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I found this for a measly $5 at a local antique mall, likely because the world of Stahlberg model collecting is mostly out of the scope of this small antique mall.
This model is in a 1980s-era Swedish Police Authority livery, similar to a real car formerly owned by the Saab Museum, and it is in amazing condition for its age, for the price, and for being relatively complicated and somewhat fragile. Unlike most Stahlberg Saab models, this was likely not a dealer promo, but was likely made as a souvenir item for gift shops and tourist traps in Sweden, as well as for toy shops not targeting tourists. There are no loose parts, cracks, major scuffs, stains, rusty axles, weather damage, etc., and the only signs of playwear are a couple of dusty creases in the decals that are hardly noticeable.
Stahlberg did not ordinarily distribute Saab models in the United States, instead importing a selection of Volvo cars sold new in the US through Volvo dealer parts departments, with historic Volvos such as the "Jakob", the DAF-based, Dutch-built cars, and Volvo trucks (along with their Mercedes-Benz W123, Toyota Corolla and Volkswagen Mk1 Golf models) not being distributed new in the US.
This is my second Stahlberg in my collection, the first being one of their VW Golfs that I bought years ago at a now long gone antique mall for a similarly paltry price, and which I still have.
Super nice find Chris. Definitely not a brand common to find in the US. Wonder if this is one that Volvo sold in their parts departments or if it is from some collector's collection perhaps after a move to a smaller apartment or maybe the death of the collector.
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