You may have heard stories of classic cars abandoned in the woods, but this 1968 Saab 96 took things to a new level, becoming so intertwined with nature that trees grew around and even through it.
At first glance, the scene looks like one of those AI-generated images that went viral when artificial intelligence tools were still new.
Yet, despite the grim condition of this forsaken treasure, a group of determined individuals managed to free it from its arboreal prison—amazingly, in one piece.
The RESTORED YouTube channel’s hosts stumbled upon this remarkable 1968 Saab 96 in the middle of a forest, finding it in what can only be described as a ‘tree-mendous’ state.
In a video shared two years ago, they documented their efforts to liberate this classic vehicle from its unusual predicament.The car’s backstory is as fascinating as its condition.
According to one of the hosts, the car had been parked in that exact spot since the 1980s. That means it spent roughly 40 years away from the road—give or take.
As we all know, time is rarely kind to machines left at the mercy of the elements, and this Saab is a textbook example.
Parts of a tree had grown through its quarter panel, bumpers, and even its wheels. It was as if nature itself was trying to reclaim the car—similar to what has been seen with other abandoned vehicles left to rot in forests.
A Ray of Hope for the Classic Car
Initially, the team from RESTORED thought they could use a jack to lift the car and separate it from the tree. Unfortunately, their first attempt didn’t go as planned.
Undeterred, they tried a variety of methods until they finally found one that worked.Their solution involved cutting away tree branches that had grown around the Saab 96, which eventually allowed them to move the car.
When the car was finally freed, the YouTubers envisioned it as a potential project car.
Although the Saab originally came equipped with a robust four-cylinder engine and manual transmission, restoring it would likely require a complete overhaul.
Sourcing parts for this particular generation of Saab models was already challenging back when the car was new, and it remains a difficult task today.
This scarcity is one of the reasons many classic Saabs like this one are often found abandoned—sometimes even at dealerships.
Despite the obstacles, the YouTubers expressed hope that they could bring this classic beauty back to life. If they succeed, the Saab 96 would undoubtedly turn heads and shine once more on the road.