9-3 Hirsch Edition. Phase I

March 8, 2021 Eleven

It’s always a combination of excitement and Intrepidation when a new Saab Aero project arrives, especially as I often go with my gut instinct now rather than being able to see the cars in the flesh. This latest 9-3 Aero convertible comes with an amazing service history and is also a local car to me, looked after by Bond Street Saab for most of it’s life, and from the moment I noticed it had a set of rare 19” Hirsch alloys, I knew it would make another exciting Aeroriginal Saab, and my instinct wasn’t wrong luckily.

Not only did it have the Hirsch wheels, but came with Hirsch springs, Hirsch single exhaust system and diffuser, 345mm brake upgrade and Hirsch 240 remap, however, it’s covered just over 150,000 miles, not too much for a Saab, but after driving it for a few weeks, the list of ‘to do’s’ began to grow if I wanted this to be as special as it can be. The clutch was slipping and has now been replaced with a new one together with flywheel and slave cylinder, the leaking radiator has been replaced with a brand new one, air con all fixed and working again and although the Hirsch exhaust was great, it’s condition wasn’t amazing, so we’ve taken the opportunity to replace the entire system with an APH handmade downpipe and a full stainless dual system from Jetex to give the rear a more purposeful look.

The suspension was also in a bit of a mess, rattling, lumpy and awkward, so that’s also received a full refresh, upgraded Sachs Sport Shock together with a new set of lowered Hirsch springs, new arms, top mounts and bushes make it feel totally sorted again and most importantly, no rattles. The Hirsch rims have had a full refurb in a slightly darker metallic grey and treated to a new set of Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres, it’s had a full service; oil, filters, brakes removed and cleaned, and it’ll be having a new remap by Noob shortly.

Whilst it’s always great to feel the difference of on the mechanical work, the visual enhancements always excite more, and I’ve been going about collecting parts that will really make this look exceptional, the entire front end has had a refresh with the 4 piece Hirsch grille set complete with new genuine Saab satin chrome surrounds, the rear diffuser will now be from the rare Turbo X and it’ll be off for some bodywork shortly, bumpers repainted, dents removed and a tiny area of rust cleaned up and repainted, it’ll get a full machine polish and them the roof treated to a deep clean and reseal.

The interior is also being treated to a host of goodies; a genuine Hirsch Carbon dash has been fitted, another Nappa leather flat bottomed steering wheel is on it’s way from TunStyle, new Hirsch leather door and centre handles, and a set of Hirsch aluminium pedals to finish it all off beautifully.

As the sun begins to warm and the days of roof down road trips are in the air, I can’t help but admire the shear timeless beauty of the Saab convertibles, throughout each generation they have perfected their design language, and this model features some truly genius touches, the beautifully curved covers for the roll bars for instance, the lines flow into the cover like the old speedsters, the gloss body coloured mappings that flow along the entire edge of the car, and the seamless flow of form into the large bumpers and wonderfully proportioned front and rear lights,

Nip & Tuck

February 9, 2021 Eleven

As with every Saab Aero I try and refresh, I tend to have to look at the bodywork carefully and see what needs doing without taking away from its journey, its life story, what marks and small chips to leave, and what to remove, it’s a fine balance.

The 9-5 Aero Hirsch, had small amounts of rust appearing at the top of each rear wheel arch, and this is a must for me, it always needs addressing before it takes hold, and the bumpers, usually marked at this age, so both have been removed, sanded down, and given a full respray together with the removal of various dents on the bodywork.

I’d also studied the front bumpers on this generation 9-5, and there is no recognisable difference between the Aeros and other models, whereas older models always had a slight variation. The lower grille looks odd to me, the 3 grooves that really didn’t give it the purposeful look it deserves, so we’ve removed the bars and created a single larger central grille with closely matching mesh which has given it a totally different look, a slightly more aggressive feel.

I’ve had a genuine set of Saab satin finish headlight surrounds fitted to replace the slightly overwhelming bright chrome ones and this has made a huge difference also, it’s a small touch but one that really does add a more refined touch to the 9-5’s front elevation.

And to finish, it’s had a full clay bar and machine polish to make to entire car look exceptional again. It’s amazing what difference these small details make and I really appreciate to work involved to turn a good car in to a really special one, if any Saab deserved it, it’s this beautifully Hirsch specified Aero.

