's car in the American sitcom Seinfeld, and made prominent appearances in numerous episodes. The car used in the series was sold through an internet auction in 1999 to a buyer in Barrington, Illinois.  A red 900 classic convertible featured in the movie 'Sideways'(2004)

A Burgundy four door Saab 900-S appears in the film "Black Cadillac"(starring Randy Quaide), in which three friends, after a wild night in a bar, find their Saab being chased by a mysterious black 1957 Cadillac Eldorado.