What makes an Aeroriginal?

September 8, 2022 Eleven

For each Saab Aero I rescue, I try to add a few small touches of individuality, modifications that subtly enhance the aesthetics of the build, drivability, comfort or handling. Not all of these can be bought 'off the shelf' of course, and these beautifully crafted metal mesh grilles are one of those items.

I originally commissioned Fraser to make one of these for an early build, a 9-3 HOT Aero, closely followed by another early 9-5 Aero. Each time they arrived, I was reminded of the care and attention that had gone in to making them, the metal mesh neatly finished and tucked under the original Saab grille frame, the condition of the outer frames he'd sourced, the quality of coating when I'd chosen to have them in Satin Black.

The grilles help create the overall visual impact of the car, and whilst the original forms are kept totally identifiable, the mesh adds a small point of difference which helps sets an Aeroriginal apart from other Aeros.

Many have asked about having one of these grilles made, so I’ve spoken to Fraser and he’s happy to take more commissions, depending on the donor grille, prices start from around £120.

Bespoke Mesh Grille | Fraser Davison

Griffin from the flames

August 22, 2022 Eleven

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It’s safe to say that if this gorgeous 9-5 Aero had been left for much longer, it would have been a very different outcome and might never have shone again. Mechanically, the sump had never been dropped and cleaned, the gearbox and engine oil were filthy (what was left of them) and not only had the oil cooler hose and unit been damaged, but the gearbox oil pipes had also deteriorated. Also the timing chain XX had almost worn through, and if it had gone completely, would have damaged the engine beyond sensible repair.

As it is, we’ve replaced everything that needed doing and the Saab undertook a 200 mile journey over the weekend and performed flawlessly. We haven’t added a Stage 1 remap from NoobTune yet, but the standard Aero boosts beautifully and exceptionally smoothly too. The cleverly utilised 9-3 Hirsch back box that Malcolm Miles fabricated together for me, looks and sounds great and adds a lovely touch of style and the new brakes and Abbott suspension feel as tight as the day it came out of the factory.

Whilst the interior is immaculate, the bodywork has plenty of patina; stone chips, dents and numerous marks, some of these we’ll address, but some will remain, this is an economy rescue and the original paint deserves to be honoured. We’ve given areas of corrosion underneath a good clean up, taking off surface rust and giving it a protective coat of Waxoil, we’ve also replaced one of the petrol tank straps that looked a little worse for wear.

To celebrate it’s rising from the flames, I gave it its first proper clean down and hugely excited by how it’s turning out, the 19” VXR alloys, although controversial to some, give the 9-5 a fantastic style and together with the Abbott springs, make the stance absolutely mesmerising.

I’m slowly machine polishing the entire car and once I’m done, it’ll go in for the worst panels to be repainted, most notably the passenger side rear arch, but overall, the Silver paintwork presents well.

This 9-5 Aero captures the reason I love rescuing Saabs, with the right mechanical work and with a few subtle modifications, they can be saved for many years, not only that, but they look spectacular, put a smile on your face and are becoming a rare sight on our roads. This one will be added to the Aerorignal pages very soon and will make someone very happy I hope.

Silver Linings

August 16, 2022 Eleven

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The silver 9-5 Aero arrived last weekend and was pulled off the transporter looking rather worse for wear, it had been standing for a number of months and really had started to decline. Alongside the split oil pipe, it became clear that not only was the oil cooler damaged, but the gearbox oil pipes were also in need of replacement. Malcolm Miles set to work and changed them all, fitting a replacement cooler and a set of new, old stock hoses, dropped the sump, flushed it all out, and added new engine and gearbox oils and filters.

All discs and pads have also been changed, together with a new set of Abbott Racing lowering springs, surface rust removed and a coat of Waxoil applied to required areas underneath. Broken parking sensors have been replaced, a new battery has been fitted and the Aero has already started coming back to life, the engine runs and sounds beautifully smooth again. I'd also found a set of stunning VXR 19" alloys and these have been fitted, transforming the look of the Saab and given it a more purposeful stance.