Simple Pleasures Part II

February 1, 2021 Eleven

After the amazing quality and craftsmanship shown on the last Hirsch wheel refurbishment by Perfection Alloys, the rarer 19" alloys were removed from the convertible and given the same treatment.

I'd been debating whether tho have the same bright silver as original, or whether to go slightly darker again as the last set. We've gone darker, closer to a metallic grey than silver and it was a great decision, they look fantastic.

They're off to have new Michelin Pilot Sport 4 235/35/19 tyres all round and new Saab Griffin centre caps to make them pretty much like new again.

Simple Pleasures

January 20, 2021 Eleven

As I work through the many and varied jobs on the 3 Aero rescues, there are rewards and simple pleasures to be enjoyed throughout the journey. The iconic six spoke Hirsch alloys needed some attention, and although not terrible, looked tired and pitted, so having stripped off all 4 worn tyres, they've now had a bare metal refurbishment and refinished in a slightly darker metallic grey than the original bright silver.

A few years ago, I also found someone who had cleverly remade the tiny Hirsch Performance rim stickers and i've also purchased a set of genuine Saab hub centres, i've chosen the rebrand black centres as they'll suit the black Aero perfectly. Finally the rims have been fitted with a new set of 235/40/18 Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres finishing off the refurbishment perfectly.

Simple pleasures that make such a big difference.

Hej Snygging

January 6, 2021 Eleven

'Hello Beautiful' just about sums up my feeling for the new Swedish addition, given that in 2008 the 9-3 platform was a number of years old, Saab did an absolutely exquisite design job of crafting one of the most beautiful and recognisable modern convertibles out there.

The front exudes Scandinavian simplicity and elegance whilst the rear and side profiles couldn't be anything but Saab. The headlight design is one of the finest I've seen with the simple eyebrow strip making it just so recognisable.

This one scapes itself in to the High Mile Club with 150,000 miles, although sitting in the sublime comfort of the premium leather seats, you wouldn't know it. It has some war wounds from its 13 year journey, but all easily repairable; the search has already begun for a whole host of interior upgrades to really finish it off like it deserves and a few more Hirsch parts found for the exterior too.

What really caught my eye was the super rare 19" Hirsch alloys, they're in poor condition, but again, they'll be fully refurbished and treated to a set of Michelin Pilot Sport 4's very soon. It also has the full Hirsch suspension, 345mm brake upgrade, full performance exhaust and remap, making it another very desirable Saab to add to the collection.

Having been delivered late last night, I've only managed 50 miles in it, but absolutely taken by how little scuttle shake and wind noise this has compared to my previous Gen I convertibles, it genuinely feels far more planted but also a little less raw. The clutch feels very high, but again can easily be replaced with an uprated one before any further tuning begins if required.

All in all, a seriously great find, and one I'm very excited about working on alongside the current 9-5 Aero projects.

Variety

January 4, 2021 Eleven

…is the spice of life. Last week I borrowed the gorgeous Japan Racing JR18 rims from the Green Over Tan project, the Hirsch rims have been taken off for a full refurb and a new set of tyres fitted, so these were just meant to be temporary, problem is, I love the look of this Saab with these on.

I recently used the very same alloys on the ‘Café Racer Saab Aero, Matt Bronze and just the right size, they feel very much OE but manage to update the overall look and stance, I liked them so much I purchased another set, but now I have a genuine deliberation, keep these on the Hirsch 9-5 or keep the original Hirsch ones?

Both have merits, although I have a feeling this particular Saab should be kept original, the car features many other Hirsch performance parts so is a rare beast, so by removing the alloys, I think it would be changing the overall appeal of the car. I really am loving the look though, they’ll be exceptional on the green 9-5 Aero.

Hirsch Interior Design

December 23, 2020 Eleven

Well, this has been a rather slower process than I’d thought, but yesterday, I finally had all the individual parts fitted to the 9-5 Hirsch interior. I’d sourced a new Saab leather gear knob and gaiter, the dashboard has been wrapped in a 3D carbon and taking pride of place; the Hirsch style Nappa leather steering wheel beautifully handcrafted by the folks at Tunstyle again.

