Saab's back-catalogue is full of innovative, quirky and desirable cars. It was one of the earliest adopters of FWD and pioneered safety systems long before the rest of Europe cottoned on. It may have struggled financially in the lead-up to GM's take-over, but that didn't dilute the cars' appeal, even when it needed to co-operate with other manufacturers, such as Ford and Fiat.

Enjoy Octane's top-five choice of classic Saabs...

1) 99 Turbo

During its lifetime, the 99 had received regular upgrades, first a larger version of its slant-four engine, then fuel-injection to create the effective EMS sports saloon. However, in 1978, the Saab created a legend – the 145bhp 99 Turbo. An early adopter of forced-induction, Saab’s fast but laggy 99 Turbo hit the market at just the right time – the second energy crisis of 1979 witnessed many people trading down from larger cars, and the seemingly economical new car offered all of the pace without the fuel consumption of the multi-cylinder opposition.

2) Saab 96/95 Two-stroke

The Saab 96 might have been marketed as a new car when launched in 1960, but it was very closely related to the original two-stroke front-wheel-drive 92 that had been around since 1949 and had proved to be a massive breakthrough in design. More than ten years on and the 96, with its aerodynamic styling, independent suspension and tenacious roadholding still seemed ultra-modern despite being a facelift. The 841cc two-stroke developed enough power to push the 96 to over 80mph while the standard seat belts appealed to safety-conscious drivers.

3) Saab 900 Turbo

Saab cleverly evolved its models and augmented platforms, so when it launched the 900 in 1979, it was clear that it was based heavily on the ten-year-old 99. But given that car’s continued popularity, this was no handicap. The 900 majored on safety, and its impact absorbing bumpers, crumple zones and padded interior were touted as major selling points. But the star of the range was the 900 Turbo – a car that thanks to consistent development remained competitive throughout its life, and is still seen as superior to the GM-based car that replaced it.

4) Saab 95/96 V4

In 1967, the two-stroke that had served so well for 15 years was joined by a V4. The four-stroke 1498cc Ford Taunus V4 engine had been installed to take the 96 further upmarket, but also acted as an insurance against the threat of US-style emissions regulations in Europe. The first V4 96s produced 55bhp and 65bhp, and usefully boosted performance. Top speed was now over 90mph. It was in this form that the 96 remained to the end, gaining more equipment and impact absorbing bumpers before finally being retired in 1980.

5) Saab Sonnet II/III

The Sonett was an unusual addition to the Saab line-up. The Bjorn Karlstrom-penned two-seater coupé was powered initially by the 96’s two-stroke but in 1967 received Ford’s unlovely V4 power for increased performance. The Sonett II made way for the heavily-revised, Sergio Coggiola-styled Sonett III in 1970. The new car retained the same centre section and, despite a more powerful 1.7-litre V4, it delivered near identical performance due to its extra heft. The Sonett was phased out in 1974, having failed to find favour in the lucrative Stateside market.