I'm hoping to show that we shouldn't give up on these early Saabs that are so often scrapped or broken up, especially ones that have so much potential. Yes it takes time and dedication, but parts are free flowing and with an experienced team to help identify issues, they can be rescued and returned to their former glory on a budget too.

The dashboard is currently in bits and having the gorgeous light satin wood one fitted today, this will again change the overall style and feel of the interior and compliment the prestige leather seats to perfection. The Audio and SID units are in great condition and will just require a deep clean to bring them back again, but the exterior bodywork will require a little more; a number of dents will need addressing as will the general overall finish, but the silver lining is beginning to shine through again on this Aeroriginal and that makes me very happy indeed.

Eco Aeroriginal

August 15, 2022 Eleven

I stumbled across a listing for a 2000 9-5 Aero in need of rescuing recently, it had a split oil pipe and couldn't be driven, it's owner was also in the process of moving to Albania so wanted it to go to another Saab fan.

I've been looking to do a budget build for a while now, but never found the right Saab, I think this could be the one. The listing said it had been well looked after and owner maintained for the past few years, receipts for parts seem to suggest this is true, however, the sump hadn't been dropped and cleaned as listed and the new exhaust from Sweden, wasn't actually the correct one for an Aero.

However, it's original owner had specified the Aero beautifully in my eyes; rare heated and vented 'prestige' leather interior, upgraded audio and even a rare glass sunroof, all in immaculate condition too. The dark wood dashboard was beginning to delaminate, so a beautiful, light wood replacement in a satin finish has been food to really enhance the retro feel.

It also arrived with a set of Saab Double Bridge 17 x 7.5 alloys fitted, although I like them, the build calls for something a little more special, so a set of 19" Hyper Silver VXR alloys have been sourced which look absolutely stunning on the 9-5.

The metallic silver paintwork is generally in good condition, although one of the rear arches has suffered a large scrape and one of the doors has a nasty scratch on it, but overall I think it’ll clean up beautifully. The underbody has a few areas that will require a bit more work; around the drain holes mostly, but other than that, a good wire brush and Waxoil will get it back to a good standard again for an early gen 1 9-5. It also has a 100% MOT pass rate; 17 MOT's with not a single fail.

I'll bee listing all costs at the end of the build, but wanted to prove to myself that a beautiful Saab Aero could be created on an economy, I'll be scrounging a few parts where I can and also utilising some of my finds, including a Hirsch rear boot lip, Hirsch back box and a few other goodies to make it feel a bit special again.

The Journey of a Saab 9000 Aero

August 3, 2022 Eleven

Built in Trollhättan, Sweden in the Winter of 1997 and sold by Ballards of Finchley for £30,225, the Saab was kept by its original owner for the next 11 years and covered just 64,000 miles. It was then purchased by its second and only other owner in 2008, who went on to keep the car for the next 13 years, however, it only covered another 43,000 miles and currently shows 107,000. Since 2019, the 9000 Aero was rarely used and became a little unloved until I heard about it late 2021.

Although it was running, it required plenty of attention; belts loose and noisy, head gasket leaking, ABS sensor fault, the suspension had seen better days, gearbox mounts had deteriorated and although the 9000 was solid at the front, the rear half required some cleaning and welding.

The driver’s door had been replaced and fitted badly, but the original one was provided with the car and although it has a dent to repair, it’s been put back on and fits beautifully again, the passenger side wing had rusted and has now also been replaced by another genuine part, but other than that, the bodywork is remarkably free from rust.

After a number of months spent at Malcolm Miles, the 9000 finally went for its MOT and passed with flying colours, a real tribute to the team for dedicating so much time and expertise bringing another Saab Aero back to life for me.

Aesthetically, the only renovation and modifications to be done so far, are fitting new Saab shocks and lowered Abbott Racing springs, having the iconic Super Aeros refurbished in a darker metallic grey and adding a full set of new Michelin Primacy tyres. After a few weeks of driving and snagging, it’ll be heading off for some paintwork and detailing and then finally, the interior will most likely be treated to a recolour.