I’d not loved the fake metal dash and steering wheel insets on this generation 9-5 Aero and always felt they lacked the quality and level of detail older 9-5’s had, but with these changes, the interior now starts feeling a little more special, I’ve also found some black steering wheel controls which work a treat, overall, the whole look just feels more premium. There’s more work required on the interior yet, but this is a great start and I’m hugely happy with how it’s turned out.

The 900 Classic Icon

December 23, 2020 Eleven

The Hirsch 9-5 Aero went in the Malcolm Miles yesterday to be put back together, and I’d had my eye on a beautifully straight classic 900i convertible the had been at the garage for the past few months and they very kindly gave it to me as the loan car for the day.

Purchased from ACE Saab in Kensington back in 1990 and registered by its first owner in Piccadilly, Mayfair and its only had 3 further owners during its 30 year life.

Having owned a number of these in the past, it was easy to see how straight this one is, the underneath is totally rust free, an absolutely solid floor pan and sills, this is extremely rare, but apparently this convertible was taken to live in Portugal around 1997 and stayed there in the sun for nearly 20 years which could explain its solidness.

Although it’s far from perfect and has its usual foibles, its easy to see that it could be a gorgeous classic, having covered only 104,000 miles it drives smoothly; smoke free and pulls beautifully for a non Turbo model. It’ll be having plenty of tic shortly, full service, an new exhaust, new discs and pads, fresh cluster bulbs and a damn good clean.

With rare Winter blue skies above, I popped the roof down for an hour and enjoyed a truly fantastic country drive, the tan leather has aged beautifully, the mohair hood has been replaced and it has an exceptionally rare Tonneau cover to keep the hood safely tucked away, it was a real pleasure.

It has some surface body rust that’ll easily fixed, and the interior needs some love to get back to immaculate, but all I could think it that this will make someone a very useable and unusually solid classic Saab 900 convertible. It’ll be far sale in the new year, and can’t help thinking it’ll make excellent value at circa £5000, maybe the perfect project for someone looking for a bit of classic driving in the Summer.

If anyone’s interested, mail me and I’ll pass on the details of the seller.

Details Matter

December 18, 2020 Eleven

It's been a few weeks since i've done an update on the current Aero builds, sadly, due to a lack of B12 Pro-Kits coming out of Bilstein currently, we've had to put the Green Aero on hold until we have all the parts ready to progress, we've been told January, so fingers crossed for that one.

I've been slowly making progress on the Hirsch 9-5; after all of the mechanicals were sorted back in October, the car has been driving absolutely beautifully, we've got to make a few adjustments on the new gear linkage, as 5th is hard to select and the Hirsch alloys will be coming off and going for a full refurbish together with a new set of rubber and balancing.

The main focus has been sorting the worn interior out, an exceptional flat base Nappa leather steering wheel has arrived from the folks at TunStyle, and as always, I truly feel to quality and craftsmanship is better than the genuine Hirsch ones I used to have, it really is a thing of beauty. I've got a new genuine Saab leather gear knob, gear gaiter and handbrake gaiter to fit, a new dashboard has been carefully wrapped in 3D carbon and the ugly Parrot system and wires will all be removed. The door card decorative strips have also had the carbon wrap and will be reinstalled next week together with a set of gorgeous MapTun carpets.

I'm still a little undecided about the seats, as usual, the dark fabric inserts are crumbling whilst the leather parts have worn beautifully, the cutting corners with materials really does show in these later 9-5s and just don't hold up as well as the earlier 'Saab' models, I might go with my heart and recover the entire seat set in a better quality Bridge of Weir leather, but always concerned that the value of these Saabs just don’t warrant that level of spend sadly.

As always, I'm truly inspired by the people out there that continue to work hard to craft parts to keep our Saabs looking sharp, in reality, it is getting harder to rescue them, the lack of Bilstein suspension kits has really hit me this time - will this continue to be the case, will Brexit make is far harder for the UK to get parts from the global community? will we slowly run out of Saabs worth rescuing? For now though, I have 2 beautiful Aeros that deserve to be pampered.

Hirsch Edition 9-5

December 3, 2020 Eleven

It’s been a few months since I collected the Hirsch 9-5 and I have to say, I love this thing, yes, even the ‘Dame Edna’ front lights. I reserve judgement on whether I’ll be keeping the full chrome look, but going from not liking it at all to really liking it has surprised even me.

