The story of the 1986 Saab 90 - made in Finland

We Finns never had our own big car brand, but this fine example of automotive history was the closest we got to having our own car..
The Saab Club of Finland tells quite a story about the relationship of us Finns and our Saabs:
It has over 4000 members across the country, making it the biggest Saab owners club in the world.
We cannot thank Petteri Virtanen, the President of the Saab Club of Finland, enough. His insights and knowledge about the brand’s history was amazing and actually quite inspirational.
Alongside their four times a year publication, the Saabisti magazine, the club organizes local gatherings as well as international events, the last of which was attended by Saab drivers from almost 20 countries! The next big international gathering will be held at 2021.
Their website with their active forum as well as Saab merchandise and parts can be found through this link: saabclub.fi/
Saab Club of Finland's official instagram: / saabclub_fi
Thank you Aaron for letting us use some of your camera equipment!
- / aarouni -
For more road & track reviews, please consider subscribing to the channel!
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For more side-notes on car culture - finnishcarguys.blogspot.com/
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The music in our videos is written, played, recorded and produced by us.
© 2018 Joona Holma
Exception:
The snippet of "Sommaren Är Kort" by Tomas Ledin

[@FinnishCarGuys]

1:17 A snippet from "Teijo" -wikipedia page: "The cabin was made out of reinforced plastic, or sometimes even sheet-metal." I find this sentence really funny; the cabin was basically made from whatever happened to be laying around the shop floor.

[@mrkane1897]

im in the uk ive just saved a 1985 saab 90 from going to a breakers yard, needs a lot to get her back on the road but im hopeful to get it done over winter and be able to use it throughout the summer.

[@FinnishCarGuys]

Rust repairs?

[@mrkane1897]

@@FinnishCarGuys very little rust work surprisingly, the carb wants rebuilding and setting up, ive just replaced the clutch, wants the headlights wiper system fixing and putting back together and thats all really for the big bits, after thats its just tidying up and fixing the little bits

[@adorabasilwinterpock6035]

Saabs fabrik i Nystad producerade många fantastiska Saabar, verkligen ett exempel på ett framgångsrikt nordiskt samarbete. Både 90an såklart men även 900 cab och min personliga favorit - 900 finlandia, en förlängd 900 som bara tillverkades i ett hundratal exemplar och användes av den finländske presidenten!

[@noahman27]

Fascinating. We did not get the model 90 in the USA. We had tons of SAABs thru every era of SAAB. I really miss SAAB. It's a family kind of thing.

[@FinnishCarGuys]

Yup, this was a Finnish/ Scandi specialty. They have this fuzzy furry earpiece-beige warm quality to them for sure!

[@lucybarney1]

Still drive my Saab 90 on sundays in Spain with this warm weather she should out live me , then off to a museum for others to enjoy hopefully

[@FinnishCarGuys]

Nice to hear there are others still roaming the earth out there!

[@fantashi1782]

the quality of the video is so great hoping u guys become a bigger channel

[@FinnishCarGuys]

Thank you! Who knows... We like making these so as long as there are cars for us to drive, for now it's all that matters.

[@arvid3734]

I just got a 1987 Saab 90 as my first car last weekend! Beautiful car, around 10% (1 000 of 10 000) of all Saab 90s sold in Sweden are still on the road, quite a high number actually. Love this video, beautifully shot! Greetings from Sweden.

[@FinnishCarGuys]

That's a high number! And actually, quite logical: that's what happens when you build a car with the emphasis on THE CAR, and not the production cost cutting etc.

[@1Hakonamatata]

This kind of videos is what my soul is missing. Love from Sweden!

[@FinnishCarGuys]

Thanks, neighbor!

[@MemskiBobSki]

The subtitles don't quite translate. Kowabunga factory lol. My dad owned a mk 1 90, no side indicators, was a great car to drive, good grip, powerful smooth engine and gears, I did once spin it going a little too fast. Electrics were shockingly bad, running lights burning out almost weekly, the heated seat thermostat failing, the ignition ampflier failed. MPG was good and had that great unleaded prepared engine.

[@FinnishCarGuys]

Yeah the English subs are auto generated. Finnish ones done by hand.

[@pontuswendt2486]

AMAZINGNES!!! Love this video!!! The atmosphere!!!

[@mohameddalmar41]

Hienoa hienoa guy's ihan hyvin sanottu saab.miulle on 900 avo convertible in London.

