For Saab enthusiasts across Europe, the name Zanetti Omero S.n.c. carries special weight. This family-run business, founded in 1982 and linked to the then Italian importer SIDAUTO, built a reputation as a fully authorized sales and service center during the years when Saab had a strong presence in the Italian market.
In the Italian city of Pordenone The Zanetti Omero showroom was established in 1982 in the small town of Pordenone and quickly became a central hub for Saab enthusiasts in Italy and beyond. Through collaboration with the importer SIDAUTO, they built a reputation as a reliable partner and top expert for Saab vehicles.
What sets Zanetti Omero apart from most former Saab representatives is uninterrupted continuity, even after 2011. While many across Europe abandoned the brand or shut down their Saab operations, this service center retained the technical knowledge, tools, and capacity needed to maintain these vehicles, remaining one of the few active Saab centers in Italy.
Therefore, their latest discovery does not have the character of a promotional story or a curated collection, but represents an authentic field find, documented by people who still work with Saab vehicles on a daily basis.
It all started with a tip from the SaabWay Club Italy network, which continues to track and uncover hidden cars beyond the visible market. Based on this information, Zanetti Omero located a locked garage and gained access to a space that, according to available evidence, can be described as a true anomaly.
Two gems in the garage Inside the garage were two Saab 9000 Turbo models that had never been registered, driven, or used. According to Zanetti, the vehicles had remained locked away since the late 1980s, practically frozen in time for over three decades. They were not restored or deliberately preserved—they were simply left behind. It is precisely this fact that gives this discovery special technical and historical significance.
The identity of the vehicles further confirms their authenticity. They are a 1987 Saab 9000 Turbo in white with just 242 kilometers, and a 1988 Saab 9000 CD Turbo in blue with only 61 kilometers on the odometer. The instrument readings, interior condition, and original materials clearly indicate that the cars have remained practically untouched, while the engine compartments appear complete and without signs of intervention.
Particularly significant is that, according to reports, the engines are not seized, and the electrical systems show signs of functionality. This means that these cars, despite decades of inactivity, have not been reduced to static exhibits but still represent mechanically maintainable units. In this sense, these are not low-mileage vehicles, but cars that never even began their lifespan on the road.
The very environment in which they were found further clarifies their condition, but not their story. The garage does not look like a controlled storage space but rather an abandoned work environment where tools were left in place, with no preservation measures taken. A layer of dust and traces of long-term inactivity confirm that the space had been untouched for decades.
Models from the early production phase Such a scenario is not unknown in Europe, where many small workshops or private owners simply ceased operations, leaving vehicles behind without formal closure. However, what sets this case apart is the exceptional condition of the cars themselves.
A key question remains unanswered: why were these two Saab 9000 Turbos never registered or delivered, even though they were fully functional? It is precisely this mystery that further amplifies the significance of the entire discovery.
The discovered specimens belong to the early production phase of the Saab 9000 model, before later modifications that affected materials and technical details. As a result, they now represent rare, almost reference examples for understanding the original construction and characteristics of this model.