We’ve concentrated on the mechanical side first and foremost, the sump has been dropped and cleaned, with fresh oil, filters and plugs, it’s had a new Saab DI pack and we’ve also replaced the gear linkage as it had become a little sloppy, the DI pack has cleared up the slight hiccup it had on full throttle and it runs ridiculously well again.

I’m always surprised at just how exceptional these hugely rare Hirsch editions are, they made such a difference to both performance and handling and really did create a wonderfully rounded executive saloon. The power is smoothly delivered throughout the gear changes and being a manual allows you to use ever drop of of the 300+ hp on tap, what’s more, because it has the upgraded Hirsch intercooler, the power remain consistent no matter what the weather’s like outside.

The Hirsch 18” wheels will be going in for a full refurbish and new Michelin tyres all round and then it’s on to the interior. all door cars have been removed and are currently having a refresh of the poor quality decretive strips, together with a new genuine Saab leather gearknob, new handbrake, gear gaiter and Nappa leather Hirsch steering wheel.

Finally it’ll go in for some minor bodywork including the rear arches, rear bumper and possible de chroming but that’s still to be decided. In the meantime, I’m thoroughly loving this Saab, it’l be a difficult choice whether to sell the Gen 1 Green over Tan 9-5 or this one.

Holy Grail

October 26, 2020 Eleven

Over the past 20+ years, there's only been a couple of Saabs I've genuinely regretted selling, I love them all of course, but some are just slightly more special than the rest. My old Gen II Hirsch Aero for instance.

As i'm already neck deep in the rescue of the green Gen I Aero, I wasn't specifically looking for another just yet, but once you begin, even for a moment, it's bloody hard to stop. I'd spotted a rather nice black Aero saloon on Ebay and not only was it a rarer manual, but it had a very generous list of Hirsch performance parts from new, and as any true Saabist will know, that's kind of the Holy Grail.

It comes with the iconic 18" 6 spoke alloys, the downpipe and stainless steel duel exhaust, intercooler, induction kit, fuel regulator, 345mm brakes and lowered suspension. But, it did have a personal downside; it was a Gen III, the rather less popular final update of the original 9-5 Aero, the one with the odd light surrounds and less stylish bumpers.

Having said that, I've already begun to like it's irregular beauty, yes I'll be doing some visual modifications, but I do like the twin round headlights and the large single centre grille, I also like the rear lights and bumper with the Hirsch diffuser and twin exhaust, and the Aero boot spoiler just finishes it all off nicely.

It needs some tlc; the usual sump drop, oil change, DI pack, plugs etc will be done, together with a bespoke remap to make the most of the Hirsch goodies. It needs some bodywork doing and some interior changes, but it really is a very special Saab, this might just be the keeper.

Aeroriginal Green over Tan Edition

September 24, 2020 Eleven

Made in Sweden, the first generation Saab 9-5 has a purity of design the later models lost, it's also one of my all time favourite Saabs. They're getting exceptionally rare to find now, especially with service history, low miles and only a few owners, add a ridiculously rare colour to the mix and it'd be hard the beat.

As I continue to do my best to search out Saab Aeros that have a few unique touches, my latest find literally stopped me in my tracks, smitten from the moment I saw it, Scarabégrön (aka Scarab Green) with the always luxurious Sand leather interior. 4 owners from new, full service history with reputable Saab specialists and only 83,000 miles, it was expensive, but as a foundation for my next Aeroriginal, it seemed to tick all the boxes.

I've been trusting sellers lately and buying some of my projects without seeing them, after all, I pretty much tear them apart and replace anything that's not right and it's been ok, until now. The new 9-5 Aero arrived a few days ago and I felt so disappointed it almost put me off going any further, it's got small dents everywhere, the bodywork has been over-sprayed by what looks like a child with a spray can, the front spoiler falling off, fog light broken, interior worn and a number of fittings broken.

But then I took it for a drive and to my surprise, it was one of the smoothest, rattle free early 9-5s I've ever bought, it still feels lovely and sharp despite all of it shortcomings, yes the heat either blows ice cold or boiling hot, half the console buttons are either covered in dirt or worn out and there's enough dirt on the carpet to have been lived in by pigs. But that's half the point of my Aeroriginal Saabs, to rescue one's that have potential, and this one has plenty.

