Saab 600

The Saab 600 is a rebadged Lancia Delta, sold by Saab after a deal with Lancia.

The deal was a part of the 1980s co-operation between Swedish Saab Automobile and the Italian Fiat Group (which included Lancia and Alfa Romeo in addition to Fiat). The co-operation also resulted in the 'Type 4' project, which provided the common platforms for the Saab 9000, the Lancia Thema, the Fiat Croma and the Alfa Romeo 164).

The 600 was developed because, at the time, Saab did not have the finances to support the production of entirely new models and looked to other companies in order to provide a new model line-up.

Versions available were 1500 base, 1500 GL and 1500 GLS, as per Saab nomenclature of the era.The first years it was sold as GLS and the exclusive GLE, but due to poor sales because of the high price tag the GLE-model was later dropped from the lineup.

The "Saab 600" was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro and, in common with the company's other models, was a front-wheel drive and a hatchback, with a rallying pedigree. Saab helped with the design of the 600/Delta.Fact|date=August 2008 As a result of this Scandinavian input, both the Saab-Lancia 600 and the Lancia Delta had better resistance to rust than most Italian cars [ [http://www.lanciaregistret.com/fels%C3%B6kning.htm Lancia Delta integrale – registret] ] and were better suited to a cold climate.Fact|date=June 2007 [ [http://www.italiaspeed.com/2004/cars/lancia/12/delta/2512.html Italiaspeed] ] [ [http://www.retroscenemag.com/post/When-Saab-Made-Lancias.aspx Retro Scene Magazine: When Saab Made Lancias] ] The Lancia Delta earned the European Car of the Year Award in 1980.

The Saab 600 was sold in Sweden and Norway only.

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