Anything but ordinary

July 14, 2026 Eleven

Sixteen years ago, Saab presented their all new 9-5 to the world, they'd become an independent company again, and as the brochure stated 'this move signals the start of a new era for us – we are all set to take our role as the unique premium brand even further.'

Although, behind the scenes, there were many issues, Saab managed to release a car that inspired hope and praise, it was a car that seemed to promote Saab's unique design perspective, quiet innovation and Swedish clarity. What made it all the more exciting, was that Saab had taken the decision to manufacture the new 9-5 in Trollhättan, their true home - 'We have regrouped all of our resources in the place where we originally started, Trollhättan, Sweden. By devoting ourselves fully to our unique heritage, the individualistic character of our brand will truly stand out in the future.'

I was lucky enough to be offered an extended road test of the 9-5 by my local Saab dealership; Bond Street Saab, an Arctic White Aero, manual with panoramic roof, harman/kardon audio and the wonderful Jet Black sports leather, perforated interior, at the time, it felt totally new, like no other car on the road, and a wonderful view in to the future of Saab as an independent manufacturer, but sadly, after just a few years of stop start manufacturing, this wonderful future came to an end for not only the new 9-5, but Saab entirely.

Over the years, I've always kept to the older generation 9-5 together with a number of 9-3 and also many more classic Saabs, this hasn't been a conscious decision, but more focused on my own knowledge of the older Saabs and my ability to maintain and modify them as I wanted. I've been lucky enough to have a great friend; Jason Miles, who's also an absolute legend with Saab mechanics and has helped me work on and improve well over 30 Saabs to date, but the new generation 9-5 is an unknown entity to us both.

This weekend however, that’s all changed, as I've purchased a 2011 9-5 Aero. Finished in Jet Black Metallic over Jet Black leather perforated sports seats, it has the manual gearbox, 10 spoke Edge Silver 19" optional allots, Xenon headlights and harman/kardon surround sound system with 11 speakers, Saab Bluetooth hands-free system and Pilot head-Up display. It also has a full service history and seems to be in reasonable health, although I'll reserve judgement until Jason has given it a good service and health check.

It's crying out for an oil change as now overdue, and it has numerous rattles from the suspension and chassis which will need investigating, there are some signs of early corrosion in the lower rear arch and door seams that need urgently sorting, but my initial feelings are very much the same as they were 16 years ago, and that just reminds me of how inspirational this 'new' Saab actually was back in 2010.

I like to return to the original brochures and read Saab's vision, and these pages still resonate with me today, I love their unwavering connection to the Scandinavian landscapes and nature, their belief in better - Anything but ordinary.

Simple Pleasures

July 9, 2026 Eleven

I know i’ve written about this before, and I’m sure I will again, but it’s a part of each project I adore, it gives me a huge amount of joy to see the front of these amazing Saabs literally light up again.

After the wonderfully robust headlights with glass lenses on the first generation 9-5, Saab moved to headlights plastic lenses, the light technology might have improved, but the longevity of the lenses didn't. After years of facing all kinds of weather head on, they often become cloudy and tainted yellow which besides restricting optimal performance, also isn't a great look for any car.

Fortunately, with a bit of effort and patience, they can be given a new lease of life and restore the personality of these amazing cars. I tend to use Autoglym headlight restorer as it has worked on many sets of lights for me in the past. The kit contains a range of sanding and polishing discs a drill fittings and polishing compound, I use this with my regular DIY drill as it's smooth and allows for delicate speed adjustments.

The first P800 sand is possibly the scariest, as it removes the surface of the lens and leaves you with a completely opaque finish, but work carefully through each stage and this will slowly become finer and finer until the last, final wet and dry stages. Being meticulous about checking for sanding swirls is important, and I tend to repeat stages when I'm not happy with the finish. Once all of the sanding stages are complete, I use a micro cloth to wipe any reside off and then apply the compound with the soft sponge pad provided, the lenses are left with an as new finish, a crystal clear surface that allows 100% of light to shine through again.

I can't help but love this process, after a few hours work, you've transformed the front of your Saab, it's a simple pleasure I almost look forward to doing on each project. I might not get them quite as good as the professional detailer, but the result always makes me smile, and that's what rescuing these Saabs is all about for me - the pleasure in bringing these amazing cars back to life, one stage at a time.

Saab 900 SVO Concept Coupé

July 1, 2026 Eleven

Another gem in the Saab Car Museum's collection, is this wonderful 900 SVO Concept Coupé. Sometime in 1994, Saab Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) lead by Peter Leonard began the process of creating an absolute masterpiece of automotive design. Working closely with Oxfordshire based Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR), they set about creating a high performance focused Saab.

It took almost 2 years of initial development before the Monte Carlo Yellow SVO Concept Coupé was first revealed at the 1996 Geneva Motor Show. This was quickly followed by its second showing at the New York Motor Show, where it shared centre stage with a Lightening Blue convertible SVO version, both received huge praise.

A further period of development continued and in collaboration with TWR, the SVO team worked on perfecting the concept Saabs, they finally became reality, and moved in to full production in 1999. However, by that time, the 900 SVO have become the foundation for the mighty Saab Viggen, aptly named after the 37 Viggen jet fighter plane.

