Saab 900 Turbo five-door
Saab wrapped turbo power, a huge hatch and a cockpit curved toward the driver into one unusual family car.
1979 Saab 900 Turbo five-door in Aquamarine, front right.jpg · Mr.choppers · CC BY-SA 3.0
Research pending
A matching completed auction sale has not been verified for this exact year, body, trim, engine, transmission and market.
Joyride shows this gap instead of substituting an asking price, unsold bid or mismatched special vehicle.
More than a set of wheels.
Saab revealed the 900 in May 1978 and sold it as a 1979 model. It kept the 99's center body but received a new front section, longer wheelbase, revised steering and a curved dashboard that grouped controls around the driver. The U.S. Turbo used a fuel-injected 2.0-litre slant four, a four-speed manual and front-wheel drive, while the five-door hatch could open into a 53-cubic-foot cargo area.
Look a little closer.
The 1979 brochure said the back seat could fold to create about 1,500 litres of cargo space—more like a small van than a typical performance car.
Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.
Why this page uses 135 hp, not 145
SaabMuseum's general launch history quotes 145 hp, while Saab-Scania of America's 1979 U.S. brochure specifies 135 hp SAE net for the Turbo. This profile follows the U.S. brochure because its market, rating convention and five-door tire specification match the selected vehicle.
Source: Saab-Scania of America · 1979 Saab 900 series brochure ↗A safer, more usable evolution of the 99
Forward of the A-pillars the 900 was new. Saab added a collapsible steering column, a curved instrument panel, revised ventilation with a pollen filter and a longer wheelbase. The aim was not simply a faster 99, but a more comfortable and crash-conscious everyday car.
Source: The Saab Museum · Saab 900 model-year changes ↗Where these facts come from
- Saab-Scania of America · 1979 Saab 900 series brochure
- The Saab Museum · Saab 900 model-year changes
- The Saab Museum · Saab 900 technical specifications
- Wikimedia Commons · 1979 U.S.-spec Saab 900 Turbo five-door
Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed October 1, 2026.