“See Where They Rust” is a series and category where we feature listings that do a particularly good job displaying where certain models tend to suffer from rust. We love looking for rust-free cars, but we have learned a ton about how to inspect the dry cars from looking at photos of heavily rusted models. Obviously floors and rocker panels are always at risk, but every model has different special areas where they corrode. We hope that this series is informative and helpful when you are verifying the claims of sellers and their “99% rust free” cars. -BaT

This 1958 Saab 93B (chassis 58527) is described as a stalled but 95% complete restoration project, the ad noting that its three cylinder two-stroke still turns freely. Though not nearly as rusty as is typical for a See Where They Rust post, the car has clearly undergone quite a bit of metalwork, evidence of which remains and points towards where one may want to be on the lookout for corrosion when considering a similar project. Find it here on eBay in Export, Pennsylvania with no reserve.

Fenders, hood, trunk lid and many other parts appear to be missing, and we suspect the seller’s percentage estimate of its completeness may be optimistic. These tires are thought to have been added around 2000, after which the now-elderly gentleman responsible for prior restoration work lost interest.

Here’s the rear. These early cars share a similar shape to later and much less scarce 96’s, however their simpler detailing lends them a more elegant, timeless style. Note the rear-hinged doors.

This corner where the wheel well/inner fender and rockers meet on the front left shows what looks like post-storage developed rot. Or, maybe it was there all along and just never tended to.

This seems to be a mirror image showing the right side just aft of the front wheel.

Looking deeper inside the front suspension, this front driver’s side shot shows what may be a previously patched panel looking a bit tired.

Here’s the left rear inner fender. Repair work looks effective if not pretty.

The opposite side shows evidence of similar work.

The engine bay looks good. Ironically the battery tray looks rock-solid.

Floors appear to be in good shape as well. Check out what looks like extensive repairs along inner rear fender and rocker seams.

This shot shows that parts of the floor pan have been fixed as well. Work extends to the passenger side also and can be seen in additional photos within the ad. We can’t blame the would-be restorer for eventually losing interest–it must have taken a ton of work just to get this far. Hopefully the car finds someone to finish the job and get it back to popping and belching blue smoke all over the road.

This 1966 Saab 96 looks a bit rough and is sold without a title, however its triple carb three cylinder two-stroke does run and the seller claims to have driven it around the block. Bodywork will need attention, but provided serious rust is limited this could be a really cool project for very little cash. Find it here on Craigslist in Englewood, Colorado for $800.

This 1970 Saab 99 is offered as a non-running project, the seller noting that it last ran a few years ago after its later, swapped 2.0 had a new head and water pump installed. Brake calipers were also rebuilt, but the master cylinder still needs work and limited rust repair and bodywork is needed as well. Sale includes standard steel wheels or soccer balls for $100 more–another $400 will buy a mint set of Minilite-style Goldvanes. Find it here on Craigslist in Saint Joseph, Michigan for $1k. Special thanks to BaT reader Lee K. for this submission.

This 1961 Volvo PV544 is offered with only one line of written information but looks quite nice in photos. It’s said to run well and be in nice condition, and apart from incorrectly chromed air cleaner housings and rocker cover it seems to be nearly all stock. These old Volvos are solid, reliable, easy to work on and just as simple to tune, all things which make them great first-time classics. Find this one here on Craigslist in Marion, Indiana for $12k. Special thanks to BaT reader Tim M. for this submission.

Paint, chrome and glass all appear to be very good. We’d guess it’s a recent restoration.

The interior presents well with nice upholstery, a clean dash and decent looking carpet as well. The radio and shift knob aren’t strictly correct, but neither are serious offenders.

1962 saw this earlier car’s B16 replaced by the larger B18, however both motors are nearly indestructible if treated properly and parts availability remains strong.

As long as it’s not hiding any serious structural, electrical or mechanical issues this seems like a good one.