Although the 900 SVO Coupé had morphed in to the 9-3 Viggen, it was this beautiful Yellow concept that first featured all of the original styling. The design team at TWR, headed up by Ian Callum were responsible for the iconic body kit, creating a more aggressive aerodynamic package. This signature kit included a deeper, more aggressive front bumper, side skirts and a deeper, distinctive rear bumper and spoiler, the concept also got a dramatic set of 3 spoke alloys, on the 9-3, these would be replaced by the exclusive Viggen alloys.

Walking around the Concept SVO, you begin to notice subtle design touches that sadly didn't make it to the final production cars. The front grille for instance, it had the more refined, narrower chrome framework, the depth of the intakes were far more purposeful, and it had a performance mesh at it's core, the lower graphite bumper cover also featured some wonderful aerodynamics, with a more defined gape between that and the grille - features I'd have loved to have seen on the Viggen. I also personally loved the centre, colour coded blanking panel between the rear lights, it somehow gave the car a cleaner aesthetic and really suited the rear profile. It also had a rather distinctive, rectangular, satin tailpipe with rounded corners, a feature that also enhanced the cleanness of the design, and, of course, the wheels, I imagine inspired by the iconic 900 3 spokes, the design kept the Saab aesthetic, but modernised them with larger diameter, wider stance and profile details between the spokes for superior aerodynamics.

Saab 9000 Ecosport

June 30, 2026 Eleven

Last week, I finally got to travel to Trollhättan to visit the Saab Car Museum and the Box - it lived up to every one of my expectations.

Considering my love of Saab, this has been a long awaited trip, it's been on my wish list for many years, but the limited time period of the Box, made me take action and visit. This will be one of many posts related to the collection, as I found so many of the Saabs shown inspirational , and being a 9000, this particular car just ticks all the boxes so to speak.

'The Saab Ecosport is a high-performance car that has been evolved to reflect Saab’s regard for the environment. The Saab Ecosport illustrates the vast development potential on the Saab concept.'

'This concept car was showcased at the Geneva Motor Show in 1992 and demonstrated a range of innovations primarily in the powertrain and environmental areas. With the new Trionic engine management system, Saab set the standards in terms of performance, exhaust emissions and fuel consumption. Additionally, it could run on alternative fuels such as methanol and ethanol. A heat storage unit connected to the cooling system stored heat for the next cold start and reduced exhaust emissions. The Sensonic automatic clutch, in combination with 17” Super Aero wheels and low-profile, low-rolling-resistance tyres, added to the driving pleasure.'

The more you study this very special 9000, the more innovation you notice, the sunroof for instance features solar cells that would power the interior ventilation, technology that eventually appeared in the early Audio RS6, and later, the Fisker Karma. It had a thermo accumulator to improve cold Winter starts, heat absorbing windows, UV headlights and a low emission, high performance engine, capable of running on various fuels. Of course, the visibly wonderful Super Aero alloys had me completely fixated, with their larger 17" diameter and more purposeful form to cater for the large, 4 piston calipers and uprated front vented discs.

Not content with just the museum's explanation of this amazing Saab, I did a little more research and discovered that Saab Héritage in Paris can recreate an almost perfect replica of the Ecosport model, with some beautifully considered details, and of course, the all important 17" Super Aero wheels, 35 000,00 €.

Apologies if you see a few too many posts related to the museum, but I found it exceptionally exciting, also managing to talk to some of the volunteers who shared wonderful memories or their time working at Saab was an absolute privilege, thanks to all the wonderful people in Trollhättan who've made this collection possible for all of us to enjoy.

6 x 9000 = T18

June 9, 2026 Eleven

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I recently spotted a Facebook Marketplace ad for a 1996 Saab 9000 CSE that was being broken, I noticed that it had its original Clarion audio units still fitted, both the radio / tape unit and also the separate CD unit. I messaged the seller, and he confirmed they 'should' still be there, what's more, it wasn't just one car being broken, it was 6.

I decided to take the 9000 T18 on a parts sourcing road trip over to Lincoln where the cars were being kept, it's a good 150 mile round trip, so the perfect opportunity to give the T18 a proper drive.

I arrived only to find that the 9000 with the 2 units in, actually weren't together any longer, but after an initial walk around the various cars, I noticed I could source them from a couple of different breakers, I also managed to rescue a number of other interior parts, 2 climate control units in great condition, switches including the central window unit, and a few temperature sensors - all items that might come in useful to keep the T18 in great shape for many more years.

It's always a sad sight the see so many amazing Saabs being broken, but for numerous reasons, they might not have been in good enough shape to rescue, I don't know their full history, or why they ended up as breakers, but from a part story, they were purchased as a lot together from an old gentleman who'd also collected them for parts.

Besides leaving with a box full of finds, the drive was hugely enjoyable, the T18 has the ability to cover vast miles in true Saab comfort, and for a 30 year old, can really move at great pace. It is also a great pleasure to experience what Abbott Racing believed to be the best version of the mighty 9000 Aero, the amount of torque, smooth, decisive gearing, fettled handling and capable braking makes it a seriously special Saab.

An optimistic way of looking at these 6 cars being broken, is that in some part, they are helping other, luckier Saabs thrive for the future, without them, we'd be starting to loose many more, and that'd be a crying shame, as I truly believe the Saab 9000's are one of the best Saabs ever built.

