This is how Saab 900 Cabrio gets its soft top

With the knowledge of today, Saab has created a successful model with the first generation 900 Cabriolet. At least, if you look at the popularity of the open four-seater now. It’s a real classic. But at the time, Saab’s management was not so happy with the 900 Cabriolet. Sjoerd van Bilsen explains how that works in this episode of Sjoerds Weetjes.

Sjoerd does not answer the question whether the management of Saab ever doubted whether it should follow up the open 900. The fact is that the management knew what was wrong with the first 900 Cabriolet. So a second generation has appeared.

A new edition under the same name

This generation went through life after a restyling as 9-3 and was replaced by a new edition under the same name. The fact that there was ultimately no fourth generation has nothing to do with a decision by the product planners. The Saab design department was actually working on a 9-1 Cabriolet. No, Saab owner General Motors pulled the plug on the Swedish division, although it later transferred the minimal remnants of the brand to another party, Spyker to be precise.

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Because of that sudden sale, at a time when a record number of new models for Saab were on the drawing board, General Motors divested Saab to get out of its own financial problems. That meant the end of the 900 and 9-3 Cabriolet.

Sjoerds Weetje Saab 900

Central to this episode is the second generation 900 Cabriolet. Not only because it is a beautiful open car, Sjoerd tells the story behind the linen hood of the open 900. Saab had the roof developed by an external party, just like it did with the first generation. How that works, Sjoerd explains in Sjoerds Facts 338.

Why you should buy an old Saab 900 with your thirteenth month