Face Off

September 24, 2019 Eleven

Work continues on the 93 Aero Black Edition project, the obligatory sump drop, fluids out, brakes off stage is well underway and it appears the car has been well maintained, but having been stood for a while it needs a thorough refresh. The turbo has some play in it, however we’ll reserve judgement until it’s run for a while, then, if it needs a change up, we’ll do it then.

The Bilstein B8’s are on together with the Eibach lowering springs and is now sitting on the 18” Turbo X alloys with Bridgestone Potanzas all round, we’ve popped on the new DO88 Intercooler and Induction kit, Karl at Noob is currently performing magic on the ECU and a stainless steel Jetex exhaust system is on its way. Whilst it’s in bits, we’ll also pop a strut brace on for added handling strength too.

Cosmetically, I’ll leave the 93 to settle in first, then I can work out what needs some attention, Gliptone Scuff Master and moisturiser has been ordered to give the seats a refresh but other than that, only time will tell how it’ll progress, Autumn is upon us so less opportunity to lavish it with TLC.

Less than the sum of its parts

September 5, 2019 Eleven

Last night, the Ebay auction ended on a pretty special first generation Saab 95 Aero, i’d set a sensible reserve taking in to account the high level of new and unusual performance parts, and also the amount of time and effort that had gone in to saving another Saab for a long future.

It didn’t meet the reserve, it was exceptionally close, but i’d already set it to the lowest acceptable price, I always question why others don’t see value in older cars, especially one’s that have had so much work lavished on them, they actually offer far better value the a lot of new cars, take devaluation and running costs in to the equation, together with build quality, longevity and reliability and I’m honest surprised people don’t see the benefit.

Alas, I have a sad option facing me, I can essentially break all of the hard work up, remove all of the performance parts for a future project or to sell them and still sell the basic car and that way, the car becomes more valuable in parts as it is as a whole.

Question is, can I bring myself to do that knowing what an exceptional, all rounded reliable and unique car it is? Cash vs Integrity, hard one.

And so it Begins (Again)

August 30, 2019 Eleven

Some say it's an obsession, others say it's just idiotic, but I love buying Saabs and making them the best they can be, we're not talking garage queens, but practical daily drivers with the odd dent and scratch, unique cars that becomes part of your family.

A few weeks ago, I passed on the field Aero convertible to its new owner, as he continues to tinker with bits still required, I started looking for the next project and it didn't take long to find it.

Another HOT Aero convertible, but I'm glad to say, it isn't Silver for once, and that makes me a very happy man, it's actually Black, oh and automatic too.

Whilst I adore the manuals, there's nothing quite like a perfectly smooth auto convertible, after all it's about taking time to enjoy the world, roof down, warm breezes and sun, and the Saab 9-3 Aeros are possibly one of the most timeless designs ever crafted to enjoy it in.

This one has spent most of it's life in my ancestral homeland of Cornwall, with only a few previous owners it has been cared for but has plenty signs of wear, the paintwork although good, has been through too many car washes, swirls and surface marks aplenty and a few irritating small dents, all easy to repair though. The interior also shows signs of wear and will need a damn good clean and feed to get it feeling like it should again, but on the whole, a nice solid Aero.

New Bilstein B8 shocks and Eibach lowering springs have already arrived, together with a DO88 intercooler, pipes and a new induction kit, a stainless steel exhaust system is on it's way and Karl at Noob Tune will be performing his magic on the ECU, aiming for a simple Stage 2 remap at around 260hp for beautifully smooth and enjoyable power, and of course, the stunning 18" Turbo X alloys will take pride of place on each corner of the Aero.

To be continued (again)...

Saab Sleepers

July 16, 2019 Eleven

1989, the year I started driving and also the year I realised I had an uncontrollable desire for cars, over the years I’ve owned around 90, but one kind has always intrigued me more than others, Sleepers.

'A sleeper or Q-car is a car that has high performance and an unassuming exterior. Sleeper cars are so called because their exterior looks similar or identical to a standard car'

I started with executive, big engined BMW 5 series, 528, 530 and M5, then I tried an Audi S6 and a few wonderful Mercedes W124 320 coupes, all had the Sleeper feel, but it took my very first Saab 9-5 Aero to fully realise the beauty of a true Sleeper. Exceptional comfort, relaxed cruising, unassuming styling, yet put your foot down and it quite easily surprises many other drivers, even in its standard form and I loved that.