A few valuable parts remain; rear lights and central reflector panels, rust free front wings, a full set of super rare veneer door caps, (although in dire need of full renovation), Turbo grilles, badges, wheels, glass - all parts that sadly, will become harder to find in the next few years, I wish I had the time to strip them all down and store the parts, hopefully someone else will, and what a treasure trove.

Lightening Blue Season

June 2, 2026 Eleven

I realised recently, that for the past 15 years, I haven’t gone a single Spring / Summer without a convertible. They haven’t all been Saabs, there have been classic Mercedes, modern Porsches and most recently, a classic Porsche Targa, but these have all been passing phases, Saabs always make their way home again.

My latest is the spectacular Viggen, rare Saabs that really do embrace their maker’s purposeful philosophy, ‘At a glance, the 9-3 Viggen resembles other Saab cars - and yet it doesn’t. It radiates even more stability and force, and the trained eye recognises that this car is built for a purpose, the Saab Viggen has been created for active, effective driving’.

Over the years, we’ve realised the original generation was flawed and this includes the Viggen, especially the convertible. It had inferior chassis torsion, the handling wasn’t as engaging as Saab might have liked, and issues with too much power to the front wheels and bulkhead cracks gave them mixed reviews - ‘flawed diamond’ being the most memorable for me.

Of course, the legendary Viggen rescue kit, designed and manufactured by Abbott Racing literally transforms these cars, it gives them the final touch of genius that should have been fitted from factory. Going even further, you can add a 4 or 6 point brace that enhances and steadies the chassis, giving the reassuring touch this powerful car cries out for.

These Saab convertibles are built to withstand the 4 seasons, cosy, robust and authentic throughout the year, but their crowning glory comes when the seasons of warmth, verdant green landscapes and crisp blue skies appear. The roof comes down and transforms these Saabs into sensational cruisers, with the roof down, it feels tighter, more responsive and exceptionally smooth, Saab had a special touch with their convertibles, creating iconic cars that are hard to match.

Even today, the work both TWR and Ian Callum did to distinguish these Viggens from other Saabs is just timeless, they become far more than just a mode of transport, they become a way of life throughout these beautiful seasons.

All in the details

April 27, 2026 Eleven

For me, part of the joy of rescuing these Saabs, is in the small details, sourcing and replacing warn or broken parts that get left and forgotten over time. Look at many ads for Saab 9-5’s for sale, and if it’s an auto, it will most likely have a broken gear selector skirt - a gaping hole in to the hidden mechanics. Also, the MY02/03 handbrake gaitors are made of inferior quality fabric material rather than the original, earlier leather, they tend to crumble and look messy, whilst the leather version ages beautifully with attractive patina.

All small details to most people, but they add up, fix them, and these Saabs react beautifully to a bit of care, in fact, I’m always surprised at just how fantastic these 20+ year old interiors scrub up.

Jason; friend and Saab master, manages to remain calm even with all of my random requests, he knows these 9-5’s inside out, and how best to approach each and every job. Whilst we were replacing the gear selector skirt, we’ve fitted an entirely new handbrake assembly with leather gaiter, and we’ve also fitted a new old stock Saab carbon fibre dashboard to give the interior a facelift. We managed to untangle a load of nasty phone wiring and an unsightly cradle at the same time too.

With the interior stripped out, it allowed us to give the under carpets a good clean, and the seats treated to a Gliptone refresh and moisturiser, leaving the beautiful Saab sand leather almost like new.

All back together again now, and the overwhelming sensation that these cars really are a bit special, everything feels a little more showroom fresh and the perfect backdrop for a few more modifications to follow.

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Spot the Difference

April 13, 2026 Eleven

Answer : None

Whilst that's not exactly true, it's a powerful way to show the time, effort and expense that goes in to rescuing these Saabs, needless to say, the new Nocturne Blue Aero has been pulled apart and put back together again, and that's only just the beginning of the project. The shiny new Jetex tailpipe and sparkling headlights give a hint that things are different from before, but they really are the only aesthetic changes so far.

Over the past few weeks, the Master Saab Magician; Jason Miles, has spent endless hours on the hidden mechanics and modifications this beautiful 9-5 deserves. It's an interesting fact that many of the details we've undertaken, usually just don't get done, they get overlooked or ignored because they're either difficult of costly to do, time consuming jobs such as a sump drop and clean, torque rod bush and subframe bushing replacements - they all take numerous hours of dedication to do, but the visible reward is minimal.

What you do notice however, is the drive is lifted, the car begins to feel tighter and more sorted, in effect, it's the hidden jobs that bring these Saabs back to life again, and just can't be overlooked.

Until now, I've never really added up the detailed costs of doing these rescues, it's just been for my personal pleasure and vision. I aim to get them to a condition I want them for myself, they have to look and feel great to drive - reassuringly sorted and far less tired than when I find them. But being a little more fiscally responsible and accountable (to the powers that be), I thought I'd follow this specific rescue in detail, and just see where the time and money goes, this is just the first phase of the project, but as you'll see, the costs are already significant :

Saab 9-5 Aero £2450
Oil trap hose assembly £23
Torque rod bush £40
Jetex stainless exhaust / flex £730
DI Pack Genuine Saab £285
NGK Plugs £48
3" downpipe £300
DO88 Intercooler £400
Gear selecter skirt £35
Castrol Oil / Filter £50
K&N Air Filter £80
Irmscher 18" wheels £300
Subframe bushing £32
Genuine side repeaters £38
Labour to date £1000

Phase 1 total = £5811

As with every rescue, this is just the beginning, the hidden details to get the car back on track, next comes the fun part, the ones that everyone sees, the aesthetic changes that give the car it's purpose and unique touches, in essence this is now moving on to the more pleasurable stage. I truly believe however, those next bits are purely for viewing pleasure and really aren't the things that rescue the car. It's the hidden work that sets the foundation for Saabs that hopefully will go on to give many more years of joy, that's where the real value and difference is.