Being a 25 year old car, it’s far from perfect and nor should it ever be, I love to see and feel each Saab’s journey, hear it’s story and honour them for what they are. Cars aren’t built like this any longer, and although they’ll never be worth tens of thousands of pounds, I still see the beauty in saving them for many years to come. There’s a lost art in building cars this well, ones that were built to last, to stand the test of time and make their owners proud, this Aero has the ability to do that now, possibly for many thousands of miles, it’s journey continues…

Saab Design Study

July 15, 2022 Eleven

There are numerous reasons why I believe Saab made such exceptional cars, not least, their infinite design capabilities. Driven by both form and function, Saab managed to bless us with superior innovation and refined details for some 66 years.

I've always been so impressed with Saab Design, that I thought it was about time I shared a few of them occasionally. As I'm currently in the process of saving a 1997 9000 Aero, I'll begin with one of my personal favourites; Super Aero alloys part numbers: 400100491 / Cap 400100707. 16 x 6.5" with an offset of 27. These stunningly simple, 3 spoke wheels managed to help give the 9000 Aero a totally unique aesthetic.

Manufactured by RONAL, the Super Aeros have the ability to look larger than they actually are, and is one standard wheel I can't bare to change. These wheels suit the 9000 so perfectly I can't imagine the Aero models with anything else.

For my 9000 project, I've chosen to have them fully refurbished and powder coated in a darker metallic grey, this will help create a contrast to the Silver paintwork and help highlight the Rocky Black Aero interior even further. It wasn't a standard option when the 9000 Aero was launched, but feel it adds a touch of individuality without compromising its overall design integrity, my whole reasoning behind Aeroriginal.

More than a feeling

June 28, 2022 Eleven

Almost a year to the day since I took delivery of this exceptional Saab, I watched it being driven off by a fellow Saabist on the next leg of it's journey. The mixed feelings of sadness and joy when this happens are strong ones and over the thirty plus Saabs I've owned and sold, really haven't faded.

I find it hard to explain to intrigued people why I continue to rescue Saabs; it's something that gives me immense pleasure and also an escape from the world. It allows me to dream, plan and implement everything from simple maintenance to modifications and bodywork, It's a pleasure that keeps me (slightly) sane if I'm honest.

I usually focus purely on Aeros, as they offer Saab's vision of the perfect iteration of each model, from the 9000 to the 9-3 and of course, the spectacular 9-5. I look for cars that offer a more unusual spec; colour, different leather, upgraded audio or even just a carbon dashboard, anything that sets them apart from the everyday. Of course, there's one stage above the Aero, and that's a Saab that has Hirsch modifications, they give the car the ultimate edge in my eyes, but are becoming increasingly difficult to find.

This particular 9-5 was only one of a handful in the UK that had been fully converted from factory, not just the remap, but the entire cooling system, Turbo, handling and aesthetics, all given a touch of Hirsch magic. I was sad to see this one go, but the pleasure I see if the faces of their new owners makes me happy. I know that with regular care, they'll give many more years of smiles, and that really is more than just a feeling.

Stop and stare

February 17, 2022 Eleven

When I purchased the 9-5 Hirsch Aero I noticed that the front brakes weren’t the upgraded Hirsch ones but the standard Aero specification. The previous owner had included the refurbished Hirsch callipers, larger discs and performance pads in the sale, but had never tried to fit them.

On the car’s first inspection, we tried to install them, but realised the callipers had become seized so left them off, and instead, replaced just discs with Tarox drilled and grooved ones. Over 1000 miles of so, these just haven’t been up to the standard required for the 305hp and weight of the car so we thought we’d try again.

The Hirsch callipers have all been dissembled, freed up and installed and signs are looking positive, although they are huge. To increase wheel clearance slightly we’re installing a set of 5mm MapTun spacers front and back which will also increase the overall track of the car by 10mm.

Another stunning Nappa leather sport steering wheel is also on the way from TunStyle just to finish off the interior properly. The craftsmanship is absolutely superb and really transforms the look and feel of the car which is quietly for sale here.

