- this insane v-8–powered 1971 saab 95 wagon is our bring a trailer pick of the day, in an auction that ends on monday, march 21.
- instead of the factory-supplied 73-hp v-4 engine, this saab features a 502-cubic-inch big-block chevy v-8 under the hood.
- this 95 has also been converted to rear-wheel drive and squeezes huge drag-racing tires under the rear fender skirts.
this 1971 saab 95 wagon may look like a dainty relic, but if you pulled up next to it late at night looking for an easy win in a red-light drag race, there's a good chance you'd be left in its dust. that's because this quaint little saab has a massive 8.2-liter v-8 engine stuffed under the hood and beefy drag-racing tires hiding under the rear fender skirts. this ultimate swedish sleeper is now up for sale on the bring a trailer auction site—which, like car and driver, is part of hearst autos—with bidding ending on monday, march 21.
the saab 95 was built from 1959 to 1978 as a wagon counterpart to the 96 sedan, and starting in 1971, u.s.-market versions were powered by a 1.7-liter ford v-4 making 73 horsepower. but this example ditched the dinky v-4 for a big-block chevy powerhouse, and it has been converted from front- to rear-wheel drive to maximize its drag-racing prowess. the steel 15-inch wheels are wrapped in bfgoodrich radial t/a tires in the rear, which look plenty adept at putting the power down, and hkp 880 sport iv tires up front. before it gets to those bfgoodrichs, power is routed through a two-speed automatic transmission.
despite featuring only two doors and stretching only a couple of inches longer than a chevy trax, the original 95 wagon could seat seven occupants thanks to a rear-facing third row. this example, however, is down to five seats, with trunk space eaten into by a large black box that likely accommodates a differential and those huge rear tires. otherwise, the interior and bodywork appear largely stock, with the exception of four-point racing harnesses for the front seats and a supertrapp dual-outlet exhaust that peeks out from under the rear bumper.
saab 95 wagons come up a few times a year on bring a trailer, but so far none has been as wild as this example with its 502-cubic-inch engine and rear-wheel-drive drag-racing conversion. it may not be the most practical car, but the sleeper saab is certainly unique. bidding is currently at $12,500 with five days to go.