The Viggen

March 17, 2026 Eleven

Once classed as the fastest production car Saab had ever crafted, the 9-3 Viggen holds a special fondness for most Saab folk. Whilst only an estimated 4,600 Viggens were ever built and sold globally, the UK got approximately 200 convertibles across all four colour ways.

It’s a genuine Saab icon, a truly ludicrous car that has many qualities as well as a few flaws, and I for one, can never resist its charms, especially as a convertible.

‘At a glance, the 9-3 Viggen resembles other Saab cars - and yet it doesn’t. It radiates even more stability and force, and the trained eye recognises that this car is built for a purpose.

The shape of the body is classic and an aerodynamic success. Spoilers and side skirts have little to do with decoration; they are carefully shaped to reduce lift forces and drag. Wheels and brakes, stance and profile are all statements about the intended usage. And under the bonnet you will find and upgraded turbocharger feeding the modified 2.3 litre engine.

The Saab 9-3 Viggen has been created for active, effective driving.’

1999 SAAB 9-3 VIGGEN BROCHURE

This one came to me as a bit of a surprise, I wasn’t looking for one, neither do I need it right at the minute, but it’s a wonderful example of a Lightening Blue Viggen with Rocky Black and Deep Blue interior, it’s also been meticulously maintained and cared for all its life with a flawless history I’ve rarely seen. It’s also only covered 71,000 miles. It’s almost showroom condition inside and out, with only a few areas I need to address.

I’m looking forward to enjoying it for a few months, hopefully to fully embrace the best of an English Spring and Summer - roof down with the intoxicating soundtrack of a modified engine and exhaust to enrich every journey.

Nocturnal Instincts

March 10, 2026 Eleven

The dark beauty of a Nocturne Blue 9-5 Aero is always alluring, it’s a colour that feels both sophisticated and purposeful, that paired with the quiet luxury of a full sand leather interior gives you a wonderfully timeless Saab. To me, this is the 9-5’s most endearing generation, with its more aggressive front shark tooth bumper, bi-xenon headlights and scooped rear bumper - it’s a Saab that always feels rather special.

This isn’t my first Nocturne Blue Aero, but the last one was exceptionally tired and rust had taken over, so it became the donor car for the Sportwagon build instead. However, it left me with a longing for another Nocturne project car. With only a few previous owners and low miles at 129,000, it’s lived most of its life in the Norfolk area.

It’s arrived with a few issues to diagnose and sort out, the obligatory engine light is on, but easily solved, as I believe it’s an ongoing lamba sensor issue, we’ll be changing the entire exhaust system, so this will also help rectify that. But early signs are good, it’s in wonderful condition with only minor bodywork issues to resolve. We’ll drop the sump for good measure, replace the DI pack and plugs, and generally give it a thorough service before setting out on the modifications list.

However, there was one immediate aesthetic modification I couldn’t resist; changing the wheels. It came with the gorgeous 17” double Y alloys, which always look a little underwhelming on a 9-5, so the search was on for something altogether fresher for this project. I always like to keep things OE+, changes that Saab or Hirsch might have done themselves, and think these wheels really suit the 9-5 aesthetic. Crafted by Irmscher; the tuning house for Opel back in 2004, they have a matching bolt pattern and offset to suit our Saabs. Called the Sigma, they’re 18 x 8 with a stunning concave, multi spoke design and finished in hyper silver. It’s always a rick to put non Saab wheels on a project, as they rather decisive, but in this case, I couldn’t be happier with them, they almost inspire an Alpina vibe.

It’s waiting patiently for Jason Miles to cast his eyes over before we create a works list, but couldn’t resist a few initial visual enhancements, so besides the wheels, the Hirsch grille has been fitted, and thanks the my friend, James Vey, it’s now got the subtle addition of a third rear head restraint to complete to feeling of quiet luxury.

The Saab 9000 Aero T18

March 2, 2026 Eleven

The Saab 9000 Aero T18 was an exclusive collaboration between Saab City and Abbott Racing, inspired by the stealthy 1947 Saab T18 Torpedo Bomber, only 21 full conversions were ever produced, an exceptionally rare Saab, created to be the ultimate 9000 Aero. Back in 1996 when this specific T18 was converted, it cost a not insignificant £48,000, and came with every conceivable Abbott Racing modification.

I’ve admired these builds for many years, but never really seen a suitable one for sale, until recently; a single owner car with low mileage. What makes it even more special, is its provenance. It was ordered new by a close friend of Mike Powell, the Managing Director of Saab City, then owned and maintained by the same family ever since.