This 1996 Volvo 850R sedan is definitely one of the best looking and lowest mileage examples we have seen on offer. The seller has taken nice care of it, and gives a good description, mentioning that extensive servicing was done at 70k miles. Find it here on Craigslist in Hoover, Alabama for $6800. Special thanks to BaT reader Long N. for this submission.

The seller say that the car was professionally detailed last year, and that the sale is forced by his moving out of the country. No VIN is supplied for us to Google or check a CarFax. The wheels are the nice looking Volans, and are a lighter silver than most, which the seller notes was an option. We like it.

The interior looks very clean, and the R-spec alcantara  sport seats are a great design.

The engine bay looks similarly clean, and the timing belt was changed 6k miles ago.

This 1976 Saab 99 GL is offered by the person who bought it new. He hasn’t driven it in five years, and says the tires are dry, but that the car runs and has never been in an accident. Find it here on Saabnet in Spring Grove, Pennsylvania for $2900. Special thanks to BaT reader Gary W. for this submission.

This 1965 Volvo 122S Amazon 4-door shows how nice these cars can look when modestly lowered in a nice color combo like this powder blue over black interior. The car has a nice body and the seller has chosen some cool period items to differentiate if from all the stock version… particularly the big Bosch driving lights, the cool logo mud flaps, and a model specific roof rack. Find it here on Craigslist in Eugene, Oregon for $7500. Special thanks to BaT reader Steven M. for this submission.

This car has a clean dash, 4-speed trans, and nice, non-brown upholstery, so that sets it apart from many lesser 122’s. The steering wheel shows some separation, but we like that the horn ring has been retained. We think it would be cool to add a 123GT tach to the dash even though it is a sedan.

We would usually go with silver steel wheels and black-wall tires, but must admit that this set-up is striking on a light colored car. The inboard lamps are larger and better looking than those that were mounted outboard on the GTs.

The engine bay is very clean but painted gloss black where it originally would have had body color. That isn’t the end of the world. We like the look of the velocity stacks, but would recommend some sort of filtering for the sometimes-dirt surfaces where we would want to take the car.

This is a cool looking model and if the floors and trunk check out as not being rusty, we’d say that an offer near the asking wouldn’t be out of line. Instead of the Volvo overdrive, we’d drop in an adapter T5 transmission to give the car better freeway viability, and then start forwarding paychecks to eBay sellers and iPd to further enhance the car.

This 1974 Volvo 142 2-door was built by the seller taking many of his favorite components from different years of the model. The result is great, and it is capped off by a custom turbocharged and intercooled B20 engine mated to a T5 5-speed transmission. The body was re-painted in the factory color and all of the modifications are well thought out. The seller has perfect feedback and sounds like he knows the car very well. Find it here on eBay in Ohio. Special thanks to BaT reader Chip E. for this submission.

The medium blue color looks great on the car, and the seller notes that the GT front grille with integrated lights is a very rare piece. The front has been converted to a smaller bumper, but the rear retains its large ’74 spec unit. A smaller rear bumper might be cool, and upon our first quick view we thought we’d want to lose the rear spoiler, but the seller says that it is a genuine item like those used on the 242 touring cars, so that gives it a solid reason to stay. Wheel make isn’t mentioned but they look good and remind us of Dinan BMW wheels with their gray finish.

The interior was grabbed from a later 242GT. It is a good stock look that will appeal to Volvo purists and we like the iconic headrest design. This is a factory sunroof car as well.

The engine bay looks very clean and the Garrett turbo plumbing looks custom. Fuel injection is likewise purpose matched to the set-up and the intercooler is a water-to-air unit.

This is a great looking car and pre-smog for California buyers. It would make a great driver or event car. We especially love that the sale will include an interaction with the actual builder who knows so much about the details.

This 1965 Volvo P210 was imported by the seller 20 years ago and is said to be the only one of its kind in the United States. Although the ad doesn’t say anything about how the B18 runs, a professional restoration is mentioned along with recent sorting of the brakes and carburetor. It looks great and we can’t say that we’ve seen another, even in photos. Find it here on Hemmings in Bridgewater, New Jersey for $60k or best offer.

