Proton Saga 1.3
Malaysia’s first national car began with proven Mitsubishi hardware, then became a rolling symbol of the country’s own industrial ambitions.
Proton Saga 1985 · Liauzh · CC BY-SA 4.0
Research pending
A matching completed auction sale has not been verified for this exact year, body, trim, engine, transmission and market.
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More than a set of wheels.
The first test-run Saga was completed in April 1985 and Proton officially launched the model on July 9. This page follows the original Malaysian 1.3-litre four-door saloon with a five-speed manual, before the 1.5 and Aeroback versions arrived in 1987.
Look a little closer.
Saga is both a seed from a Malaysian tree and a word for a long story—an especially fitting name for Proton’s first chapter.
Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.
A national project built on a partnership
Proton says the first Saga was based on a Mitsubishi model created through a joint venture with HICOM. Using a proven platform helped Malaysia start manufacturing quickly while building its own workforce and supplier knowledge.
Source: Proton · celebrating 35 years of the Saga ↗The first test-run car became a museum object
Malaysia’s National Museum preserves the first of 30 test-run cars, completed at 2:30 p.m. on April 18, 1985. That surviving 1.3-litre car connects the national story to one exact machine.
Source: National Museum of Malaysia · Proton Saga car ↗Where these facts come from
- Proton · celebrating 35 years of the Saga
- National Museum of Malaysia · Proton Saga car
- Paul Tan · three Proton Saga generations
- Auto-Data · first-generation Saga 1.3
Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed September 30, 2026.