Talking the Giles Fairweather (ex Abbott Racing); who can be mostly accredited for the concept and creation of these T18 Aeros, he remembers these amazing cars with great fondness - ‘I was involved in that car from start to finish, from the initial fax from Mike at Saab City, to becoming friends with the owners during their ownership. I remember the Speedo heads were done by Reap Automotive Design by Julian who also does Porsche dials. They then go off to Speedy Dials for re-calibration as they went to 180mph, rather than the standard Aero 140mph. Many happy hours spent in his studio getting these done, he was a skateboarder as well, bit of a duuude, and let’s not get into the heads, diffs, side sills, I remember it all, as it was mostly my idea and Mike Powell having the confidence to go with it’

As everyone knows, I’ve been a huge advocate of Abbott Racing over the past 20 years, from memories of the first 9000 Aero I saw modified for an old boss, to a rather special 9-3 convertible I purchased directly from Abbott, and the renovation of my 900 classic convertible. They have always had a passion for Saab that has driven their specialised modifications and products. The T18 is much like a showcase for their passion, an example of refining and fettling, a vision of their winning track cars, but for the road, this was the original T18 spec back in 1996:

18 x 8 6 spoke T18 alloys wheels 225/40 tyres
Gas flowed cylinder head with 31mm exhaust valves
Limited slip differential
55mm high flow intercooler
Engine management upgrade to 1.35 bar boost
Full lowered sport suspension - including springs
Stainless steel twin T18 exhaust with DTM tail pipe
4 pot AP racing calibers (Aluminium & power coated)
Front ventilated discs (330mm / 13”) and slotted rear discs
Competition front pads
Aluminium polished ‘Special Reserve’ gearknob
Stainless steel ‘Special Reserve’ door kick panels
Colour coded grille
White dials with T18 numbered speedometer
T18 Badges
BHP - 310

I can only imagine what it would have felt like to have collected one of these special Aeros back in 1996, but Giles’ final memory gives us a wonderful insight - ‘We did a beautiful black T18, and the owner used to go home under the LimeHouse link in 2nd gear on the rev limiter for the intoxicating pops and bangs at 70mph, 32mph through there and you had 3 points heading your way, good old days I must say’.

I’m sure I’ll be calling on more of Giles’s knowledge as I look to refresh this special Saab Aero T18, but for now, I’ll just let myself enjoy the moment.

Rise of the Sportwagon

February 24, 2026 Eleven

After a busy week of changes in the Saabvs collection, I’m briefly down to only 2 Saabs - the beautiful 9000 Aero, and the mighty 9-5 Sportwagon.

As i’d focused my attention on refining and driving both the 9-3 HOT Aero convertible and Vector Sport, I’d been neglecting the others, not to mention the shocking weather we’ve been having here in the UK. Over the weekend, however, we were blessed with no rain and a few rays of much needed sunlight; the perfect opportunity to take the 9-5 Spotwagon for a blast.

Why do I love these Sportwagons so much?

Design alchemy - utilitarian ability and spirited performance, stealthy profile and relaxed touring capabilities, especially in the 9-5 Sportwagon. They manage to combine everything you’d need and more, not only that, but side by side against so many modern SUV’s they just ooze elegance, they aren’t needlessly bloated, they don’t have garish LED illumination or touchscreens, they just get on and do their job in complete style.

With this particular build, we’ve heavily focused on its performance side, enhancing its drivability and handling. It’s an exciting car to drive, and you could be forgiven for forgetting you’re in an estate car, it has the ability to transform any journey in to a smile inducing few hours with the added benefit of the legendary Saab comfort and safety.

I get numerous messages asking if I have any future rescues or projects in line, and they’re often looking for a 9-5 Sportwagon or 9-3 Sportcombi. it’s a trend I’ve been happily watching and truly feel they’re gaining popularity again, and they really do deserve it.

Regret

February 11, 2026 Eleven

I understand the order of things, the house rule that I'm only allowed a certain amount of Saabs at any one time, and to make room for more projects and rescues, some have to inevitably leave the stables - but it really doesn't make it any easier to let them go.

I purchased this absolutely gorgeous 9-3 HOT Aero convertible in the super rare combination of Merlot Metallic and Sand leather, I'd known about it previously when Peter Raw owned it, and had severe colour envy, but at them time, I had too many other Saabs, so it slipped me by. Then in August last year, I spotted the very same one for sale, except it had found its way closer to me; how could I resist?

It had had a huge amount of care and attention lavished on it, the paintwork is some of the nicest I've ever seen on one of these early Aeros, the engine had been maintained beautifully and initially, it seems to drive well.

After a few hundred miles of driving, I realised that the handling was far from perfect, there were knocks from the chassis and the suspension felt exceptionally tired. Aesthetically, this Saab really didn't long for much, so focus was put into refining the handling and getting back on track. We've fitted a new set of Bilstien B8 shocks together with Eibach lowing springs making it a B12 suspension kit, we've doubled up the rear torsion bar, fitted new rear discs and pads, tightened all of the drop links and arms up, and it now drives beautifully again; no knocks, just a more dynamic and crisp drive.

We've also given it a good full service, with a sump drop and clean, new oil and filters, fitted an Abbott Racing Cobra pipe, cleaned the throttle body, and new brake fluid. I've removed the chrome mesh front grille and taken it back to the genuine Saab one, and fitted a Nappa leather steering wheel by Turnstyle, giving the interior just to touch of discreet style it deserved.