Night Panel

January 25, 2022 Eleven

I posted a quick photo of the Saab Night Panel recently on Twitter with the following caption “Saab Night Panel, for when you want to focus on the important things in life”. It’s been one of the many Saab innovations that I’ve admired for years, and from the overwhelming response, it seems I’m not alone:

“Modern dash panels ruin night vision and most are a real fiddle to dim. This feature was brilliantly simple and simply brilliant. Made me love my Talladega even more”

“Soooo miss this feature, hate modern dashboards which are like games arcades, it’s almost as if what’s outside your car doesn’t matter”

“I need one of these for my brain”

“Best feature ever. More cars need it. So much light pollution at night in cars these days”

“With the inside of cars starting to resemble mobile discos I do miss this”

“This was always a feature I loved, especially when it lit the whole console back up as you approached 90mph”

Saab understood that a driver’s focus is the most important function of cockpit design; Switch off the light and you’ll see better. When you drive at night it is important to have as few distracting light sources as possible. You should be able to concentrate on keeping your eyes on the traffic around you and on the road ahead. And realistically, all you really need to be able to check is the speedometer. Which is exactly what you get you you switch on the Night Panel in your Saab. The rest of the instrumentation is blacked out to give your eyes a rest. It is only illuminated on a ‘need to know’ basis. Yet another safety feature from Saab.

It seems to me that the world needs Saab innovation right now, form, function and beauty.

Reassuringly Reassuring

January 24, 2022 Eleven

As the years pass and we watch our Saabs getting older, I find it reassuring that there seems to have been a real surge of interest in the brand of late; people are becoming more aware of their innovation, beauty and longevity. This will hopefully help to keep more of them maintained as they should be and ultimately, keep more of them on the roads for the future.

It’s been 10 years now since Saab manufactured a single car and yet their desirability doesn’t seem to have been lost. There are ones that have always been universally praised of course, the classic 900 for instance, but what’s reassuring is the appetite for other, later model Saabs too. The 9-3 and 9-5 are equally desirable and have seen asking prices increase recently, the 9000 is finally getting some of the attention it deserves and any model boosting ‘Aero’ is commanding even more of a premium.

As I’ve continued to source, rescue, drive and enjoy many Saab Aeros, one has consistently surpassed my expectations; the 1st and 2nd generation 9-5 Aeros. They’ve proved themselves to be not only exceptionally reliable and an absolute joy to drive, but with minor work to the handling, these Saabs can outshine many modern cars, for comfort, style and performance. Looked after, they show little sign of wear and equal iconic modern classics such as the Mercedes W124 and BMW E39, in fact, in many ways, better.

As new cars quickly change to alternative modes of fuel, be it electricity, hydrogen or other, I can’t help but think how important it is to maintain our Saabs. After all, they won’t be crafting any new cars, so what we have now, is what we’ve got.

Being somewhat of a collector has allowed me to compare my Saabs with plenty of other marques. I currently own several, and I find it reassuring that I’ll happily choose the Saabs over them and will continue to look after them for as longs as I can.

This exceptionally special 9-5 Aero, Hirsch upgraded from factory is currently for sale to make way for others to be rescued. Find out more.

Interior Therapy

January 17, 2022 Eleven

Despite owning the 9-5 Hirsch for over 6 months now, I hadn’t had an opportunity to spend time detailing the dashboard. Over the years, the buttons tend to get coated with grime and become sticky, so it’s an exceptionally rewarding job to tackle.

I tend to use warm soap and water with either a toothbrush or paintbrush to work in some moisture first and then move on to a Hi-Foam Interior Shampoo from Autoglym for a second stage clean. I’ll them remove any residue with a microfibre cloth and hoover over the entire facia to really pull out any remaining dust and dirt.

I’ve got a real hate for any kind of oil or shine on the surfaces, so tend to stay away from most treatments; Autoglym Vinyl and rubber care being the exception. This feeds the plastics and bring the colours out again but still remains matt after finishing.

It’s a stage I love doing, especially on Saabs, the older dashboards were beautifully designed and built and respond well to care. The buttons are once again free from grime with clear letting and symbols and with the new Saab carbon facia, is both timeless and functional, all that remains is a new Nappa leather steering wheel.