Before being taken to Malcom Miles for it's thorough work over, i've started to collect the parts required to make it feel special again, the amazing folks at Perry & Prouse Saab in Somerset have saved some late Sand leather front Aero seats for me, more sculptured and far more comfortable, it's an upgrade hard not to love. A new set of leather lined door cards to replace the filthy velour lined ones, a new armrest, new dashboard, new Nappa leather steering wheel, new SID, new foglights, new rear light cluster, all to give it that love it truly deserves.

I'll also be doing my normal touches; Bilstein B8 suspension, Powerflex bushes, braided brake lines, Tarox Sport Japan drilled, grooved and vented brakes, APH downpipe, Jetex stainless steel exhaust, DO88 intercooler, Noob Stage 3+ remap and plenty more.

We'll then move on to the bodywork and for now, I'm leaving it untouched, once i've got it driving and handling exactly how I imagine, it'll go in for cosmetic surgery to have it looking great again. I truly believe these early Saab 9-5 are iconic, they've turned out to be utterly reliable, beautifully built and a modern classic car that has an understated luxury and presence that makes you feel special.

I doubt this is going to be a cheap project, but after living with if for a couple of days, i've fallen for it, my first Green over Tan Aeroriginal.

Mission Complete

September 11, 2020 Eleven

In many ways, the task of a Saab rescuer is a thankless one, we take all the risks associated with renovating a 20 year old car and reap none of the financial rewards associated with more valuable modern classics, and yet we still do it.*

For the past 4 months, we’ve all been working hard to rescue this stunning Hazelnut Metallic Saab 9-5 Aero estate, it has the perfect foundations; low owners, full service history, low miles, yet as with many other Saabs, it hasn’t been pampered like it truly deserves, that has now been rectified.

I call it the Café Racer Edition as not only has it got the exceptionally rare paint, but is complemented by a full Sand leather interior and a light Walnut dash, I’ve now enhanced that with a set of stunning 19” Japan Racing wheels in Matt Bronze.

It hasn’t been an easy task; endless parts replaced, more bodywork than thought, a small fire, but in the end, and with the help of a multitude of exceptional Saab folks, it’s risen from the flames once again and feels fantastic to drive. With only 81,000 Miles, it really is like a new Saab, no rattles, everything feels exceptionally tight and with the performance and handling mods, almost better than original.

It’s hard to describe the feeling I get to have another Saab with an exciting future ahead of it, I’m still not sure why I continue to do it either, it’s expensive, time consuming and without profit, but for me, I love the sense of another Saab saved, given the love it deserves whilst I get to design them how I think they should be.

It’s now ready for the next part of it’s journey, written about, photographed and driven, you’ll find this very special Aero wagon for sale here.

*Words adapted from one of my all time favourite films; Ratatouille, just seems so apt.

Viggen from the Flames

August 4, 2020 Eleven

Almost 5 months ago today I purchased the Saab 9-3 Viggen convertible, I’ve done a number of updates throughout the journey, but today, it finally had it’s full exterior detail.

It’s not perfect, having covered 140,000 miles for it’s 5 previous owners, that’s almost 6 times around the Earth, it has stories to tell; stone chips and a few dents, but totally honest and with virtually no rust I couldn’t ask for more, it deserved to be saved, pampered and then enjoyed.

A local detailer has given it a good scrub down, clay bar and treated with Soft99 Fusso; a Japanese paint sealant which will protect it for up to 12 months whilst the roof has also been given a good clean with G101 APC together with a Fabsil Gold waterproofing.

Having driven it for a few hundred miles now, there are a few niggles to deal with, the Air Bag light needs reseting after removing the interior, the outside temp sensor needs replacing and there’s a slight knocking from the driver’s side front suspension set up. Other than that, the short shift gear knob is taking a while to settle in and has a tendency to pop out of 2nd when downshifting, and if this can’t be adjusted satisfactorily, I’ll change it back to the standard shifter instead which will be a shame, but essential.

As this was always a project to save another beautiful Saab, it’ll be up for grabs once the issues are all addressed, you’ll find the full build over on Aeroriginal soon.

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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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.