The original generation 9-3 has always been one of my favourite Saabs, and this one has captured my heart again, I planned to keep up this year and enjoy the Spring and Summer, but I've been busy looking at other projects, and to ensure the house rule is adhered too, at least 2 have to go.

I'll miss this one, it's an absolute beauty, and hope it gives someone endless enjoyment with its old school style, it really is rather mesmerising.

Crystal Clear Eyes

February 10, 2026 Eleven

As the old saying goes, the eyes are the window to the soul, and in the case of the 9-5 Vector Sport, they needed a little love to make them sparkle again.

I’ve always used the Autoglym Headlight Restorer kit, as it seems to work exceptionally well and also has decent longevity, follow each step carefully, and take time to mask around the headlights, and you’ll steadily see them getting progressively clearer. The final polishing compound leaves a perfectly transparent finish on the lights, and literally transforms the quality of their function leaving them brighter and with more direct focus on the road.

I’ve often found that these essential pieces of kit have been overlooked, especially on the 9-5 projects I’ve had in the past, these Bi-Xenon lights are wonderful, and deserve the care and attention to ensure they provide their optimal function. From an aesthetic point of view, they really are pieces of art, jewels that shine brightly and enhance the Saab’s individuality.

Why Aeroriginal?

February 9, 2026 Eleven

I’m sitting here, partly wondering why I have to justify myself, and partly pissed off that some people feel the need to take the joy out of life for others.

As some will know, I’ve recently had a few gorgeous Saabs in my collection, all are cars I absolutely adore, and as ever, have enjoyed owning and driving them, but new projects await, so have listed 3 of them for sale, but some people seem to be out to ask the most idiotic questions and why I’d be doing this without making profit.

During my ownership, they’ve all received the usual maintenance and upgrades, because that’s what I love to do. I’ve always enjoyed finding Saabs that might have been slightly under the radar, cars that need rescuing and giving them a new lease of life, or even Saabs that just deserve to be reimagined as something more original, better even. I’ve been doing it since 2010, and have bought and sold over forty Saabs now, but here’s where some people seem to think they have a right to question why I do it.

I’m not a dealer, and I’m sure not in it to make any profit, in fact I can pretty much guarantee I’ve invested far more financially in to each project than they have been sold for, why? because I’ve loved Saabs for many, many years, I buy them, I drive them, write about and photograph them, I do the work others might not do, and hopefully, I then pass them on to others to enjoy. We don’t all do things for money, we do them because we care about something, and I care about these gorgeous Saabs.

I try to be as transparent as possible when it comes to selling them on again; what I’ve managed to do, what I haven’t, and what might need doing in the future, it’s about keeping these Saabs on the road for us all to enjoy. They aren’t perfect, some need paintwork, so might need the odd part sourcing, but for the most part, they leave me far better than when I bought them, each one is a joy to do, I imagine what each Saab might work well with, from minor upgrades to full on transformations, some might just get a damn good service and new brakes and wheels, others maybe get new suspension. I drive the car for a while and then plan a works list for each, my great friend and Saab guru, Jason then helps me make them possible, he sees mechanical niggles I don’t see, and we fix those too, it creates Saabs that should go on to give enjoyment to others, and that makes me happy.

I’ve decided I will totally ignore any future idiotic comments or emails, I quite honestly don’t have the time or inclination to explain myself to anyone besides the people I respect and trust, I don’t need to sell any of these Saabs, so prefer to wait until the right people come along who appreciate them.

Comfort Edition Progress

January 20, 2026 Eleven

With every Saab rescue comes the challenge of what I imagine a specific project to look and feel like. At its core, it's always been about getting a Saab back to a place where it can continue its journey, make people happy, and keep another Saab around for many more years. Generally, my largest hurdle is correcting things others have neglected to do; the difficult or expensive tasks that most will shy away from, probably because it is difficult and might not make financial sense. These hidden fixes, not only make the car less tired, but also give you a solid foundation on which to create your imagined Saab.

Towards the end of last year, I found this wonderful 2005 2.3t Vector Sport, being the late model, it had the highly desirable shark tooth front bumper, Aero side skirts and rear bumper, and best of all, was Smoke Beige Metallic, a Saab colour I've absolutely adored for many years - it changes as the weather and sunlight changes, one day it can feel like a pure grey, other days, it gives you a golden hue and metallic shine. It came with Saab Performance suspension featured on the Sport and Aero models, and also the half leather Sport seats. It felt a wonderfully comfortable and welcoming car to drive, and together with the more relaxed, automatic gearbox gave me the idea to keep this one as a comfort edition Aeroriginal, rather than the more performance focused 9-5 I've done in the past.

Of course, the lesser power felt a little underwhelming to me, and needed addressing, as these have exactly the same engine set up as the Aero besides the Turbo and map, it seemed logical to convert the Vector to an Aero, and also give it a little boost on top, so we set about upgrading it with a Mitsubishi TD04 and a MapTun Stage 1 TD04 map, taking it to a very stealthy 270hp. It will also have a subtle Jetex stainless steel exhaust to give it a discreet but purposeful soundtrack too.

I've considered swapping the interior for a full leather Aero one, but in all honesty, they're the same shape as the Aero, have the same level of support and sculpting, but are supremely cosy, so will remain as it left the factory. I've already added the BlueSaab module, and this paired with the upgraded Harmon Kardon AS3 audio, allows you to steam music without taking away from the factory aesthetic. We took on the daunting task of replacing the gear skirt; which is a visually upsetting but very common problem, meaning the entire interior has to be removed to fix it correctly. I'll also be commissioning another Nappa leather sport steering wheel from TunStyle to enhance the interior feel of comfort and quality.

