1996 Saab 900 S ... 62,460 Original Miles ... Convertible ... Texas One Owner on 2040-cars

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Rally legend Erik Carlsson dies at 86

The motorsports world has lost a legend with the passing of famous rally driver Erik Carlsson at the age of 86. If you've ever seen a photo of a vintage Saab sliding around a corner or blasting through tree-lined roads, there was a good chance that Carlsson was behind the wheel. The man was so tied to the Swedish auto brand that he earned the nickname Mr. Saab. Carlsson experienced his greatest competition success in the late '50s and early '60s when he scored victories in premier events like the Monte Carlo Rally (pictured above). Among his more impressive performances were consecutive wins in '60, '61, and '62 Britain's RAC Rally. His three-cylinder, 750cc Saab 96 wasn't insanely powerful, but Carlsson made it a monster in the world of rallying. In 2010, Saab named a special edition 9-3 after him and honored his victory at the RAC Club in London. Beyond being impressive behind the wheel of a rally car and a longtime Saab brand ambassador, the driver had a habit of rolling his car during competition to earn the moniker "Carlsson On The Roof." According to Classic and Sports Car, he also wrote the book The Art and Technique of Driving that detailed his left-foot braking method, and it was co-authored with his wife, fellow racing driver Pat Moss. Our condolences go out to Carlsson's friends and family.

Autoblog sell-it-yourself highlight: 2004 Saab 9-5 Aero Wagon

Want to sell your car? We make it safe, easy and free. Quickly create listings with up to 6 photos. Reach - literally - millions of buyers. Log in and create your free listings. In a recent Autoblog sampling of 10 pre-owned choices at least 10 years old and selling for under $10K, an Autoblog editor gave a shout-out to Saab's 9-5. And who could blame him? Despite its departure from the US market and subsequent closure as an automaker, Saab's brand still resonates among a committed core of enthusiasts. The Saab 9-5, available in both sedan and wagon variants, was the upper model of a two-model lineup; the 9-3 sedan sat below it, while the GM-sourced 9-7 SUV didn't appear until 2005. Both the sedan and wagon 9-5 were surprisingly roomy, and the Aero variant, pictured here, incredibly fast. This for-sale example, located in North Carolina, is at 176,000 miles a well-used example in need of (at least) a repaint. But this is the perfect color combination, plus a combo of sport and utility. Buy it for around $2K, hold another $5,000 in reserve to cover the obvious needs, and you can enjoy a distinctive piece of practical and powerful transportation. Related Video:

Ultra-rare 2011 Saab 9-4X up for grabs on Cars & Bids

Saab's sad saga is full of might-have-beens and missed opportunities. As the 21st century dawned, it became clear that the Saab brand could not survive without an SUV in its lineup. In 2005, the 9-2X, a badge-engineered Subaru Impreza Outback Sport, was rushed into production (GM being a part-owner of Subaru parent company Fuji Heavy Industries at the time). That same year same GM also put a new nose on the distinctly mediocre Chevrolet TrailBlazer and peddle that as the Saab 9-7X. The last of the GM-based Saab SUVs was the 9-4X, which was mechanically twinned with the second-generation Cadillac SRX and built alongside it in Mexico. By the time the model was introduced for 2011, GM had already off-loaded Saab. But the new ownership would be short-lived, and production of the 9-4X ended after only a handful of 2012 models had rolled down the line. It's believed that a total of only 803 9-4Xs were built, of which 622 were sold in the United States, which explains why you haven't seen one lately. Or, perhaps, ever. But now you can buy one, as this 2011 example is available right now on Cars & Bids. This is a top-spec Aero version, which means it gets a turbocharged 2.8-liter V6 and the Saab-developed X-drive all-wheel drive, rather than the naturally aspirated 3.0-liter V6 in the base and Premium trims. That gives you 300 horsepower and 265 lb-ft of torque, although this one sports a VTuner Stage 0 tune, so it could have more. With five days still to go, bidding stands at $8,500. For the Saab fans out there, don't let this be another missed opportunity. Related Video: Saab 9-4X concept introduced at Detroit Auto Show