Wanderlust

Tag: Ruby Red

  • EU Market Find: Rare Saab 900 Turbo S Ruby Edition Hits Market in Netherlands

    EU Market Find: Rare Saab 900 Turbo S Ruby Edition Hits Market in Netherlands

    What: 1993 Saab 900 Turbo S Ruby Edition
    Color: Ruby Red (rubinröd; metallic uni; 242; Saab)
    Chassis #: YS3AD35
    Mileage: 197,500 km / 122,720
    Price: €37,995
    CarFax: N/A
    Window Sticker: N/A
    Location: Doetinchem, The Netherlands
    Seller Listing: Link

    Why We Love It:

    Nothing says 1980s quite like a Saab 900 Turbo. Back in the Reagan era and even then quirky, Saabs came into vogue for their unique shape, hatchback and early use of turbochargers… not to mention kitschy yet trademark three-spoke wheel designs. The Swedish brand from Trollhättan built a cult-like following, long before being purchased by GM and later shuttered by GM during the great recession.

    All that serves to make an already obscure car even more obscure in the collectors market. Throw in an UK-market super limited edition (converted to left hand drive for your non-UK driving pleasure) and you have, what we’d argue, achieved peak obscurity. Enter the Saab 900 Turbo S Ruby Edition.

    The year was 1993, and Saab UK wanted to do something special. The idea was a special edition model limited to just 150 units. With no intentions of homologation or anything like that, the plan was basically a color and trim package, but from a brand that didn’t offer many limited editions it was and remains a highly collectible thing amongst Saab-o-philes.

    At its center is the Ruby Red paint, from which it draws its name. It also got a unique Bridge of Weir Scottish ‘Buffalo’ leather upholstery with ruby-matching Zegna wool inserts [1]. The original Ruby Edition also got color-coded bumpers and grey three-spoke wheels rather than silver [2] in order to set it apart from other period Saab 900 offerings in the UK. From the factory, the car boasted the brand’s turbocharged 16-valve 4-cylinder tuned to 185 bhp.

    While hardcore collectors may grouse, those seeking this car as a drivable classic will likely appreciate the primarily OEM plus modifications you’ll find in the listing linked above. These include the aforementioned left hand drive conversion, and also European bumpers, Aero skirts and GT specs, 16-inch Saab Aero wheels with polished rims, engine upgrades to about 225 hp, Saab 9000 front brakes, OEM rear wiper retrofit, OEM exterior temperature gauge, Bilstein shocks, Blaupunkt Radio, LED dash lights and headlights, OEM third brake light from Saab 900 Classic and more. The seller even lists that he’s got louvered slats for the rear window if that’s desired.

    This is one of our Euro market finds, so the usual caveats apply for our primarily North American readership. For Europe and other markets, we focus on cars older than 25 years, meaning a relatively easy import into the USA. This is often done by working with firms such as our friends at Orchid Euro, you can have the car purchased, transported to port, shipped to America and cleared through customs for clients seeking this sort of service.

  • Color Chart: 1994 Audi RS2

    Color Chart: 1994 Audi RS2

    The Audi RS2 Avant remains the stuff of fantasy thanks to its limited production by Porsche and its form as an Audi station wagon. Paired with quattro all-wheel drive, the car reached legend status as tuned versions outran supercars like the Ferrari F40 in period.

    We’ve gotten our hands on the 1994 product catalogue via AutoCatalogArchive.com and so are able to index each of the standard colors for that year. Some Audi specially painted models are known to exist in this time when Audi exclusive was a very rare thing. Most of those deviating cars appear to be using the Audi Lifestyle Colors, though we’ve always wondered if Porsche had built any Paint to Sample versions in their own hues.

    As we run across either, we’ll highlight them here on this blog, but here are the standard colors for now. Worth noting, the scan of this catalogue is not terribly true-to-color, so we’re using this more as a reference of what colors were offered as standard and not what those colors look like on the actual cars.

  • Market Find: Rare Ruby Red 1994 Audi RS2 Hits Market in Austria

    Market Find: Rare Ruby Red 1994 Audi RS2 Hits Market in Austria

    At the time of the Audi RS2 Avant built by Porsche for the brand of the four rings, Audi exclusive wasn’t really a fully formed service yet and custom paint, while it occurred, was few and far between. Fortunately, Audi did offer plenty of color options despite the rarity of the Porsche-built Avant, and Ruby Red (rubinrot; pearl effect; X6; Audi) was one of those colors.

    Most enthusiasts, even in North America where the car was never sold from new, are familiar with the RS2 and likely have seen it in more common colors like RS Blue Pearl Effect (M8, now Nogaro Blue), Laser Red (H1), Polar Silver (D1), Ragusa Metallic green (Y7).

    Eleven paint colors were offered in all, and it’s probably surprising that Ruby Red (a.k.a. Rubinrot) wasn’t more popular. It’s not far from Porsche’s Arena Red, another dark metallic red from the 964 and 993 era made famous in the iconic “Kills Bugs Fast” print advertisement.

    Despite the Porsche association and the popularity of Arena Red, not many RS2s were ordered in Ruby Red. So, when one ops up on the internet in what looks like a private party sale (seen here on Autoscout.de) we think it’s worth calling out.

    Notably, this car has reportedly logged 119,000 km (73,943) miles, which appears to be well below the mileage we typically see on RS2 Avants. It also appears to be largely stock, another rare occurrence in the used RS2 market. For collectors, this one would be notable in any color due to these factors.

    Notably, it does appear to show some wear on the driver’s seat grey Alcantara surface. The listing (translated in full below) also indicates a respray by the car’s original owner in Germany. All-in-all though, that’s not much… so long as the notoriously low resolution photos typical on European mass car sale sites like Autoscout are accurate.

    The full listing with translation by Apple can be seen below:

    In the rare original color ruby red
    *Repainting would be done at the previous owner in De
    *Grey/Wise Alcantara Equipment.( In this color / equipment combination there should only be 4 pieces)
    *with Austrian individual approval year 2020, DE first delivery
    *Engine, chassis, brakes ……. Series, no tuning!

    Selling for time reasons because I also ride a motorcycle!
    It’s too bad that it usually just stands, in the last 4 years I haven’t driven 1000 kilometers with it!
    Only recently (2024) a large service would be carried out such as B. timing belt change, engine oil + filter etc…. with invoice.

    First contact only possible by mail and if you are seriously interested you can leave me your phone number! I will then contact you personally by phone or Whatsapp.
    After contacting us, even more photos and a tour video can be sent via WhatsApp.
    Will only be given to real lovers / connoisseurs or collectors who know their way around and appreciate a vehicle!

    Preferred sale in Germany, vehicle should remain in Austria if possible.
    Always remember, the vehicle is already 30 years old (oldtimer) and of course has normal signs of use.

    Please only contact us if you are seriously interested and have a suitable financial background.
    Possible exchange as a down payment if it is an everyday car such as an Audi A1/S1 or A3, from year of construction 2013 with a maximum of 150.tkm (each 2.0 liter engine: from 150hp diesel or from 190hp petrol)
    If you are seriously interested, simply make an offer and if it is reasonable, I will contact you at short notice.
    Mfg Markus