Interior and exterior are both in excellent condition. Seats, dash, and door cards all look like new, and black paint has a consistent mirror finish with no visible flaws. Even the “cargo” area looks good despite some scratches on the floor. Our usual trusted resource for coachbuilt vehicles didn’t have anything on Heinel, but another article at Hemmings does seem to provide more detailed information about this car.

With a single SU the B18’s 75hp doesn’t seem like nearly enough power for the extended wheelbase and extra weight, although 45k miles are noted and we’re guessing the majority of those weren’t covered during Swedish funerals. The 4-speed is nice too.

Both the front and rear end look to have had their share of wear but the underside of the car is otherwise clean.

We’ll leave it to the die-hard Duett fans to determine if rarity justifies the ask here but as clean as it is this Volvo is certainly a cool sight.

Yesterday was another strong BaT Auctions finish with 10 of 12 vehicles sold. That was the first time that 10 cars have sold in one week. This week we present 12 new listings and one of our most eclectic groups yet!

Their detailed descriptions and the complete results archive can be found here.

This 1989 Volvo 240 wagon (VIN YV1AX8851K1822201) has been heavily modified and looks great, the seller noting that car served as a prototype test bed for noted Portland-based Volvo tuner R-Sport International. We love the idea of a clean appliance white over blue cloth longroof 240 packing more than 400 RWHP, and the fact that this one retains Volvo power makes it especially cool. Find it here on eBay in Portland, Oregon with a $12k BIN.

The car looks quite clean overall, though the ad does state that paint is original and imperfect when viewed up close. 17” snowflake style wheels are well chosen, but we’d dial in some more ride height for functionality’s sake.

The interior looks well cared for and features big, matching blue Sparco seats and harnesses in front, while other mods include a small steering wheel from the same company, a touchscreen wideband O2 sensor monitor and a VDO boost gauge.

Suspension upgrades consist of RSI coilovers, adjustable rear spring perch kit and poly bushings, while mods from other companies include a 28mm IPD front sway bar and Noltec camber plates. 13″ front brakes are also mentioned.

Power comes from a heavily built, RSI-assembled 2.5 stroker B230F running a billet crank, H-beam rods, turbo tune pistons, prototype Stage 2 cylinder head, Stage 3 cam prototype, a Holset/Garrett hybrid turbo and more detailed in the ad. Output varies from 325 to 427 HP at the wheels depending on tune, and the motor certainly sounds built to withstand high boost.

This 1968 Saab Sonett (chassis 0980) is said to have original white paint and is an late open headlight model with V4 power. The seller has documentation from new and is the third owner. He bought the car in Oregon and drove it to Texas, and removed the drivetrain himself to re-seal the transmission and make other fixes. Find it here on Craigslist in Mckinney, Texas for $11,500.

Any Sonett on hubcaps looks cool, and the paint on this one is plenty good for an event or rally car. These cars are so uncommon that even in this basic white it will draw quite a bit of attention. The seller has enlisted Jack Ashcraft to rebuild some components and he says the metal is nearly rust free.

We had a great time driving and working on our Sonett. They are very cheap and parts are plentiful enough on eBay to keep you covered since so many are non-running and being parted out.

This 1960 Saab 93F (chassis 74371) has new brakes and recently patched floors, but the seller notes that metalwork wasn’t done to a very high standard. A two-stroke model, it runs, drives and is said to have solid suspension mounting points, but the fuel tank needs work and additional cosmetic sorting is still needed. Find it here on eBay in Ogunquit, Maine with no reserve beyond an unmet $4,800 opening bid.

Glass is described as good, and the seller adds that the car is largely complete apart from some missing exterior trim. The gas tank still needs to be cleaned, or possibly replaced if mentioned perforations at its top are irreparable.

The interior has been partially restored already and looks pretty decent, however carpets still need work. Most electrics work, and the clutch and trans are said to be in good working order as well.