The exterior will also remain subtle, with small visual enhancements. The front and rear bumpers with get a full respray, as will the bonnet and lower rear arches; these are actually superb on this car, but to negate any future issues, the skirts will be removed and any minor corrosion addressed. I've also sourced another rare Abbott Racing rear boot lip which will be refurbished and added. The overall condition of the paintwork is good, it has marks and a few scratches, but to me, these are just part of its journey, I have no desire to renovate the cars until they become showpieces, I want them to be drive and loved, becoming a valuable part of a family, as they have done for me.

It came with the 17" ALU39 wheels, but to elevate the look, I've fitted the classic 18" Hirsch 6 spoke allows with Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres, as these perfectly compliment this generation 9-5. I've also added the 3 piece Hirsch grille, giving the front a distinct difference from the standard 9-5.

It's always a pleasure to give these Saabs a freshen up, and this one has been a joy so far, having had just one owner for it's entire life and less than 100,000 miles, it's a Saab that felt a bit special, and with the modifications so far, is slowly transforming in to the comfort edition I've imagined it being.

MapTuner Nano NX3

January 8, 2026 Eleven

One of my current Saab rescues, is the 2005 9-5 2.3t Vector, I can't deny my fondness for the Smoke Beige Metallic saloon, it's one of my all time favourite Saabs, and there's not many of them around in this condition. Add to that, it's only ever had one owner, it's got a lovely specification, and also low miles, but it had one obvious flaw - not having the higher output Turbo of the Aero.

Alongside various maintenance required, it's also had the larger Mitsubishi TD04 Turbo installed, this immediately takes it to the same engine setup as the standard Aero besides the mapping of the ECU; the standard Vector was 185hp, whilst the standard Aero was 250hp.

However, thanks to the support and generosity of MapTun, Sweden, they sent over one of their clever MapTuner Nano NX3 units, together with their connecting cable for me to try. I've been wanting to try one of their maps for a while now, and this gave me the perfect opportunity. For this particular 9-5, I wanted a subtle remap to enhance, rather than dynamically change its overall driving characteristics; it's an auto gearbox twinned with the Saab lowered performance suspension, so a lovely, comfortable cruiser, the Nano NX3 with the Stage 1 TD04 - 270 Hp/380 Nm map was exactly what the car needed.

Install was as simple as MapTun described, and as long as you have a decent wifi signal near the car when you perform the upgrade, it works flawlessly. I installed the accompanying app on my iPhone, paired that with the NX3, downloaded the relevant TD04 270hp file and prepared the car for the upgrade. We had to disconnect a few fuses turn all electrics off, and keep the battery on charge during the process. Thomas at MapTun was absolutely fantastic at being on hand for a few 'user errors' and advice along the way, but within 45 minutes, the file was installed and the Saab ready to test drive.

Immediate feedback - it felt quick, Stage 1 Aero quick, on acceleration, the new TD004 boosts instantly and the gear change clean and smooth; I never tend to hold the pedal to the floor in the autos, as they react beautifully to steady acceleration, building power through gears, rather than kicking down and screaming.

I've driven the 9-5 for a good 500 miles now, and been hugely impressed with the remap. I will be trying the various diagnostics and readings available on the app in the coming weeks, but wanted to share some initial thoughts. As less and less decent Aeros are available, this is an exceptionally viable way of transforming a Vector 2.3t into an Aero.

Thanks go out to Jason Miles for his endless wisdom on these Saabs, and Thomas at MapTun for his generosity and support. I've been hugely impressed by MapTun and their Saab products, they continue to invest in the research and development of many more products for our Saabs, it's people and companies like MapTun that genuinely make Saab ownership viable, their dedication to the brand is hugely appreciated my myself and many other global owners; please keep going.

Saab Week

December 16, 2025 Eleven

Thanks to the endless help and guidance of my friend, Jason Miles; a genuine Saab genius, we’ve spent an entire week going through a works list for the Saabs.

I currently have 4, all at various stages and all needing Jason's attention. They have varying degrees of work required, some small, standard maintenance and routine, others more transformational.

Saab 9-5 Sportwagon

This was last year's complete build, the fantastic Saab 9-5 Sportwagon, which has been a mainstay of my collection, and has performed impeccably all year. It's covered around 4,000 miles, and just oozes quality and style. Because of the amount of work done to this car already, it really didn't need much, a service with fresh oil and filters, and a new battery. Perfection restored.

Saab 9-5 2.3 Vector

This is the most recent addition, a Smoked Beige Metallic saloon with a gorgeous specification, but being a Vector Sport, only came with 185hp and the smaller Garret Turbo.

My plan is to keep the relaxed, comfortable personality of this Saab, with it's Sport leather and fabric interior, optional sunroof and automatic gearbox, but give it enough subtle modifications to give it standout; a little more Aero.

We've set about upgrading to Aero spec mechanics with a Mitsubishi TD04 and a MapTun Stage 1 TD04 map, taking it to a very stealthy 270hp. It’s a huge increase from the standard 185hp, and totally transforms the driving dynamics of the 9-5. I'll be featuring the MapTuner Nano NX3 in a separate post soon.

