Saab 95: which version to buy (1 generation, 1959–1978)
If the choice is among the three Saab 95 versions in this catalogue, the arithmetic is simple. There is only 1 generation (1959–1978, Estate 3-door), so you are not choosing a later body or a restyle — you are choosing among 0.8 MT (38 hp), 1.5 MT (65 hp), and 1.5 MT (68 hp). The two 1.5 MT cars share a name; they must be told apart by power.
If the choice is among the three Saab 95 versions in this catalogue, the arithmetic is simple. There is only 1 generation (1959–1978, Estate 3-door), so you are not choosing a later body or a restyle — you are choosing among 0.8 MT (38 hp), 1.5 MT (65 hp), and 1.5 MT (68 hp). The two 1.5 MT cars share a name; they must be told apart by power. 0–100 km/h, mpg, CO2, eco class, and gross weight are not measured on any version, so the decision rests on horsepower, torque, displacement, kerb weight, top speed where it exists, and what is left blank.
Which Saab 95 version to buy
Buy 0.8 MT (38 hp) if the brief is the smallest engine and the lightest kerb: 841 cm³, 38 hp (28 kW) at 4250 rpm, 81 Nm at 3000 rpm, kerb 905 kg, top speed 120. Power per litre is 38 / 0.841 ≈ 45.2 hp/L. Weight per horsepower is 905 / 38 ≈ 23.8 kg/hp — the heaviest load per horsepower of the three. Versus 1.5 MT (65 hp) you give up 27 hp (about 71% less), 34 Nm (about 42% less torque), 657 cm³, and 35 of top speed (120 vs 155). You save 41 kg of kerb (905 vs 946, about 4.5%). Engine layout is Inline, 3 cylinders, Front, longitudinal — different hardware from both 1.5 MT cars.
Buy 1.5 MT (65 hp) if you want the only 1.5 MT with a measured top speed and a measured kerb. It is 1498 cm³, 65 hp (48 kW) at 4600 rpm, 115 Nm at 2500 rpm, 4 cylinders V-shaped, 2 valves per cylinder, Front, transverse, kerb 946 kg, top speed 155. Power per litre is 65 / 1.498 ≈ 43.4 hp/L — slightly below 0.8 MT (45.2 hp/L), so the extra power comes from displacement, not from a denser output. Weight per horsepower is 946 / 65 ≈ 14.6 kg/hp, about 9.3 kg/hp lighter than 0.8 MT (23.8 kg/hp). Versus 1.5 MT (68 hp) you are 3 hp and 2 kW down (65 vs 68, 48 vs 50 kW; about 4.6% less power) at the same 115 Nm, same 1498 cm³, same compression 9, same bore/stroke 90 × 58.86. What 1.5 MT (65 hp) has that 1.5 MT (68 hp) does not: fuel 92, top speed 155, kerb 946 kg, rear suspension Independent, spring, rear brakes Drum, and valves per cylinder 2.
Buy 1.5 MT (68 hp) if the only number you want to maximise is peak power among these three: 68 hp (50 kW) at 4700 rpm. That is +3 hp and +100 rpm versus 1.5 MT (65 hp), and +30 hp versus 0.8 MT. Power per litre is 68 / 1.498 ≈ 45.4 hp/L, the highest of the three and almost the same density as 0.8 MT (45.2 hp/L) on a larger engine. Torque stays 115 Nm at 2500 rpm — the extra 3 hp is not extra twist. Compression stays 9. Layout stays 4 cylinders V-shaped, Front, transverse, Carburetor, No boost, Manual 4, FWD, tank 38, ground clearance 190. What you do not get, because it is not measured on this version: fuel grade, 0–100, top speed, mpg, kerb, gross weight, valves per cylinder, rear suspension, rear brakes, CO2, eco class, wheels. Weight per horsepower cannot be calculated. If you need those fields filled, this is the worse 1.5 MT on paper even though it is the strongest on the hp line.
There is no second generation to “buy newer.” All three versions are dated 1959-01-01 to 1978-12-31 on the same Estate 3-door.
Saab 95 generations: what changed (and what did not)
1 generation (1959–1978) is the whole catalogue: 3 versions, body Estate 3-door. Restyling is not listed as a separate generation.
What is the same on every version that reports the field: Gasoline, Carburetor, No boost, Manual, 4 gears, FWD, tank 38, ground clearance 190, front suspension Independent, spring, front brakes Disc, fuel 92 where measured. 0–100, city/highway/combined consumption, CO2, eco class, gross weight, and wheel size are not measured on all three.
What actually splits the buy:
| Field | 0.8 MT (38 hp) | 1.5 MT (65 hp) | 1.5 MT (68 hp) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 841 | 1498 | 1498 |
| hp / kW / rpm | 38 / 28 / 4250 | 65 / 48 / 4600 | 68 / 50 / 4700 |
| Nm / rpm | 81 / 3000 | 115 / 2500 | 115 / 2500 |
| Cylinders / layout | 3 / Inline | 4 / V-shaped | 4 / V-shaped |
| Valves per cylinder | not measured | 2 | not measured |
| Engine position | Front, longitudinal | Front, transverse | Front, transverse |
| Compression | 8.5 | 9 | 9 |
| Bore × stroke | 70 × 73 | 90 × 58.86 | 90 × 58.86 |
| Fuel | 92 | 92 | not measured |
| Top speed | 120 | 155 | not measured |
| Kerb | 905 | 946 | not measured |
| Rear suspension | Independent, spring | Independent, spring | not measured |
| Rear brakes | Drum | Drum | not measured |
The jump from 0.8 MT to either 1.5 MT is a different engine family in these data: 3 Inline Front, longitudinal versus 4 V-shaped Front, transverse, 841 versus 1498, compression 8.5 versus 9. The jump between the two 1.5 MT names is 3 hp and a pile of empty fields.