These old two stroke Saabs are really quirky and full of interesting mechanical and design features, and count among the most fun slow cars we’ve ever had the good luck to drive. Provided remaining rust isn’t too bad it might be a good restoration candidate.

This 1992 Corvette (VIN 1G1YY23P3N5114173) wears adapted 1967 Volvo 1800S bodywork, making for what’s probably one of the weirdest mashups we’ve ever seen. The ad says that a real Volvo was used in construction, so we gather that bodywork is likely a mix of metal and fiberglass. Weird. Find it here on eBay in Portage, Indiana with a $45k BIN. Special thanks to BaT reader Latest Trend for this submission.

The car remains titled as a ‘Vette, and though bodywork looks to be of a good quality, the finished product is less than entirely successful. That said, it looks better than we’d expect if you described it to us over the phone. We’ve unfortunately seen plenty of those C1 and C2 bodies stretched over a C4 or C5 chassis, and they generally look terrible.

The interior is still standard issue GM, and looks to be in decent condition considering the C4’s rather abysmal cabin fittings quality and high 178k miles. Note the automatic gear shift and weird faux rear side window.

All Corvette underneath, the car is said to remain 100% functional including A/C.

We think an LS-swapped 1800 would make more sense, but still can’t help but be impressed by the builder’s confidence. It took guts to fund, and it’d take guts to be seen in too. That said, trolling Volvo meets could be worth the price of entry alone.

This 1974 Saab Sonett ends in just a few hours and seems to be going awfully cheap. It was supposedly restored by an aircraft engineer former owner, and red is a rare color to see on this model. We like the rocker panel stripes and black interior instead of the brown that we had in our ’72. Find it here on eBay in Barrie, Ontario, Canada. Special thanks to BaT reader Robert R. for this submission.

The 74 cars got the ugly and heavy crash bumpers, but also had some cool refinements. The soccer ball alloys look good on this car, and we like the airplane mud flaps. The hood bulge looks larger than normal from this angle.

The 3-spoke steering wheel is stock, and that looks like an original dealer installed radio. The carpets don’t look original, but that is fine, as these look better than the stock material.

The coolant tank is super weird in these cars, and this one stands out sharply thanks to red paint.

This 1968 Saab 95 Wagon has only 46,000 miles but is recovering from a lengthy period of storage.  For sale by its second owner, it has been returned to strong running condition but is still in need of a cosmetic refresh.  Find it here on Craigslist in Richmond, VA for $5,000.

The interior is all original (note the dash-mounted rear view mirror) and could be made presentable fairly easily.  Sourcing or fitting a custom carpet kit would be first on our list after a deep clean detailing and replacing the damaged vinyl.  The exterior does look a little tired, and while a rust spot behind the dinged rear bumper needs attention, the rest of the body shows promise.

If mechanicals are truly sorted out well, then we’d rather get this fintail wagon back on the road than restore it to pristine condition.  Off and on commuter duty would make good use of the 3-cyl two-stroke engine, which is efficient and fun to drive with a freewheel and 4-speed manual on the column, but sluggish when loaded down with anywhere near a full load of cargo or 7 passengers.

This 1970 Saab 96 (chassis 96609925) is a Trollhattan factory built rally car ordered new by its ex-dealer seller and original owner. The car sounds very well specced with a ported, big valve head V4 running twin carbs, a street cam, Sonett ring and pinion-equipped LSD and more detailed in the ad. Said to be extremely easy to drive tail out in the loose stuff, sale includes a large collection of spares including engines and various driveline pieces, the seller further noting that it’s never been wrecked. Find it here on SaabNet in Saluda, Virginia for $20k OBO. Special thanks to BaT reader Konrad K. for this submission.

This 1966 Saab Monte Carlo 850 (chassis 398626) is offered as a 90% complete vintage racer project, the seller noting that it’s spent some time on a rotisserie and is now completely rust free. These old two stroke, three cylinder cars are a blast to drive, and with serious motorsport heritage they looks equally at home on track or on the gravel stage. Find this one here on eBay in Tonganoxie, Kansas for $6,500 OBO.