[@FinnishCarGuys]

Mohamed Dalmar kiitos! 👍🏽

[@pamfletti]

Good job guys! You bring out the personality of these cars really well, which would otherwise be left unseen for non-car people. Keep em´ coming!

[@FinnishCarGuys]

Tucemos will do 👍🏻

[@davidbauer1485]

Drive my 1991 900 Convertible every day. Almost 30 years old and still no rust. Car was bought in Las Vegas and then brought to Colorado in 1997. Third owner with just 170,000 Miles. Put the top down and crank Monty Python Finland song. Millennials impressed it has an airbag and antilock brakes. They love the retro clamshell styling and analog gauges.

[@ingimundurstefansson1220]

Parents owned a SAAB 90 bought around 1990 and sold around 2005/6 - was in almost daily use along with other cars, having gone from them to my brother and then to me. Pretty darn reliable, and climbed snow almost like a Subaru 1800 with low gear, but boy, was it heavy on the steering! Non-powered steering, and getting a tad thirsty, but still, about 13l in winter for short distance driving or 15k. Still exists I believe, a testament of rugged Finnish manufacturing.

[@FinnishCarGuys]

In Iceland I presume..? How’s the road salt / rust situation up there?

[@ingimundurstefansson1220]

@@FinnishCarGuys Loads of salt and rust. Last time I heard some repairs were necessary on beam below doors.

[@nightnope]

greetings from Uusikaupunki! i'm glad i found this channel.

[@FinnishCarGuys]

Glad you're here!

[@PetriWallius]

Siis täältähän se löytyi täydellinen tarina minun ysikymppiin👍 todella hienosti toteutettu juttu.

[@FinnishCarGuys]

Kiitos! Petterille kuuluu iso kunnia tästä, todella mahtava juttutuokio oli Skypessä.

[@sohowsoon6652]

saab forever

[@danmccarthy4700]

I find the 90 fascinating. It looks like a tidier 900. It would've been neat to see one here in the US.

[@MarcS4R]

Awesome video guys. thank you

[@affenharri]

Bra video! Mats Sundins mamma är från Kainulasjärvi i svenska tornedalen, inte långt från finska gränsen. Så det finns lite finska spår i han också. 😊

[@stephanvanwolferen953]

Great production there, covered a lot of aspects. useful and pleasant to watch

[@petrstolin499]

This was my first car I owned. Drove it for 3 years, then sell it to fellow enthusiast. Honestly? I fkin miss him. That thing was reliable, massive and comfy asf. Now im just a pleb with VWs in a garage.

[@FinnishCarGuys]

Petr Stolín it has character doesn’t it

[@petrstolin499]

It does. All of these older cars are appealing and unique, especially SAAB in my eyes, they had their own way, then s*it went sideways with GM. But its all good, at least history was made!

[@FinnishCarGuys]

Petr Stolín history and innovation! Reminds me of Koenigsegg actually in many ways, even though the cars are on a bit of a different segment...

[@mantriccaravan8228]

What a glass sunroof on a OG900! Never saw one in the US. Nice video with a sense of humour as well! Finns speak better English than 95% of Miami too....

[@FinnishCarGuys]

Mantric Caravan Thanks lol! Truth be told the sunroof was screwed shut to prevent leakage. But it gives the car a nice airy and open feel!

[@Corhone]

Pretty sure that's Finlandia 2000 sunroof.

[@FinnishCarGuys]

@@Corhone Could very well be.

[@Maalt]

Hi from Estonia!

[@FinnishCarGuys]

EkstreemKanuutaja Tere!

[@1873Winchester]

I have a 900 T16 made Finland. I saw an old episode in swedish trafikmagasinet (late 80s) where they talked about the finnish saab factory and how the saabs there were made better, though the saab CEO said the swedish factory had by this time caught up quality wise. So according to saab themselves a finnish saab would be better quality at least pre-88 or so.

[@fourwheeltrader]

Original content guys and beautifully shot!

[@FinnishCarGuys]

Fourwheel Trader thank you!

[@kelleredward6153]

Great video guys. Well done!

[@FinnishCarGuys]

Keller Edward Thank you!

[@aleksi.niemela]

Kaikin puolin hieno pätkä. Vaikka olenkin vasta 19 ja omistanut saabin vasta vuoden verran, on se silti kaikin puolin päässyt sydemmeeni

[@FinnishCarGuys]

Kiitoksia! Mikäs Saab löytyy?

[@aleksi.niemela]

@@FinnishCarGuys saab 9-3 vuodelta 1999 vapaastihengittävällä 2l konella :) ajettu vasta 190 tuhatta, joista itse ajanut 10 tuhatta.