Handcrafted Beauty

January 3, 2022 Eleven

As work starts on the silver 9000 Aero rescue, so does the search for new and unusual parts to give it a few desirable touches that us Saabists seem to cherish.

Currently the interior has a standard black plastic dashboard which although inoffensive doesn’t have the style this classic Saab deserves, so the first option to source was a wood veneer dashboard to replace it with.

Most available are now broken, faded and a little worse for wear, but managing to find two filthy ones at my Saab specialist gave me hope. I set about a full clean and polish and was surprised to discover the maker’s original production checklist hidden on the back of the dashboard; William Lawrence & Co. Ltd, a fine furniture maker in Nottingham, England founded in 1875 by a local Quaker named William Lawrence.

I’ve always been impressed by the quality of these pieces; genuine walnut veneer that helps create individuality in each car, but now realise that the process took some seven days, from first pressing and pigment to polish and final finish. Although not perfect, these dashboards really are works of art, small details that make Saabs special, this was a nice discovery to make and one I had never known before.

Every Cloud

December 8, 2021 Eleven

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I haven’t written anything for a few months; a combination of feeling a bit down, getting a bunch of lowlifes commenting on the work i’ve done with some recent Saabs and generally a lack of inspiration to keep rescuing Saabs with absolutely no return. But, of course the love for Saabs doesn’t diminish, and as fate / luck would have it, a number of very special ones had been offered to me in the space of a few days, every cloud as they say.

One of these, was a Silver 9000 Aero, Rocky Black leather, super Aero alloys and just 107,000 miles. Its last owner has had it for the past 12 years, but over the past few has left the Saab unused. Although very clean, it has a lot to focus on; oil leaks, faulty sensors, loose belts, cracked tyres etc, but overall has the potential to be a wonderful example of this amazing car.

It has a little rust on the inner rear quarters which will be welded, it needs a new front passenger wing, dents removed and the rear bumper has a slight crack that needs welding. Other than that, it needs a load of tlc, cleaning, polishing and maybe a few enhancements.

1 / 195 Limited Edition

September 23, 2021 Eleven

The 9-3 Monte Carlo is a rare Saab indeed, rumour has it that only 195 were released worldwide. There were 3 and 5 door versions, but the coupe has to be the chosen one with its HOT B204R T5 engine, stunning interior that's inspired by the iconic 9000 Aero interior by Recaro, and of course the shear beauty of form; extended doors, large rear side glazing and the timeless curves.

It's a Saab that I'd been looking for for an exceptionally long time and finally, one showed up that was hard to resist. Having been stored for more than 10 years, it's bodywork is near on perfect with none of the rust these early 9-3 are beginning to suffer, what's more it had only covered 73,000 miles, was a manual and had an interior that's as close to new as you can possibly get.

Early signs were fantastic, it drove beautifully, smelled like a proper Saab (those who know will know) and truly didn't have a mark on it. But of course with any 20 year old car, not everything can be right and after a full and thorough inspection, we discovered the obligatory split bulkhead had happened, so the work began.

The engine was totally removed, all signs of associated corrosion addressed, the bulkhead repair kit fitted and welded and the entire area rustproofed and resealed. Whilst the engine was out, we took the opportunity to fit a new Viggen clutch and Abbott Racing lightweight flywheel, drop the sump for good measure and generally replace anything that might need doing in the future together with a 250hp remap by Noob Tune.

The legendary Viggen rescue kit by Abbott was also fitted together with new Bilstein B8 shocks and Eibach springs, new bushes, new arms, front discs and pads and finished off with the beautiful classic Hirsch 18" rims.

Whilst all of this work was going on, I happened to find one of the rarest parts I've ever come across, a genuine Hirsch carbon dashboard and leather covered centre console which together, have absolutely perfected the already special interior.

I've noticed the speakers aren't good and might need replacing, I'm also moving towards a 3" downpipe and stainless exhaust so I can give it a stage 3 remap, but other than that, this is almost perfection in my eyes, this one just might be a little harder to let go of.