What followed was a growing passion for the Saab marque, but the 9-5 Aeros have always held a special place in my automotive heart, over the years I've owned eight 9-5 Aeros, all saloons and all tuned to at least Stage 3. I love modifying them just enough so that folks in the know, will know, but everyone else will presume it's just a nice looking executive saloon.

Of course there are always giveaways, the lowered, purposeful stance, the larger exhaust, the subtle whoosh from the upgraded induction kit, and in my case, always a set of purposeful wheels, but to the uninitiated, still no hint of what hides under the bonnet, and to me that makes the perfect Sleeper.

The 9-5 remains an underrated car in my eyes, ridiculous value for money with huge tuning potential and has to be one of the most comfortable cars ever crafted, and long may they stay that way, after all that means more for us Saabists to keep to ourselves.

From Field to Road

July 1, 2019 Eleven

Having taken the 9-3 Aero from field to road in such a short space of time, I’d envisioned numerous teething problems before it settled down to be a trusted companion and that’s currently what’s happening.

We’ve changed a crank sensor to elevate a hot starting problem and had another remap done to ensure the ECU aligns with the performance parts correctly, but a few issues still remain unsolved. It has a flat spot under extreme acceleration, at around 5000 rpm it holds back a little, not much but it is there, it also holds the revs when I take my foot off the accelerator, so both of these will need to be addressed.

I also gave it a nice roof down 200 mile road trip to London last night for a quick bowl of pasta and pizza at one of my favourite haunts, and noticed it slipped out of 5th gear twice, a little unnerving when overtaking on the M1 so a few issues still to be sorted. A final and far less important issue is the subtle smell of mould, the entire interior has been stripped and cleaned, but there’s still a slight odour, especially when the car has been in the sun, roof down and this soon vanishes, but it’d be nice to clear completely.

Of course, I’m picking on details now, overall the transformation from a field find to an iconic, modern classic with undeniable road presence has been ridiculously rewarding, the Bilstein B8 setup has given it the final stance and handling it deserved again and the Turbo X 18’s are just perfection.

I happened to ask a question over on Twitter at the weekend “Still one of the most beautiful and timeless convertibles ever created, Y or N?” and had resounding agreement, although some still consider the Saab 900 to be the ultimate convertible, having owned both, I personally still believe this is more timeless, i’d give a joint first for beauty.

Saab Countryman

June 6, 2019 Eleven

If you love taking photos of cars and you're like me, I'm constantly looking for the next perfect location, a hidden corner of a city, a wide open space, a secret country lane - it becomes a pleasurable obsession.

About 10 minutes from home, I've discovered an ideal place - shaded by trees, no though roads and peaceful, I can leave the car in the middle of the road and take time to get the photos I want.

Part of the pleasure of this blog is having the ability to share the beauty of Saabs, the timeless style that every Saab possess, from the early 99 and the 9000 to the later 93 and of course the gorgeous original generation 95 Aeros.

Nothing to prove

May 29, 2019 Eleven

I find it hard to explain why I’m drawn to Saabs, despite having a choice of other marques to grab the keys to, I still choose the Saab ones. I think about this a lot, what makes them such emotive cars, yes they have smile inducing performance, they’re becoming rare and yes they’re ridiculously comfortable, all reasons to love them, but I keep coming back to one thought - they have nothing to prove.

They take you out of an increasingly banal world of shiny identikit cars, not competing on worth or ego, not ashamed to be different, they offer a kind of moving sanctuary from a world of meaningless superiority.

Saabs still have a presence that is rare, they sit alongside their peers with ease, they allow you to arrive anywhere in style and more often than not, induce happy conversation, “Do they still make Saabs?” “My Father used to own a Saab” “The most beautiful convertible ever built”.

In an age where everyone should be considering sustainability, I find it hard to comprehend why folks need to buy a new car every 3 - 4 years with huge manufacturing impact, when an older Saab offers luxury, reliability, style and efficiency.

Saabs have nothing to prove, and I love them for that

You got a fast car...

May 23, 2019 Eleven

Sometimes, it’s hard to not just stop and stare for a while, giving yourself a moment to fully appreciate the aesthetics of a car, it’s form and stance, it’s simple, sharp design. For years I’ve found myself drawn back to the first generation Saab 93 convertible, the Ian Callum Aero bodykit especially adds a touch of genius to an already exceptional car. Even today, 17 years on, it feels timeless, the clean Swedish lines uncluttered and uncompromised.

Subtle enhancements are all that are needed to create my perfect convertible, a lowered stance and a gorgeous set of alloys to fill those arches.

Let the world around you pass by in a blur while you take in the moment.

