Black and Blue

August 3, 2020 Eleven

It might sound strange, but one of my favourite parts of any new Saab rescue is the interior refresh, I look forward to it, I plan what I need to do and how to approach it, I even like stocking up on the products iv’e trusted for years.

After a good few months of the Viggen being made mechanically right again, the interior has languished in 5 years of dust, dirt and tiredness, the leather looked sad and neglected, cast off parts all over the back seat and numerous fittings missing, lost over its 20 year journey.

I like to remove all of the seats, that way, I can treat each one to a full clean and 24 hour feed with Gliptone, bringing the leather to life again, the distinctive Viggen blue leather has come up a treat, it looks bright and firm again, and although the drivers seat has some cracking, the moisuriser has given it a new lease of life and left it with a lovely patina to help tell the car’s story.

I used a foam cleaner by Autoglym for the carpets and plastics and finished it off with a light rub of Autoglym Trim Gel which brings out the grain and colour perfectly.

The new CD head unit replaces the old cassette unit and a subtle AUX input has been fitted, the gorgeous new Nappa leather steering wheel by Tun Style and a genuine Saab replacement leather gear knob.

Tomorrow, the Viggen will be pampered even more by Harry the detailer, the body gets a full clay bar treatment and polish and the roof gets cleaned and sealed again ready for its first outdoor Winter in 5 years.

Cheap Thrills

July 28, 2020 Eleven

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Saab 95 Aero_Cafe Racer_1_0000_Layer 2.jpg

Since buying my latest 9-5 Aero back in June, it’s been a whirlwind of activity to build my very first Saab wagon the way I’d always imagined they should be.

The Hazelnut Metallic gave me the inspiration to create something a bit different; embracing the beige exterior, the supple sea of tan leather and the rare light walnut dash and enhancing it with 19” JR18 alloys from Japan Racing to create a kind of Saab Café Racer, a retro wagon for today.

A few teething problems needed sorting in the first few hundred miles, the car stuttered under hard acceleration so a new genuine Saab DI pack has now been fitted and the Stage 4 tuning has also highlighted a need for upgraded brakes at some point soon.

On to the part I relish doing on every new Saab I buy, giving the interior a deep clean. It took me an entire weekend, but the Aero is looking absolutely exceptional again, the comfortable tan leather seats have been cleaned and fed, the carpets and headlining have all been given a freshen up and the plastic, rubber and glass all cleaned and fed. This 9-5 also has a glass sunroof and that, together with the light interior just gives the whole car a luxurious, cosy and warm atmosphere, perfect for relaxed road trips and creating a genuinely impressive arrival at any grand café throughout the land.

The value for money of such a car is truly astounding, what other car could you buy with this much style, individuality and comfort for this sort of money, to say these Saab Aeros offer cheap thrills is an understatement, they really are exceptional cars that have stood the test of time. This is a very low milage example with just 80,000 miles, but double that and for a Saab, it’s still low, looked after and cherished, they’re built so well they’ll reward you for many years to come.

Mid August will see the Aero go to the bodyshop to have a few areas of rust cut out and fixed, the genuine rear Saab roof spoiler fitted and a front shark bumper to finish off the build beautifully.

Mechanically Sound

July 22, 2020 Eleven

Feels a little like half time, I collected the 9-5 today from Malcolm Miles and as ever, they've done me proud, the stage 4 remap together with the long list of performance upgrades has made the Saab feel almost as lively as my Alpina D3 Bi Turbo, and that's saying something. The twin Jetex exhaust coupled with the handmade downpipe from APH sounds absolutely superb and really suits the look of the car too.

Pause for 3 weeks.

Then we're off to the bodyshop to have the rusty rear arches cut out, the rear bumper removed and repainted and the front bumper replaced with a later shark nose version, the Saab rear spoiler will also be fitted and a couple of areas given some attention. During it's time at home, I plan to give the interior a full valet, clean and feed the leather and give the carpets a full on deep clean too.

With only 80,000 miles under its belt, this 9-5 Aero just needed a bit of vision to bring it back up to one of the best wagons <£5k can buy in my eyes. It offers ridiculous comfort, safety, individuality and reliability not to mention the Saab smile. This is going to be a hard one to let got of I think.

