Cars

Man casually starts a Saab 95 after it had been rotting in a forest for 55 years

Published on Dec 31, 2025 at 11:11 PM (UTC+4)
by Claire Reid

Last updated on Dec 31, 2025 at 2:27 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by Kate Bain

When this man unearthed a 1961 Saab 95 that had been sitting in a Swedish forest for 55 years, he managed to bring it roaring back to life. 

It’s amazing what you can find rotting away in a forest, just ask the guys who discovered an abandoned DeLorean DMC-12, or the North Carolina man who found one of the rarest Dodge Chargers ever made. 

Over in Sweden, YouTuber Hampus Granström recently came across a long-forgotten Saab 95. 

The car had been parked there for so long, it had pretty much been reclaimed by nature – but that wasn’t enough to put the YouTuber off rescuing it. 

DISCOVER SBX CARS – The global premium auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie 

The 1961 Saab 95 had to be cut out of the forest

The 95 was produced by the now-defunct Saab Automobile between 1959 and 1978 as a successor to the Saab 93.

Earlier models, like the one Hampus found, were fitted with an 841-cubic-inch three-cylinder two-stroke engine, which was replaced by a four-stroke V4 from 1967 onwards. 

A man unearthed a 1961 Saab 95 that had been sitting in a Swedish forest for 55 years, and managed to bring it roaring back to life, like it was no big deal
Hampus Granström

As you’d expect, these older models are a rarer find, so when the YouTuber discovered one abandoned in a forest in Jokkmokk, Northern Sweden, he decided to try and bring it back to life. 

But first things first, he had to remove it from the forest, and that wasn’t an easy task. 

Hampus had to fire up a chainsaw to start cutting down trees to get near the Saab. 

A man unearthed a 1961 Saab 95 that had been sitting in a Swedish forest for 55 years, and managed to bring it roaring back to life, like it was no big deal
Hampus Granström

After so long parked, the car had sunk into the ground, so it needed to be jacked up and the tires replaced. 

Finally, with the car now moving again, Hampus was able to tow it away to take a better look at the engine, which had very clearly seen better days.

But the car lover wasn’t going to let that put him off.

A man unearthed a 1961 Saab 95 that had been sitting in a Swedish forest for 55 years, and managed to bring it roaring back to life, like it was no big deal
Hampus Granström

He then got to work removing the accessory drive belt and fan shaft, before carefully unscrewing the head bolts from the vintage engine and then not-so-carefully hitting it with a hammer to free the head.

The Saab’s two-stroke engine is a fighter

After spending hours repairing and restoring the engine, the YouTuber decided to take the 1961 Saab 95 out for a test drive.

And somewhat miraculously, the three-cylinder, two-stroke engine fired up, and the classic car was able to hit the road for the first time in more than 50 years. 

But getting the engine up and running is only half the battle.

The car will need a full restoration to get it looking as good as it once was – here’s hoping Hampus is the man to do it.

DISCOVER SBX CARS: The global premium car auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie

Claire Reid is a journalist who hails from the UK but is now living in New Zealand. She began her career after graduating with a degree in Journalism from Liverpool John Moore’s University and has more than a decade of experience, writing for both local newspapers and national news sites. Claire covers a wide variety of topics, with a special focus on cars, technology, planes, cryptocurrency, and luxury.