Saab vs. the ordinary

January 23, 2024 Eleven

Over the years I’ve been doing Saabvs, I’ve always had my favourites; the 9000 Aero and 9-5 Aero are the obvious ones, and of course, the iconic 900, but one I hold a particular fondness for is the original generation 9-3 HOT Aero convertible.

I designed the Saab vs. the ordinary poster to honour both the original campaign and also this particular Saab. This one single image has repeatedly persuaded me to buy this stunning Saab, and imagine it will do again and again.

I’m never sure why, but believe it’s the idea of utter freedom, roof down in all weathers and embracing the beauty of the world around us, it allows us to experience a feeling of calm and of elevated awareness. It’s a sensual experience that envelops you in its Swedish elegance and style. This generation 9-3 felt both restrained and decedent at the same time, its purity of design, clean lines and provenance giving it utter individuality.

Good ones are getting harder to find now, Viggens are often expensive and the automatic versions don’t appeal in the same way, but one day soon, I’ll find the right one again, always imagine.

Lighten Up

January 3, 2024 Eleven

What do you do with a good Saab that has terrible paintwork and is just too good to scrap? If you’re the team at GT. Paxton Motor Co. you have a bit of fun and turn it into the ‘Ratatouille Special’.

Specialising in Volvo and Saab cars, the company had mechanically maintained this 1.9 TiD convertible for a number of years, but when it came in as a part exchange, flew through an MOT and only had 85,000 miles, it left them with a bit of a dilemma.

Rather than breaking it for parts, or even attempting to fix the paintwork issues, they decided to give the car a bit of Rat Look treatment. The entire car has been sanded down to reveal the various layers of bare metal, undercoat and topcoat paints, and then given a satin seal to prevent further change, plastic trim has been removed and left bare, headlights and foglights given a Euro tint, and even a single spotlight added for detail. The clean, cream leather interior, has been ‘enhanced’ with vinyl graphics to the door caps dashboard and gear surround, whilst an aftermarket gear knob has replaced the standard black leather one.

It might only appeal to a few people, but it’s a well maintained, clean Saab convertible, has a new service, six months warranty and for a 2006, is a great price at just £1695.00. I personally couldn’t live with the interior transformation, but would happily enjoy the carefree ‘f**k it’ attitude the exterior exudes. As the ad says “a bit of fun in an all too serious world”

More photos and full ad here (until sold).

Amarilla

April 23, 2021 Eleven

Way back when Saab launched the exceptional Monte Carlo Yellow 900 T16 S, I’ve loved yellow convertibles, not least this absolutely spectacular 9-3 from Spain. My friend @saabfreak666 recently posted it and I just couldn’t resist the temptation to share it and make everyone’s day a bit happier.

‘Lynx Yellow, Hirsch grill, complete Turbo X package including rear diffuser and exhaust, 20” Turbo X wheels from STR Forged Wheels and a nice set of ice cube taillights finish it off to perfection’

50 shades of Grey

April 21, 2021 Eleven

Over the years, I've fallen for many Saab 9-3 Aero convertibles, mostly Carbon Grey and mostly first generation, but I'd never moved to the last generation. When I first spotted this one for sale, it was the Carbon Grey I fell for again, not only that, although not mentioned, I noticed the 19" Hirsch wheels, what looked like Hirsch 345mm brake upgrades and a Hirsch single exhaust system, it didn't look at it's best but had huge potential.

Alongside all of the mechanical work previously carried out, I’ve had the very neglected Hirsch wheels refurbished by Perfection Group, powder coated in a metallic grey, rebalanced and treated to new Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres and now it has just returned from it's cosmetic surgery.

There were numerous small and annoying dents on a number of panels which have now been removed, both bumpers have been repainted along with the front wings which had some slight rust appearing, and both side skirts removed and repainted.

I'd also found a rare Turbo X diffuser which has given the rear an amazing and purposeful look and I've got some Turbo X trapezoid tailpipes to add to the Jetex stainless system. The front has been given a complete refresh with new Saab Aero grille and foglight surrounds and a full 4 piece Hirsch mesh grille set added which just enhance the timeless beauty for this Aero. To finish off, the entire car has been given a good machine polish to make it feel like new again.