Hirsch Troll R Touches

September 15, 2021 Eleven

It’s been a hectic few weeks for the new 9-3 Monte Carlo, it went in to Malcolm Miles for it’s normal check over; oil and filter change and brake checks etc and ended up with the entire engine out.

What looked like an immaculate Saab, turned out to have a few surprises for us, not unexpected on a 20 year old car of course, but the obligatory split bulkhead had caused some areas to corrode, so with the impending suspension changes and power upgrades, it needed to be fixed and done correctly. The engine was removed as was the interior, the bulkhead welded, rustproofed and resealed and the famous Viggen Rescue Kit by Abbott Racing fitted.

Rust prevention has also been done to protect it for the future, drain holes cleaned up and coated as have the inner wheel arches. Whilst we’ve been at it, we’ve changed bushes, track rod ends, arms and brackets to handle the new Bilstein B8 shocks and Eibach springs with ease, we’ve also fitted a new Viggen clutch upgrade, a lightweight flywheel by Abbott Racing and set of performance discs and pads. The engine is now back in safely, a new 3.5 bar fuel pump and fuel filter fitted and we’re awaiting the arrival of the Stage 1 NoobTune remap to give the Monte Carlo its first 250+ grunt.

But with all of this mechanical work going on, it’s always rewarding to see some visual changes happening too. The 18” classic Hirsch alloys have been added but the best part for me has been the fitting of the ridiculously rare Hirsch carbon dashboard and the leather covered centre console. Not only has it changed the feel of the entire interior, but in my eyes, has given it the touch of individuality and quality it truly deserves.

More work will continue in time, but so far, I’m thrilled with how the Monte Carlo is coming along, it’s a Saab that deserves all it gets and will be an absolute pleasure to own and drive, the Hirsch touches taken from a genuine 2.0 Troll R from France, just add even more desirability.

Legand

August 19, 2021 Eleven

Yesterday I watched sadly as the iconic 9000 Aero was driven away by its new guardian, and yes, this one made me exceptionally sad to see it go. I’m constantly on the search for Saabs that are a little bit unusual, ones that maybe have a unique specification, a limited edition or even just an exceptional colour, and this 9000 was most defiantly one of those.

The 9000 Aero had always been a dream for me, I’ve wanted to own one for some 20+ years and have to say, it did not disappoint in any way shape or form, it was quite simply, a legend of a car. The biggest pleasure for me is bringing these Saabs back to life, giving them the dedication they deserve and fixing issues that other’s might have just neglected, hidden or deemed unnecessary to do. Once those have been ticked off, I can start to dream, thinking about what I’d love to do the make it really special again.

This specific 9000 had already been beautifully maintained and received plenty of performance updates throughout its journey, but I had a personal vision of how the 9000 Aero interior should be especially; I changed the faded walnut dash and central pocket cover, found original audio head units and rare cup holder, changed the gear knob and replaced all of the blown bulbs bring the interior back to how I remember seeing it in the 1996 brochure. Alongside a full mechanical shake down, we’ve also fitted a full set of Abbott Motorsport discs and pads and a new Michelin tyres.

It’s been a short but sweet Saab story with the 9000, but I’ve had it, loved it and passed it on to a fantastic new owner who I know will truly cherish it as much as I have. I do often wonder why I continue to search out these Saabs but they still excite me, they make me dream of what can be achieved and how I can make them as good as my vision, they also help to keep me on the right side of sane which is often not an easy task. Above all though, it’s when I read words like this that I realise why I still and will continue to love Saabs and our odd little global community :

"Big thank you to Paul a.k.a Saab vs. Scepticism for selling me this gorgeous 9000 Aero. I could tell he was genuinely sad to see it go but he knows it will be cherished. What a top guy, properly enthusiastic about keeping the brand alive and clearly a true car guy! As part of the deal I asked him to stick a bit of juice in it (enough to get me home) and rather than just putting a £10 splash he went and brimmed it with 99RON, as well as getting it cleaned for me. Legend, thank you”.

