Backstory
SAAB realized it needed to fill the gap left by discontinuing the 96 and tried selling the Lancia Autobianchi A 112 in Scandinavia. The program was not very successful with customers demanding the return of an updated, robust, low cost and familiar SAAB 96.
Another Lancia still in its design stages seemed a likely candidate for a Saab import to fill the gap. Its construction could still be steered in some areas to make it suitable for Scandinavian conditions. Cooperation was soon started, and a Scandinavian version was prepared to be sold under the name Saab-Lancia 600. Sales started during spring 1980. The first years it was sold as GLS and the exclusive GLE, but due to poor sales due to the high price tag, the GLE-model was later dropped from the lineup. It was offered only with the 1.5-litre engine that had 85 horsepower connected to a manual 5-speed gearbox.
Again, customers balked and demanded an updated version of the SAAB 96. In response, SAAB quietly began a search for a new powerplant as the foundation of a SAAB 96 reintroduction.
Another Lancia still in its design stages seemed a likely candidate for a Saab import to fill the gap. Its construction could still be steered in some areas to make it suitable for Scandinavian conditions. Cooperation was soon started, and a Scandinavian version was prepared to be sold under the name Saab-Lancia 600. Sales started during spring 1980. The first years it was sold as GLS and the exclusive GLE, but due to poor sales due to the high price tag, the GLE-model was later dropped from the lineup. It was offered only with the 1.5-litre engine that had 85 horsepower connected to a manual 5-speed gearbox.
Again, customers balked and demanded an updated version of the SAAB 96. In response, SAAB quietly began a search for a new powerplant as the foundation of a SAAB 96 reintroduction.