It's always a real pleasure to see the difference a great bodyshop can make to any car, but I've always adored Saab Aero convertibles on any generation and this latest Aero is no exception, it seems the defy time with it's design, it has a purity that I still believe Saab did so well, a Nordic beauty that's hard the beat.

It's easy for forget this is a 14 year old car with 150,000 miles; it now looks and drives as well as I'd hoped, Karl at Noob Tune has remapped it again to accommodate the APH Performance downpipe and exhaust system which has an amazing growl to it and the new clutch has given it a silky smooth gear change to make it a shear delight to drive, especially with the roof down and just as Spring has properly blessed us with perfect weather.

Refining

March 31, 2021 Eleven

Feels like pass the parcel with my 2 Saabs at the moment as they go back and forth to Malcolm Miles to iron out any remaining issues. I swapped them over again this morning and now have the 9-3 back for a few days, it's had it's Stage 3 remap done by Karl at Noob Tune, a bottom ball joint replaced, Hirsch pedal set fitted and throttle body removed and cleaned to stop to over revving issue.

But the most rewarding change of all comes in the form of the new flat bottomed Nappa leather steering wheel crafted by TunStyle, having had a number of genuine Hirsch wheels in the past, this is as close as you can get to a new one in 2021. Beautifully sculptured with amazing materials and craftsmanship, it truly makes the car feel like new. Out of interest, I dug around in my Saab vs. archives for an image of my original Hirsch 9-3 to compare the two wheels, even after studying them both, I honestly can’t see any discernible difference; great work TunStyle.

Next week the 9-3 will be heading in for its body refresh, which will be the final stage of bringing this beautifully iconic convertible back to fine fettle again.

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,

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.

The Rains Came

August 6, 2020 Eleven

…Just, but enough for me to run outside and see how well the detail on the Viggen had worked. I don’t think I’m alone in getting a bit excited about some tiny beads of rain sitting atop newly detailed paintwork and fabric, it’s one of those simple pleasures that just makes any petrolhead smile.

From early signs, it seems as though the Fabsil Gold on the roof has worked a treat, keeping to interior dry and cosy whilst the Soft99 Fusso has worked equally well on the Lightening Blue paintwork, reassuring considering it’s been sat in hibernation for the past 5 years. I’ll looked forward to a proper English downpour with fingers crossed next.

Perfectionism

June 6, 2020 Eleven

For a few years I've been commissioning Fraser to hand craft bespoke mesh grilles for my early Saab Aero builds, I've learnt a lot from the grilles he's made, not least his constant strive for perfection. He'd told me about his own Saab project a while back, a Saab 9-3 convertible Turbo Edition in the ever stylish Silver metallic and he's finally found time to take some great photos and scribble down a few words about it. All I can say is - Perfection.

Purchased back in June 2019 from family in Edinburgh who had owned the car since new with only 38k on clock and a full service history. The Saab had been kept in an underground car park all its life so was in good condition, but then restoration started to take over and it has kind of developed from there.

Firstly I treated it to a complete service including all filters and sump drop (spotlessly clean), I then fitted the latest rev6 PCV kit, throttle body, MAF and cleaned all fuel / air delivery sensors. The whole engine bay degreased and various components and brackets refinished.

I fitted a magnetic sump plug, new camshaft core plug then fitted new turbo, cleaned out intercooler and associated pipework and filled with mobil 1. A brand new genuine Saab coilpack and NGK plugs to make sure it was ready for the Noobtune stage1 ECU upgrade I have installed taking power up to 220 hp and extra 120 nm torque which has be very handy for overtaking.

All door cards, side skirts, and bumpers removed and waxoiled sprayed into all doors, cavities and sills as well as chassis box sections and inner wings etc - luckily the car had no rust, just a couple of floor pan bungs (front 2 under footwells always the first to go) that were just staring to rust but easily fixed.

The entire braking system has been replaced with new discs, shoes, pads, return springs, calipers and fluid together with rear brake pipes, calipers and flexis. All disc splash guards have been soda blasted then phosphur coated and black gloss coovar applied. New rear shocks and springs and a complete new exhaust system fitted with new hangers, clips and all jubilee clips on underside replaced.

The chassis has had a six point chrome chassis brace from Jamsaab, 22mm rear ARB, steering rack clamp / brace fitted as well as new fabricated front top suspension turret brace (made myself), new front track rod ends and drop links, new front lower power steering pipe and fluid. I removed the rear axle beam and blasted then repainted with black gloss Coovar and refitted with Powerflex purple spec bushes.