Saab 95 engine specs (all versions)
Exact names as in the database:
0.8 MT — 38 hp (28 kW) at 4250 rpm, 81 Nm at 3000 rpm, 841 cm³, Gasoline, 3 cylinders Inline, boost No, Manual 4, FWD.
1.5 MT — 65 hp (48 kW) at 4600 rpm, 115 Nm at 2500 rpm, 1498 cm³, Gasoline, 4 cylinders V-shaped, 2 valves per cylinder, boost No, Manual 4, FWD.
1.5 MT — 68 hp (50 kW) at 4700 rpm, 115 Nm at 2500 rpm, 1498 cm³, Gasoline, 4 cylinders V-shaped, valves per cylinder not measured, boost No, Manual 4, FWD.
Displacement ratio 1.5 MT / 0.8 MT = 1498 / 841 ≈ 1.78. Torque ratio 115 / 81 ≈ 1.42. Peak rpm is lowest on 0.8 MT (4250 hp / 3000 Nm) and highest on 1.5 MT (68 hp) for power (4700). Both 1.5 MT cars make peak torque 500 rpm earlier than 0.8 MT (2500 vs 3000).
Performance and mpg
0–100 km/h: not measured on 0.8 MT, 1.5 MT (65 hp), and 1.5 MT (68 hp). Do not treat silence as “no such figure exists for this class of car”; it is missing in this dataset.
Top speed: 120 on 0.8 MT; 155 on 1.5 MT (65 hp) — +35. 1.5 MT (68 hp): not measured. You cannot claim the 68 hp car is faster than 155; the field is empty.
Fuel consumption (city / highway / combined) and mpg: not measured on all three. Tank is 38 on all three, so range cannot be calculated from these data. CO2 and eco class: not measured on all three.
Fuel grade: 92 on 0.8 MT and 1.5 MT (65 hp); not measured on 1.5 MT (68 hp).
Dimensions, weight, and ground clearance
Kerb: 905 on 0.8 MT; 946 on 1.5 MT (65 hp); not measured on 1.5 MT (68 hp). Gross weight: not measured on all three. Ground clearance: 190 on all three — no generation or version buys extra height. Tank: 38 on all three. Wheel sizes: not measured on all three.
1.5 MT (65 hp) is 41 kg heavier than 0.8 MT for 27 hp more: 41 / 27 ≈ 1.5 kg of extra kerb per extra horsepower. That is a cheap weight penalty relative to the power step. Without a kerb for 1.5 MT (68 hp), you cannot say whether the last 3 hp came with more mass.
Front/rear suspension where measured: Independent, spring / Independent, spring. Rear suspension on 1.5 MT (68 hp): not measured. Front brakes: Disc on all three. Rear brakes: Drum on 0.8 MT and 1.5 MT (65 hp); not measured on 1.5 MT (68 hp).
Reliability, problems, and what the numbers do not buy
This catalogue does not score reliability, rust, parts, or known problems. Those topics are not measured. What the numbers do allow:
- Gearbox and drive do not change the decision: Manual 4 and FWD on every version.
- Boost does not change it: No on every version.
- Fuel system does not change it: Carburetor on every version.
- The only hardware fork that is fully documented is 0.8 MT versus the 1.5 MT pair (cylinders, layout, position, displacement, compression, bore × stroke).
- Between 1.5 MT (65 hp) and 1.5 MT (68 hp), the measured mechanical story is +3 hp, +2 kW, +100 rpm on the power peak, identical torque, identical 1498 cm³. The 68 hp row then goes blank on speed, mass, fuel, rear axle, and valves.
Which version: short ranking from these data
1. 1.5 MT (65 hp) — best documented “large” engine: 65 hp, 115 Nm, 155 top speed, 946 kg, 92 fuel, full chassis fields. Best weight-per-hp (≈14.6 kg/hp). 2. 0.8 MT (38 hp) — only choice if you want 841 cm³, 3 Inline, Front, longitudinal, and 905 kg. Worst weight-per-hp (≈23.8 kg/hp), lowest top speed (120), highest power density among fully weighed cars (≈45.2 hp/L). 3. 1.5 MT (68 hp) — highest peak power (68 hp, ≈45.4 hp/L) but not measured on top speed, kerb, fuel, rear suspension, and rear brakes. Choose it only for the 3 hp over the other 1.5 MT, not for a fuller spec sheet.
There is no price in these data, so “what the extra money buys” can only be read as what the extra displacement and extra horsepower buy: +657 cm³, +27 hp, +34 Nm, +35 top speed, and +41 kg from 0.8 MT to 1.5 MT (65 hp); then +3 hp and missing fields from 1.5 MT (65 hp) to 1.5 MT (68 hp).