Smoke Gets in Your Eyes

July 21, 2021 Eleven

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Over the past few months, I been slowly coming to terms with the fact that my constant mission to buy and rescue Saabs is proving more and more painful for both my soul and my bank account. It’s become obvious that the way I like to do each project is just wasting time and money, and the resell value can’t ever match what I put in, let alone make a tiny profit.

It fills me with sadness really, as it’s one of my ways to stay buoyant and inspired, but, there is an upside to this reality, I needed to find another Saab that was exceptionally special, one to keep for longer, one for myself. As luck would have it, I was recently contacted by a great guy who asked if I might be interested in buying his Saab 9-5, he hadn’t driven it for 4 years due to personal circumstances and needed to sell it.

After further talks, he told me it was a factory Hirsch Aero with a hefty specification;

Performance enhancement to 305hp
Intercooler
Intake
Air filer housing
Exhaust system inc sport catalyst
Turbo
Fuel pressure regulator
Sports chassis including shocks and springs
4 piston brake system
3 part mesh grille
Rear spoiler
18” six spoke alloys

What really tipped it over the edge for me was the generous Saab specification too, it comes in the beautifully rare Smoke Beige Metallic, has an almost immaculate Sand leather interior and also has the factory sat nav and Harman Kardon Audio upgrade. It’s been lovingly cared for by specialists, most notably Abbott for a big chunk of its life and the paintwork is superb.

Of course, having sat in a garage for 4 years, it’s going in for recommissioning immediately, together with a new Hirsch front brake kit that also came with the car. It’ll get all new fluids, filters and air con clean and regas and a new MOT.

It’s a genuinely stunning find, and as far as I know, there’s only a handful of these heavily specified Hirsch Aeros left in the country. I feel privileged to have been offered such a great Saab and will be working hard to get it spot on, but for myself this time.

The Journey Continues...

July 13, 2021 Eleven

After many months of work on the Scarab Green 9-5 Aero, it felt like the right time to pass-the-parcel so to speak. I wouldn't normally be a happy man to not have finished a project, but this one defies logic. I should be doing the bodywork next, but my heart says leave it as it is; a genuinely lovely Q car, so I'm letting its new owner decide what's next this time.

In its 21 years, it has only covered 83,000 miles, and with the work done so far, it honestly feels like a new Saab, the modifications have given it a new lease of life and it feels exceptionally tight; no rattles, no awkward noises, just super smooth and rather fast thanks to a Stage 3+ remap from Noob once again.

It took endless revisits to finally eliminate all of the issues with the suspension and handling. We've changed endless arms, bushes, brackets and bearings, we've added the B8 shocks with Eibach springs, put new Michelin Pilot Sport 4 rubber all round, fully refurbished the beautiful Hirsch alloys and we've had a full alignment done; utter perfection.

The interior was possibly the worst I'd ever seen; buttons were horrible, seats ruined and layers of dirt everywhere, but now it once again honours the quality and longevity of Saab craftsmanship. A new full Saab Carbon dash has been added together with all new units; SID, climate and Audio all changed, a spectacular new Nappa leather wheel by TunStyle and late 2005 Aero sand leather front seats, brand new carpet mats and later Aero door sills to finish things off.

I'm always sad to watch these go, but also fills me with joy to think that another Saab is going to be cherished and kept on the road for years to come, one day, one's of these Aeros is going to be the 'one that got away' could it be this one?

Perfection

June 3, 2021 Eleven

Perfection isn’t a word to be used lightly, but the Saab 9000 Aero comes close to it for me. Don’t get me wrong, it does have its faults, but all in all and being able to compare it to over 150 cars, I’d say it’s one of the best I’ve ever driven.

During the past year, I’ve been lucky enough to own what I’d class as the all time 90’s super saloon greats; the Mercedes Benz W124 E500, Audi C5 RS6 and the BMW E39 M5, and I can confidently say, the 9000 Aero stands its ground beautifully and dare I say it, in some areas, wins.

It’s got almost unbeatable proportions for instance; 25 years old and still comfortably seats four adults in sublime comfort and style, it’s a hatchback too, and with the rear seats down will take an enormous amount of stuff, and when you want it all to yourself for a full on B road blast or just a relaxed cross country cruise, well, it just handles that too.