Moving on into the interior, its had new leather Aero spec door cards and steering wheel, I've installed a genuine Saab hands-free phone kit, fitted boot mounted 6 disc changer, refurbished the ACC and SID units, fitted SID cup holder and centre armrest coin / cup holder (all the way from Albuquerque in the US).

I’ve also found a new genuine Saab roll out bumper protector and cargo net for the load area, installed a windbreaker and made a custom black gloss fine metallic dashboard which really sparkles when the sun hits it.

It's also had a number of handmade parts including a tow ball for mounting my bike on, with dedicated 6 pin electrics wiring kit for a light board from Germany (only place they're available). A colour coded grille and matching fog light grilles and I've also fitted same mesh to the lower intake.

The convertible roof has also had a deep clean and re colour / proof, i've fitted the refurbished 17” double Ys with new Continental Contisport tyres and treated it to a full bulb upgrade on all lights and replaced the orange light monitoring relay and windscreen washer level sensor.

There's probably hundreds of other jobs left to do that Saabs have a habit of throwing at you, but the only other project planned now is front and rear parking sensors if I can find the genuine Saab ones that plug straight into loom. It's taken me just under a year of working on her including lots of long days and skinned knuckles and god knows how much spent to get it up to this condition.

Now it's finished, I'm just itching for a road trip up here in Scotland, already planning a tour around the far North on the iconic NC500 route as soon as things get back to some kind of normal.

Bespoke Mesh Grilles | Fraser Davison

Arts and Crafts

May 29, 2020 Eleven

For years I've been designing Saab builds, essentially to save some stunning cars from being broken up as parts but mostly to make the best possible version of each and every one.

With each build it's hard not to notice the exceptional folks who continue to invest their engineering skills into handcrafting special parts for our Saabs, in my eyes, these folks are Artists. The Viggen project parts store grows daily with many, many more to source but some recent deliveries really are just pieces of art, and all bespoke.

The 3" downpipe from APH Performance Almost too beautiful to hide, these all Stainless construction pipes have either a free flowing 200 cell cat or no cat at all if specified, tig welded and purged with V band joints for a perfect fit. I've commissioned five of these now and I'm sure the get better each time.

The Black Edition Grille Again, i've had a number of these commissioned and Fraser has done an exquisite job on each, he takes the best OE grilles he can find, cuts away the plastic louvers and replaces them with a perfectly fitted black metal mesh. I have mine finished in a smooth satin black finish which so far has suited each build, can't wait to see what this latest one looks like on the Lightning Blue Viggen.

The Viggen Short Shifter After a long and enjoyable conversation with Peter Raw about the Viggen Project, he suggested a part that he swears by, a bespoke short shift gear mechanism from Jam Saab. It's the first time I'll have fitted on to a build so will report on the difference it makes in a few months. Needless to say, the standard gearing is just a bit long for such quick cars, it generally feels slightly spongy and I have a feeling this will give it a more engineered, accurate feel.

Viggen Project parts list (to date) :

Tarox Sport Japan fully drilled and grooved vented discs
Tarox Sport Japan brake pads
Tarox high performance braided brake lines
Abbott Racing stainless steel subframe brace
Abbott Racing rack brace kit
Abbott Racing rear body strut brace
Bilstein B8 shocks
Eibach springs
DO88 Performance Intercooler
Nordic Performance induction kit
Momo Stealth 19" 5 spoke rims
Hankook Ventus S1 Evo tyres
TunStyle Nappa Leather steering wheel
Skyddet Aux kit
Viggen side badges by Raw Saab

The Viggen should be returning from the bodyshop soon after some required welding and paint, it’ll then land at Malcolm Miles once again for Jason and Andy to work their magic. Our aim is to build a super stylish Viggen convertible with a very capable 300+hp. The story continues…

What can you get for £2k these days?

March 2, 2020 Eleven

Well you can buy one of the most iconic and beautiful convertibles to have ever been created for a start. It always amazes me, the value of these Saabs, but for some reason, not many people see their true potential or value. Maybe they think you can't buy parts, maybe it's because they think they're not safe or reliable, or maybe they just think they're old - but they'd be wrong.