Dad Racer

July 15, 2020 Eleven

Whilst the Viggen goes off for more bodywork, the attention has turned to the 9-5 Aero, the folks at Malcolm Miles have been fastidiously replacing warn parts and perished hoses, performing a full sump drop, clean, oil change and replacing a few pipes to the gearbox which had been leaking oil.

The DO88 Intercooler and pipe kit has gone on, a new fuel pump, new induction kit and a Stage 3+ remap from Karl at Noob Tune, the ever gorgeous handmade downpipe from APH Performance has been put on together with a full stainless steel Jetex exhaust with dual pipes giving the wagon an understated but purposeful look, whilst new discs and pads, a Bilstein B12 Pro Sport suspension setup and a serious MapTun strut brace have really sorted out the Aero’s handling.

Sleepless nights and many Photoshop mock ups finally made me choose what I consider to be the perfect alloys for this Saab; Japan Racing JR18 in a Matt Bronze to really enhance the Hazelnut Metallic, 19x8.5 with an ET35 offset and Pirelli P Zero 235/35/19 rubber.

The underneath was looking a little flakey, so has been given a good wire brushing and treated to some Waxoil whilst a few areas will need a small amount of welding to secure them for the future. Once the mechanics have been done, it’ll need to go to the bodyshop and have the rear lower arches cut out and fixed, the bumpers removed and repainted and a new bespoke satin black mesh grille fitted.

This is the first Aero wagon build I’ve done and I absolutely love it, the style is just so timeless, an old Saab ad campaign claimed it was a Dad Racer and I tend to agree, but with these modifications, it also becomes one the ultimate sleepers, and the colour…

…Love it. Thank you Saab.

Viggen Rescue Update

June 25, 2020 Eleven

It’s been a busy fews weeks down at Malcolm Miles, the 9-5 Sportcombi has been dropped off and some serious work has started on the Viggen.

Firstly, some housekeeping, although the sump had been dropped only a few hundred miles ago, it was actually back in 2015, so that’s been dropped again, oil completely drained and refilled with new oil, filters and spark plugs. The power steering pipe has been replaced as have a number of other pipes and perished hoses, the brake lines all cleared out and new high performance Tarox brake fluid added together with Tarox Japan Street drilled, grooved and vented discs, pads and braided hoses. We’ve also added a new oil cooler together with a new DO88 intercooler, Nordic Performance induction kit and a Stage 3+ ECU upgrade by Karl at Noob Tune.

The Bilstien B8 shocks and Eibach springs are now fitted together with the Momo Stealth alloys wheels, chosen for an updated play on the original Viggen 5 spokes, 215/35/19 tyres from Hankook have been used, but from early thoughts, we could upgrade these to 225/35/19 tyres and still fit without issues. The gorgeous craftsmanship from APH Performance has been fitted in the form of a 3” stainless steel downpipe, this links up to the original Viggen middle and rear exhaust section to keep the style right.

Inside, the original tape only head unit has been replaced with a CD unit and an AUX input, the new Hirsch style Nappa leather steering wheel has been fitted and a new OE leather gear knob tops off the superbly tight short shifter from Jam Saab, all in all, the Viggen is beginning to look like my vision, progress continues and this iconic convertible should be ready to take its first road trip in 5 years.

Ramping Up

June 10, 2020 Eleven

The 9-5 Sportcombi went in to Malcolm Miles for it's inaugural ramp check today, it went so badly I was sent home on the train as the car was condemned as undriveable.

That sounds dramatic but it seems to have an oil leak that needs to be sorted and fast, there are a number of pipes that need replacing underneath so we'll hit those at the same time. The front downpipe is about to split in half, a number of bushes need replacing and the springs and shocks are all pretty much past their sell by date.

It's easy to forget these earlier Saab 9-5s are getting on for 20 years old, they will have some rust, they will need parts replacing and they will need some TLC, but invest some time and effort and you'll reap the rewards later on.

Surprising thing for me, is that it drives possibly better than any other 9-5 I've owned, I'm looking forward to making this one a bit special, it deserves the attention and will make for a pretty rare Sportcombi.

Cafe Racer

June 8, 2020 Eleven

Whilst the Viggen project slowly comes to life, I continually miss having a Saab 9-5 Aero alongside, every time I sell my latest 9-5 projects, I immediately long for another.

They remain one of the most underrated sleepers that has ever been crafted, the design is timeless, they're fast, reliable, super comfortable and ridiculously stylish and well built, both inside and out. I'm always searching for the next Aero, one that offers something different from the rest, heated and vented seats, sunroof, unusual colour, Harman Kardon audio - anything that captures my imagination and gives me a starting point to create another Saab build and rescue it for the future.