Other work has included:
Sump drop
Full service
Original Saab DI pack
NGK Performance plugs
All new discs and pads
Polyflex torque rod gearbox to engine bush
Boot pistons
Hirsch classic 18" 6 spoke alloys and Michelin PS4 tyres
Hirsch front mesh grille
BlueSaab bluethtooth module

Saab 9-3 HOT Aero

The gorgeous Merlot Red Aero convertible has been patiently waiting for attention since purchasing it back in August, as although the bodywork and mechanics are immaculate, the handling, suspension and braking had been left untouched. The shocks were in a very poor state and little recovery left in them, the rear brakes were pretty much metal on metal, and numerous knocks and noises needed identifying and corrected.

For peace of mind, we've also dropped and cleaned the sump, and done a full oil and filter service, and besides needing an Air Con regas, it's running beautifully, and feels very tight again.

Sump drop
Oil and filter service
Bilstien B8 shocks
Eibach lowering springs
Twin rear torsion bars
Rear discs and pads
Abbott Cobra pipe

Saab 9000 Aero

Again, this one's been around for a few months now, an apart from an annoying HOT or COLD ACC system, it's been an absolute joy to own and drive. Whenever I have a manual 9000 Aero, I realise just how epic they are, underrated compared to the iconic 900, but in my opinion, a far, far better car. We've been on the hunt for a better stainless exhaust system to pair with the existing Abbott 3" downpipe, it needs the tyres replacing sit currently has the wrong profile fitted, and we've replaced the interior and exterior temperature sensors.

It's only done a few extra thousand miles since the last oil change, so that will be a job for the new year.

Overall, the Saabs are in a good place now, the 9-5 will be heading for bodywork in the new year, but after that, I'll be adding a few to Aeroriginal for sale, and see what new Saabs appear in 2026. I can't thank Jason Miles enough for helping out, his Saab knowledge is an absolute godsend, and allows me continue to rescue and modify these amazing cars for the future.

The Hidden Costs

November 20, 2025 Eleven

Since 2011, I’ve been quietly rescuing Saabs, mainly the 9-5, but also 9-3 and 9000, I’ve occasionally done a quick ‘man maths’ sum of what I’ve spent on them, and let’s just say, it’s absolutely not a financially sound model. But what I haven’t done, is add in all of the little hidden costs that make each Saab feel properly sorted, so as I begin work on the new Vector Sport, I thought I’d attempt to list all of them - no stone unturned.

After the first few drives, and a good clean, you feel and notice things that need attention, small details most garages and sellers tend to ignore, the list isn’t long (yet), but you can easily see how they all add up:

Jetex stainless steel exhaust £419.00
Genuine Saab DI Pack £185.00
Genuine Saab boot decal £56.00
NGK Performance plugs £18.00
Hydraulic boot pistons £28.00
Auto Gear selector sliding £34.00
Replacement window switch unit £50.00
SaabBlue V6 Bluetooth module £80.00

That’s already £870 spent, and really on things most people generally won’t notice, they’ll feel it in the way it drives; it won’t feel tired or old, it’ll just feel like a Saab should - confident and reassuring. Most of my rescues start with a list like this, the next stages will be sorting the knocking out underneath, the bushes and drop links will need changing, the sump will be dropped for precaution with new gasket, fresh oil and filters.

I’ll do my best to keep a note of these hidden costs as work progresses, but it’s just so easy to underestimate the effort and expense that goes in to keeping these Saabs well maintained and enjoyable to own and drive. They truly are exceptional cars, and 20 years on, feel more rewarding than most modern cars, they just need a little more care.

The Comfort Edition

November 18, 2025 Eleven

A few weeks ago, the new 9-5 Smoke Beige Metallic project car arrived, and it’s a truly intriguing Saab.

Purchased from Williams Automobiles, Bristol in June 2005 by Mr G Ross who kept the 9-5 for the next 20 years, selling it in 2025, it has no previous owners, a full service history and only 99,000 miles, it really is an absolutely wonderful car.

One of the very last of the shark tooth 9-5 to be manufactured, and arguably the most desirable, but it’s a bit of an enigma, it has an Aero level spec, and yet some options are missing.

It’s a Vector Sport 2.3t saloon, and options include sunroof, folding mirrors, bi-xenon lights, rain sensors, Harmon Kardon AS3 with Sat Nav and the Aero performance suspension.

It comes with the exceptionally comfortable, Obsidian Black Sport Leather / Apollo textile seats, but unheated, my initial thoughts were to add the full leather, but I’m already in love with how quiet and comfortable the interior is. It also has the ashtray delete; a rare option I haven’t often had in previous 9-5’s.

Whilst the interior is almost immaculate, the Smoke Beige paintwork has a few marks and scratches, the notorious rear arch bases are superb, and only require the lightest of attention, the front and rear bumpers need repainting, as does the bonnet, it needs new badges and a professional detail, but overall, is exceptionally honest.

It’ll get the larger TD04 added and stage 1 map, allowing it to benefit from the Aero performance, a new stainless exhaust system and upgraded brakes. I’m rather sold on the wonderfully comfortable drive enhanced by the super smooth auto gearbox, so the suspension might stay standard, but a number of other discreet modifications will make this a rather special 9-5.