Almost original in every way, this 9-3 HOT Aero convertible has to be one of my all time favourite Saabs, featuring a spectacular body kit by the legendary car designer Ian Callum which really does give this a timeless and rather iconic presence.

Purchased from a Saab family in Cornwall who had owned it for the past 8 years, this Aero has been cared for and maintained beautifully. It’s getting rare to see these convertibles in any other colour besides silver and carbon, so a real privilege to find one in black.

This is an auto model - I always forget just how relaxing Saab autos are, exceptionally smooth and well mannered until you push your right foot down, then, the Aero jumps in to action, the Turbo instantly spools through green and orange and straight in to the red and make regular speeds a mere memory.

Back in 2017 it had a reconditioned engine fitted with new DI pack etc and just recently numerous perished hoses have been changed, together with a general overhaul to ensure continued reliability including another sump drop and clean. The brakes have been stripped, cleaned and replaced where required, including, discs and pads, whilst the suspension has been upgraded with Bilstein B8 shocks and Eibach lowered springs.

A full stainless steel Jetex exhaust system, larger fuel pump and a Noob Tune ECU remap giving the convertible a beautifully smooth and progressive power drive.

Being 17 years old, it has a genuine patina with very minor marks which I feel are part of the Saab’s story, and although the bodywork is in lovely, rust free condition, there are a couple of dinks that could do with addressing. Ideally the iconic double Y 17" alloys could d with a refurbish too. It's in generally lovely condition, but it leaves the new owner enough areas to tinker with.

The endlessly comfortable, heated leather Aero sports seats are in lovely condition with no rips, they could do with a clean, moisturiser and colour touchup to give them a lift but otherwise a superb interior which is as stylish as ever.

Recent brake discs and pads
Aero wiper blades
Jetex s/s full exhaust system
3.5 bar fuel pump
Bulkhead strut brace
Bilstein B8 shocks
Eibach lowering springs
Noob Tune Stage 2

Saab 9-3 HOT Aero Convertible | EBay

Face Off

September 24, 2019 Eleven

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

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

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

And so it Begins (Again)

August 30, 2019 Eleven

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

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

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

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

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

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

To be continued (again)...

Built not Bought

August 29, 2019 Eleven

A fellow Saabist, Jonas Kakarikas from Sweden has recently posted a time-lapse film of him building his dream Gen1 9-3 Aero convertible.

Jonas's build is similar to how I tend to like my Aero convertibles too, he's added around £5,000 worth of performance parts including upgraded and lowered suspension, sports exhaust with rear muffler delete, DO88 intercooler, an induction kit and the ever gorgeous BBS CH alloys.

I rarely see any other colour besides silver now, so this exceptional blue one is a real treat. Well worth a few minutes watch, and the smile at the end says it all, that's what Saabs are about.

Jonas Kakarikas | Instagram

From Field to Road

July 1, 2019 Eleven

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

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

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

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

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

You got a fast car...

May 23, 2019 Eleven

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

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

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

Aero Rescue Mission Report

May 9, 2019 Eleven

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

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

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

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

Ice White

December 17, 2018 Eleven

For years I’ve collected photos of Saabs, mainly for inspiration and future projects yet to be realised, but some are just too good to not be shared, like this exceptional white 900 T convertible from Poland.

It started life a basic looking ng 900, but went through a massive facelift at some point in its life - Viggen bodykit including front and rear bumpers and side skirts, later 9-3 grille and central reflector blanking plate. It’s also been beautifully stanced and sitting on an immaculate set of 18” Volvo T5 R alloys.

Wish I knew more about this 900 convertible, but from a visual point of view, this is one gorgeous, ice white Saab for us all to enjoy. Photographed by the talented Grzegorz Baranowski and features an equally talented Polish blonde.

Respect

November 15, 2018 Eleven

A couple of years ago I came across a site in the Czech Republic dedicated to Saabs called Saab Stance, if features some exceptional cars, but what makes it all the more special is the quality of photography - truly inspiring.

I recently checked up on the latest posts and happily found it’s still alive and well. The owner, Lukáš has an immaculate 9-3 Aero convertible, same colour as my old one, but is finished to perfection with a set of the iconic six spoke Hirsch alloys, all I can say is ‘respect’, for the car, the photography and the dedication to honouring Saabs.