Griffin from the flames

May 19, 2019 Eleven

On Friday I collected the Aero convertible from Malcolm Miles, it had passed its MOT, the new wheels and tyres were fitted and it was more than overdue for a bit of clean. First stop at the local car wash proved that the roof indeed needs re-coating and waterproofing again, i left rather damper than i’d have liked but it reassured me that all of the windows seal beautifully though.

A rainy Saturday morning wasn’t a great start to a day dedicated to interior mould and dirt removal, but soon the Saab gods smiled, the rain stopped and I set about cleaning every visible surface, it really is amazing how years of dirt and use can build up, but it also never fails to impress just how robust and beautifully made older Saab interiors are. After several hours of hard work its starting to feel driveable again, the mould smell is still there but already less, the dashboard and buttons are all spotless again and various joints cleaned and greased.

It still has many hours of work left, but already feels special again, although I’ve changed the badly warn front Aero seats, they’ll need a good clean, colour and moisturise to bring them up nicely, and then it’s on to the roof lining, that to needs demoulding and refreshing.

With a couple of hundred miles under its belt, Ive also realised the original shocks are way too soft and floaty, it has lowering springs on, but without upgraded shocks, the ride still feels a little like a boat on waves so they’ll soon be replaced with a set of Bilstein B8s all round.

It’s also the latest addition to Aerorignal.

Aero Rescue Mission Report

May 9, 2019 Eleven

I can't seem to keep up with the folks at Malcolm Miles, before I knew it, they've taken the old engine out, stripped off all of the performance parts and the new 57k block is already installed and running, all within a week.

They've literally replaced endless perished and missing hoses, clips, nuts, bolts and pipes, checked the lovely TD04 Turbo and installed a new clutch slave cylinder, 3" downpipe and an uprated Viggen clutch to handle the extra power. Brake pipes have also been replaced together with new discs, pads and cleaned calipers.

We've been slightly nervous about the inaugural roof opening, but besides the handle falling off, it opened perfectly, a bit glitchy and in need of a damn good clean and lubrication, but it opened and closed, we have a convertible!

Still one hell of a lot to do, but it now starts, stops and rolls without being dragged about on seized running gear. So what next? the new stainless steel Jetex exhaust system arrives tomorrow, Noob Tune will be matching an ECU upgrade to the new spec, another rare set of 18" Turbo X alloys are on their way together with 4 new Bridgestone Potanzas and the new Aero front seats have to be installed, once we've got the mechanicals sorted, hopefully it'll pass its MOT and on track to be another great Saab saved.

Purity of Design

May 8, 2019 Eleven

When it comes to wheel design, not many marques got it quite so right as Saab, they seemed to create an endless array of beautifully simple styles that remain just as timeless today as they did the year they were launched. From the early Inca and Aero wheels, the later double Y spokes and brutal nailhead wheels they’ve all kept a purity of Scandinavian design that’s hard to beat with any aftermarket alloys.

On my current project, the 9-3 Aero convertible, it already has a set of iconic nailheads, but I’ve always been tempted to push the size up slightly to a set of 18” and only one original Saab design keeps me coming back for more, the Turbo X. After fitting a set of the rarer 19” Carlsson versions to the 9-5 Aero project, it seems only right that the 9-3 should be treated equally, so once the brakes have been totally replaced, we’ll see how they look, I’ve only ever seen them on one other og 9-3 Aero and they looked exceptional.

Aero Rescue Mission

April 12, 2019 Eleven

Not one to do anything by halves, I’ve jumped right in at the deep end with the second Aeroriginal, an iconic first generation 9-3 HOT Aero convertible, straight silver with (what used to be) black roof.

A Gumtree find and currently non running, it has been sitting sadly in a Welsh field for the past year, the rear brakes are completely seized, the engine is pretty much had it and requires replacing, and the interior has a velvet-like covering of mould.

Upside is, these things are truly stunning, the timeless Ian Cullum designed Aero body kit just never ages, and although the front bumper is badly ripped, it’s saveable and from initial inspection, the bodywork itself is exceptionally straight and rust free.

Interior wise I’m unsure if I can make the leather good again, deep cracks and a bad rip on the driver’s bolster seem make it seem unlikely, but I’ll reserve judgement for now, the original stereo unit has vanished, so has one door speaker, ashtray and even the leather gearknob, but again, all fixable.

Right now, the next stage will be to give the underneath a good inspection and make sure it’s solid, then breaks freed, engine out and begin the uphill battle to save another gorgeous Saab Aero.