Although not a Swedish meatball, nowadays Nice price or no dice Saab is a Swede with enough muscle under the hood that it still has to be a ball to drive. See if it costs money to buy.
The guerrilla artist Bansky is said to have once espoused that “Art should comfort those who are disturbed and disturb those who are comfortable.” Some of you have found Mercedes-Benz 500SL 1991 Art Car we reviewed yesterday is a bit unsettling. Or maybe it’s just off-putting. Either way, the unique aspect of being an art car from a little-known artist wasn’t enough to get you to favor the seller’s $7,999 asking price. That ended up with a 66% No Dice loss rate, supported by suggestions in the comments that the car should be re-wrapped or repainted.
When you consider the famous Norwegian painters, Odd Nerdrum is probably not the most famous. He, however, has the best name. Born in Sweden in 1944, Nerdrum is now considered one of the greatest classical figurative painters in the world. Currently, he lives in Norway and with his wife runs a private art school — the NerdrumStudio
This 2002 Saab 9-3 Viggen is another old Swede. Saab has contracted to build Viggen (Thunderbolt in English) for Valmet Automotive of Finland. A contract builder, Valmet added production capacity to the Saab starting in the late 1960s. It then did the same with Porsche, building the Boxster and Cayman until 2011. After Outlasted Saab by more than a decade, Valmet is now said to be building Lightyear solar electric vehicle 0.
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This Viggen is one of just over 600 produced by Valmet in 2002, and one of just 322 convertible versions Saab shipped to America. It presents in triple black with its Viggen-specific bumpers, special engine badging, and a boot spoiler. It does not, however, maintain its five-spoke Viggen wheels, the factory alloys having been replaced by a set of dark-painted BBS wheels. Those wear extreme skinny-jeans tires.
The bodywork and convertible top show well; not surprising considering the car seems well-cared for and has only 76,247 miles under its belt. The interior is clean as well, and features some aftermarket add-ons too. Those include those contoured floor mats that tend to look better in the ads than they do in the car, an aftermarket nav screen stereo head unit, and a Spearco shift knob for the five-speed manual.
That was the only gearbox offered in the Viggen and it was reinforced and fitted with beefier internals to handle the 230 horsepower the turbocharged 2.3-liter B235R four threw its way. That’s an especially good thing in this car since the seller claims it to have 300 ponies made by way of a “Stage 4 Swedish SQR Tune” from an engine whisperer here in the States.
Other updates include poly suspension bushings, a subframe brace, a new Mitsubishi turbo, and Koni shocks. The ad describes its condition as “excellent,” and claims it to be a three-owner car. It presently has a clean New York title and a $16,800 asking price.
What’s your take on this hot car from a cold country and that $16,800 cost to take it on? Does that seem like a fair exchange to you? Or, is that just too much lettuce, even if this 9-3 is a Viggen?
You decide!
Vermont Craigslist. Or go this if the ad disappears.
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