[@troyelliott74]

Great video ! thanks guys

[@FinnishCarGuys]

Troy Elliott our pleasure 👍🏽

[@troyelliott74]

Looking forward to getting my Finnish built rust-free Saab 90 back on the road for the winter!

[@FinnishCarGuys]

Troy Elliott warm and cozy way of beating winter for sure!

[@wr3066]

Thanks for that great video. Btw. I have Saab made in Finnland ;-)

[@0r335]

Good video!

[@FinnishCarGuys]

Thank You!

[@Timzeeee]

❤️ Saab ❤️

[@FinnishCarGuys]

They're unique things!

[@Timzeeee]

I own 3 Saab 😅 saabismi on sairaus

[@pedalpetter5865]

Nice car, good video. Well done. 👏👍 Volker

[@FinnishCarGuys]

Vielen dank! 🤙

[@thatguywithdt6110]

It's a disease because you can't just have one Saab, you need many of them.

[@FinnishCarGuys]

That seems like quite a common symptom as well...

[@zsdrumchannel6672]

so true :D

[@Rudolfzero]

Todella hyvä video! Puhutte todella sulavaa ja selvää englantia mikä oli aikamoinen yllätys. Ajattelin ensin että kyseessä on vaan pitkä haastettelu mutta se olikin kaikkea muuta myös. Ansaitsisitte paljon enemmän katselukertoja koska selvästi panostatte videoihinne. t: turbo_sairas_saabisti

[@FinnishCarGuys]

Rudolfzero Lämmin kiitos!

[@jaakkor.2963]

Ihan samaa mieltä kuin Rudolfzero! Tuo teidän tapanne leikata tuo haastattelu osiin noin tekee siitä "kevyemmän". Jatkakaa samaan malliin :)

[@uncleeepi8868]

Mul on ollu saab 90. Myös semmone orkkis 900 ja nyt mul on vuoden 97 semmone GM 900. Uskon että kaikkien sisällä asuu pieni saabisti. Jengi ei vaan tiedä sitä, jos niillä ei koskaan ole ollut saabia.

[@SuperKamaki]

Isävainaalla oli aikoinaan Saab 90 ja myös minä ostin Saab 90:n. Oli ihan hyvä auto.

[@jaakkor.2963]

Good video! Please review other Finnish made cars like that mentioned Mercedes-Benz A or those more special ones like Fisker Karma or Elcat if somehow possible.

[@erikthegamer283]

I got a Saab 900C that was built in by Valmet.

[@OMENAKAKKU-xe1nt]

I LIKE IT...

[@PerttuNiemela]

In 6:53 there are Mazda MX-5 towing a trailer.

[@DesertSessions93]

What a sight!

[@FinnishCarGuys]

In Finland, everything and their mom has a tow hitch.

[@PerttuNiemela]

@@FinnishCarGuys Näin on, mutta silti MX-5:ssa on aika hassua nähdä koukku. Estää ainakin peräänajamista ja huonoilta peruutuksilta. ✌🏻😂

[@rasmusbengtsson2787]

Finish brothers

[@loyp4328]

So, how was fit & Finnish on the Suomi Saab ?

[@FinnishCarGuys]

Nothing stood out, so I guess it was good at least. Minus the sunroof, which apparently was an after market job.

[@loyp4328]

@@FinnishCarGuys No saabotage, then 😀

[@timohartikainen6429]

Mä rakastan saappin mallia 900, 90 ja 99

[@rollotwomassey]

SAAB was failing in 1999 and needed GM more than GM needed SAAB. I don't like post 2002/Opel/Russelheim SAABs either but let's not rewrite history. They were "too" well made and the margins were not enough for SAAB to compete internationally. 1994 - 2002 were the best SAABs to have- GM used their supply chain to put more reliable Japanese transmissions [Aisin Warner] and turbos [Mitsubishi] into Sodertalje/Trollhattan/Uusikaupunki engines and bodies.

[@user-gq4nl4eg5n]

0:54 Putin?

[@heikkiremes5661]

I'd rather hit things sideways. There is something rather embarrassing about going into a snowbank with the front wheels locked up. They are really nice to drive, otherwise.

[@FinnishCarGuys]

Heikki Remes That would be at least more heroic way to end up in a ditch 🤓

[@DesertSessions93]

Odd, I turn my wheel and the back wheels kick out. Car power slides every corner on its own, almost effortlessly.