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Saab auctions off classic museum models

Oliver Gee
Oliver Gee - [email protected]
Saab auctions off classic museum models

Bankrupt Swedish car company Saab is auctioning off the rare, collectable and classic cars on display in the Saab museum, as no buyer for the entire collection has been found.

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While the list of cars, with their pictures and details, is available to bidders online, only a select few will be permitted to take a closer look at the actual vehicles.

Peter Bäckström, the museum's head, said that he will only allow the doors to be opened for serious bidders.

“Only then can we let someone inside to see the cars. Otherwise we’re closed,” he said to Göteborgs Posten newspaper (GP).

Saab is selling 131 rarities, currently on display at the Saab museum, in Trollhättan, Western Sweden. These automobiles reflect Saab through the ages, and have been chosen to illustrate the company’s innovative and illustrious history.

The collection boasts a wide range of Saab cars (and one caravan) from their first car ever produced to their eco-friendly designs from recent years.

Related gallery: Saab classics on auction

The car manufacturer, which went bankrupt in December, is in the process of liquidating its assets and announced the auction when it seemed no one was interested in buying the whole collection.

This includes the original Saab prototype “Ur-Saaben” from 1946, a blue and yellow formula race car from 1960, rally cars, a limousine and a slew of their modern designs from the past decade.

Several of the cars are ‘concept cars’ and prototype models, and are currently unregistered. Some are not even permitted registration for use on Swedish roads.

But it isn't just Saab's history reflected in the collection.

Among the highlights from the auction's collectables can also be found a James Bond-equipped Turbo 900 from 1981 with bullet-proof glass and smokescreen equipment.

For James Bond enthusiasts, this “Silver Beast” may be the cream of the crop.

According to the museum, the 1981 Turbo 900 model, featured as Bond’s own favourite in three of the spy novels, is equipped with bullet-proof tires and windows, infra-red goggles, 4 tear-gas ducts and smokescreen protection – topped off with a “SAAB 007” number plate.

For those wishing to own a classic piece of automobile - or indeed James Bond - history, speed is of the essence as the bidding ends on Friday January 20th.

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