I'd seen this particular 9-5 for the past few weeks, only 2 owners from new and spending most of its life in the royal town of Leamington Spa, very low miles at just 80k and most importantly, a rare colour, the gorgeous Hazelnut Metallic.

Love or hate it, but the light tan interior with the exceptionally rare light Walnut dash is something I adore, the car feels cosy, warming and timeless. The whole interior needs a nice deep clean, the seats need cleaning and feeding but it's in truly immaculate condition.

Sleepless nights imagining what can be done to this one, but feel it needs a little time to settle in to its new life before the transformation begins. It'll be going to Malcolm Miles shortly for its inaugural check up, sump drop, oil change and to check its overall worthiness but plans are falling in to place and some must haves are already on their way.

Old vs. New

November 14, 2019 Eleven

Extinction Rebellion sends a sinking home along the River Thames, 85% of Venice underwater including St. Mark’s Basilica and entire villages cut off in South Yorkshire, let’s face it, none of us can be ignorant enough to deny the changes in global weather and yet we still keep on churning out new cars each year that are less and less likely to stand the test of time.

Saab 9-5 Aero | 18 years old | 98,000 Miles | Buy now

Saab 9-3 Aero | 17 years old | 110,000 Miles | Enquire

Don’t get me wrong, I like the idea of electric cars with ridiculous acceleration, but I don’t like the environmental cost of building them, it’s not a new concept, but keeping older cars on the roads has got to be more sustainable than building new ones surely.

Take a 15 - 20 year old Saab, renovate it, keep it well serviced and clean running and it’ll outlast most, if not all of the modern cars around today, not only that but they’re exceptionally safe, comfy, reliable, individual and of course, financially wise.

It’s one of the reasons I keep rescuing Saabs, ones that might not seem financially sensible to fix, but with a little work and effort will give many more years of pleasure, safety and reliability, yes they use a little more fuel, but set that off against the impact of an entirely new car with its 30,000 + components, and it seems a worthwhile cause to me.

For my part, I’ll continue recycling used parts, and crafting stylish Saabs until I can no longer do it, a bit of welding here and a few salvaged goodies there is far more exciting to me than any new car available, I also feel good reusing stuff rather than adding more flames to an already roaring fire we’re all facing.

This might be a politically incorrect post, but why not, I currently have to aquaplane across a number of flooded roads to get home, and it’s only getting worse. Be really interested to know how others feel…

Black Edition Aero

October 14, 2019 Eleven

I’ve owned the new black Aero convertible for nearly 2 months now, but until last week, I hadn’t sat in it, let alone driven it.

Arriving on a trailer directly from it’s old owners in Padstow, Cornwall it was obvious it hadn’t been driven for a while, although recently serviced, the brakes were slightly seized, the battery lazy making it hard to start and lots of (i’ve been patiently waiting to be driven again) smoke.

After the usual full service, oil and filter change, brittle hoses replaced, strut brace, Bilstien B8 and Eibach spring set up, Jetex exhaust, DO88 Intercooler, Nordic Induction kit, and NoobTune remap all there was left to do is pop on the gorgeous set of 18” Turbo X alloys which really do suit the original generation 9-3, it feels even more timeless.

An inaugural drive home exceeded expectations, I forgot just how relaxing Saab autos are, exceptionally smooth and well mannered until you push your right foot down, then, the Aero jumps in to action, the Turbo instantly spools through green and orange and straight in to the red and make regular speeds a mere memory.

The next morning brought with it a very strange occurrence, hard to start, stuttering acceleration quickly turning to complete stalling, nothing but a dead Saab, the folks at Malcolm Miles came to the rescue with a Tech II, DI Pack and infinite knowledge of these cars, but after a few head scratching minutes with none of the regular causes at fault, a small sensor with a bad connection was discovered and pushed back together, problem solved, Saab alive, again.

Since then and a few hundred miles later, it’s feeling right at home, dirt and all, with the new mesh grille I’m absolutely loving the Black Edition look, the wheels just work seamlessly and the old 93 feels just so right.

Next, a new handmade downpipe by Alan at APH and we’re on to the cosmetics, lots to do, but first the seats need a damn good clean and feed, then the small dents, then….

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.