Saab holds something of a special place in the hearts of many enthusiasts around the world. Back in 1997, on the occasion of its 50th anniversary, one of its biggest fans, Norway’s Per Ekstrom, decided to create a special custom model that would capture the spirit of some of the Swedish brand’s finest designs.
Now available for auction, the 1997 Saab EX Prototype was the result of 3,000-4,000 hours of work. Although it was not created by the brand itself, documents offered as part of this lot reveal that the automaker was in frequent communication with Ekstrom over the design and realization of this project.
The idea behind the project was to create a custom coupe based using Saab parts almost exclusively. Incorporating details and homages to the automaker’s classic vehicles throughout, it started life as a 900 II body that was delivered directly to Ekstrom from the factory.
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From there, the tailgate was modified with glass from a 900 cabriolet, the roof was lowered by 2.7 inches (7 cm), the body was widened, the fuel cap was moved, and the wheel arches were replaced with those from a Saab CS 9000.
The result of thousands of hours of work by a meticulous craftsman, the build quality is said to be impeccable, and the drivetrain is also said to be running well. Power comes from a 2.3-liter turbocharged engine that produces 220 hp (164 kW/223 PS) and has now traveled 94,691 miles (154,000 km).
In addition, the seller states that the paint and body are in nearly perfect shape, making this road-legal custom an easy buy for any collector with the means. And a fine addition to a collection it would be, because it also comes with documents, a tenth-scale clay model, and many sketches from its design process.
Offered for sale by Bonhams as part of its October 8 Zoute Sale, the car is registered as a 1987 Saab 9000CC, and is currently located in Belgium. Estimates suggest that it could sell for as much as €90,000 ($96,503 USD at current exchange rates).