Minilite style wheels are similar to those optional on the 99, and though they’re well chosen here, the remaining lower rocker trim needs to go. We’d finish off the nose in matching white and add some number roundels to the doors.

The interior features a very serious looking eight point cage and quick-release steering wheel. A Sonett floor change has been retrofitted, but if a column change was good enough for Mr. Carlsson on the Roof then it’s good enough for any of us.

The little triple has been completely rebuilt with a specialist provided performance crank, Saab works-spec ported block, a custom-built, hi-po expansion chamber and more detailed in the ad. Suspension consists of race springs, adjustable Konis and adjustable rear perches, while front brakes have been substantially upgraded with 9000 rotors and MkII 900 calipers.

Here’s the fuel cell in back. Though it’s never been driven in its current state, the seller says it runs great with perhaps a half hour total engine time. We’re not sure how’d they’ve been able to resist taking it on a few short shakedown blasts, but we’d be happy to perform this task ourselves.

This 1963 Volvo Other P1800 has been partially restored and equipped with a low mileage JDM import Miata motor and 5-speed manual. A running, driving project, the car is said to be rust-free and sounds to have good bones but needs final detail sorting including brakes and cosmetics. Find it here on eBay in Hillsboro, Oregon with reserve not met. Special thanks to BaT reader Robert G. for this submission.

These BMW-sourced BBS wheels look OK, but standard steelies with hubcaps are also available and might be a better choice until some Minilites could be sourced. Dark blue is always a good color, but finish is tired and could stand to be redone. Note the tucked, overrider-less front bumper.

The interior looks nice at a glance, but some missing trim parts and dead gauges are noted in the ad. The tach works, however the speedo has a jumpy needle and modern, high back leather front seats aren’t a great match in our opinion. Added sound insulation is also mentioned briefly, and these cars’ OEM aqua-centered gauges are never disappoint.

It sounds as if the seller had ambitions to finish the car to a very degree at one point, and the super-tidy engine bay is a clear indication of their previous, now-scaled back plans. Minimal modification was required to make the Miata mill fit, and the seller says it always starts easily and shows excellent, 190 PSI compression across all cylinders. All seals and gaskets as well as the timing belt and water pump were replaced prior to installation.

Brakes are manual with discs in front and drums and rear, and though they’ll stop the car the seller says they take a big push. Plans were to install an LSD rear end and upgraded, vacuum boosted four wheel discs, both of which sound like a good idea to us.

This 1985 Saab 900 Turbo (VIN VS3AT45L0F1034926) is on offer by its second owner who has used it as their daily driver for the last several months. Described as a rust free example with under 40k miles, the seller says its odometer reader is verifiable through a vehicle history report and adds that the car is now a reliable driver after quite a bit of sorting detailed further below. Find it here on eBay in Lexington, Kentucky with a $6,800 BIN.

Paint is original, though the roof, hood and rockers stand to be resprayed. Inca wheels are wrapped in new rubber, however the originals are included as well. The seller has a rare, sedan specific rubber OEM rear spoiler but has been hesitant to drill the trunk–we think it’d look great.

Like with nearly all 900’s (even garaged cars like this one is claimed to have always been), the dash is badly cracked but a nice-fitting pad covers up the damage. Said to be fully functional apart from cruise control, this includes cold blowing, modern refrigerant converted A/C, power windows and the OEM Clarion cassette deck and graphic equalizer.

Mechanical work includes fitment of new front brake calipers, a new emergency brake cable and a complete tuneup with fresh Bosch spark plugs, wires, distributor cap and rotor. Additionally, all fluids have been changed including a coolant system flush.

Any other kind of green over tan sedan with massive overhangs and gawky styling would be pretty low on our list of cars we’d like to own, but then those cars aren’t pre-GM Turbo Saabs either.