This isn’t quite your standard 9000, it’s had various performance enhancements to make it feel utterly at ease with modern driving; a Turbo Technics Hybrid Turbo, upgraded intake and indiction kit, large downpipe and free flow stainless exhaust together with a lovely remap running at around 300hp. The suspension has been totally upgraded with Koni shocks and Eibach springs, and it’s just about to receive a full set of Abbott Racing motorsport drilled and vented discs, pads and a set of Michelin tyres.

I might just be a little biased here as this has been a long awaited dream for me, but in the first month of ownership, it has completely justified its high ranking spot on my list of best cars. They’re getting rare here in the UK, especially the Aeros, and ones without rust are like gold dust so I count myself a lucky man to have found a lovely example. These things should be easily worth 2 to 3 times their value, the stunning interior designed and made by Recaro, is worth buying a 9000 Aero for alone in my book, they’re possibly the best looking, most comfortable car seats I’ve ever sat in.

I have lots of questions for myself at the moment, modify or leave well alone, larger wheels or just stick with the iconic, sixteen inch Super Aeros? I’m sure it’ll continue to get lavished with care and new parts, but for now, I’m just enjoying automotive perfection.

Possibly the best ‘spares or repair’ Saab 9-5 Aero ever

May 17, 2021 Eleven

I’m really not sure where to begin with this beautiful first generation Saab 9-5 Aero, it’s in an amazing colour combo of course; Scarab Green with Sand leather, it’s low miles at just 83,000 and low owners too, that’s almost unheard of, oh and it drives perfectly. What’s more, there’s virtually no rust, so why advertise as ‘spares or repair’?

This has been an odd one for me, and I’m still not sure what the best route is, but what I do know, is that it’s a wonderful car. I’ve spent over £6000 on it so far, and virtually every single issue it had on arrival has now been fixed and it also has a brand new MOT.

The list of parts is almost endless, but a small overview:

DO88 performance intercooler and pipe kit £650
APH sport car 3” downpipe £500
Full stainless Jetex dual performance exhaust £500
Noob Tune stage 3+ remap £200
Bilstein B8 suspension with Eibach lowering springs £670
Fully refurbished 18” Hirsch six spoke alloys £1200
Brand new Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres £500
Full 2005 Aero electric heated leather interior £500
New Saab Carbon dashboard £300
New SID and heating unit with no missing pixels £200
Nappa leather sport steering wheel by TunStyle £400
New genuine Saab carpet mats £100

Let’s just add the parts list up, that’s over £5700 not including any labour or mechanics costs, servicing, new filters, sump drop, new fog lights, upgraded later Aero wiper arms, blades etc., one word springs to mind; idiot.

The next step for me would always be the bodywork, but this is where I’m slightly confused, because although it might just be the perfect sleeper, it’s by no means perfect, it has many tiny dents, it’s had an overpainted red door at some point and it just looks a little tatty. After a good inspection, even the usual areas of weakness for rust just aren’t bad at all, it’s utterly solid.

The only other faults left on the entire car are that the interior heater offers ice cold or boiling hot and has to be adjusted by the fan only, works for me but the idea of ripping out pretty much the entire dashboard and engine to fix it offers little excitement and the front interior door handles need replacing as the rubber coating has gone brittle and is falling off.

This is the first Saab I’ve ever been stuck on, my head tells me to do the bodywork, but my heart (and wallet) says leave it alone now, it’s such a great sleeper and cruiser like it is and it’d honestly be a shame to take away from that. So back to the post title ‘spares or repair’ there’s actually only one or two things left to repair, it can be utterly enjoyed and used for years to come exactly as it is, but if someone wanted a ridiculously amazing spares car, or to spend the time of the bodywork, they’d have a pretty rare gen 1 Saab on their hands.

I’m open to sensible offers, but even reading the list above, it seems to dictate a price of around £4,000; think of it as a wish list of parts for your first generation 9-5 Aero but with a perfect 9-5 Aero thrown in, make sense? Nope, it doesn’t to me either, ‘idiot’ once again springs to mind, but someone’s in for a huge treat.

Full details here.