John F. Kennedy Jr.’s green 1994 Saab 900 SE attracted nearly $30,000 in bids as part of an ongoing auction by RR Auction.
The vehicle became a fixture of Lower Manhattan life during the late 1990s, when Kennedy and his late wife, publicist Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, drove it around Tribeca near their loft.
The turbocharged four-cylinder car features a leather interior and custom aqua-blue ski racks mounted to the roof. Bobby Livingston, executive vice president at RR Auction, noted the vehicle’s departure from typical celebrity automobiles.
“What makes this lot so special is it’s not some Maserati or something flashy like that—it’s a practical car that was a part of his everyday life,” Livingston told gq.com. “For Kennedy, the choice of this car, as opposed to a Mercedes or something, speaks a lot to his style.”
Ownership History Since 1994
Kennedy purchased the vehicle new from Zumbach Sports Cars in Manhattan for $29,841.21 during the summer of 1994. He kept the car until his death in 1999.
Following Kennedy’s fatal plane crash, the car was left at the Westchester home of Kevin J. Hynes, a screenwriter and longtime friend who worked with Kennedy at the New York DA’s office in the early 1990s. Hynes purchased the car from the Kennedy estate for $6,000 in 2000 and sold it for $12,000 two years later.
The car’s third owner regularly started the engine, but the odometer reads just 30,650 miles. The vehicle appeared in the auction catalog with a minimum sale price of $15,000.
Rare Artifacts at RR Auction
The Saab is featured in RR Auction’s Fine Autographs and Artifacts sale. The auction also includes a tweed hat worn by the elder JFK and an overcoat belonging to Lee Harvey Oswald.
Livingston expressed surprise at the level of bidder engagement for the hatchback compared to other celebrity vehicles handled by the firm. More than 20 bids pushed the price close to $30,000 by Wednesday afternoon.
“We’ve sold a Hummer that belonged to Tupac, and a Cadillac Escalade that was used by Tony Soprano in The Sopranos, but I didn’t know there would be such an affection for John F. Kennedy Jr.’s Saab,” Livingston told gq.com. “It’s already exceeded our estimate, and there’s a lot of interest, so it could go for a lot more than where it is right now.”
Frequently Asked Questions About the Auction
Who is selling the Saab?
Kevin J. Hynes, a screenwriter and former colleague of Kennedy at the New York DA’s office, is the consignor. Hynes originally acquired the vehicle from the Kennedy estate in 2000.
How many miles are on the odometer?
The vehicle shows 30,650 miles on its odometer. Records indicate it has not seen regular road use in years, though its third owner maintained the engine by starting it regularly.
Keep reading