Holding Back the Years

My great friend; Ward, kindly shared a video of his exquisite black 900 Turbo 16 S being treated to a full detail. Vermijl Car Detailers in Belgium have literally transformed the car back to showroom condition with multiple wash stages, machine polish and ceramic coatings.

Obviously it's hard to resist staring at a beautifully iconic 900 Turbo, but I found the process video so mesmerising I had to watch it twice. It's a genuine credit to not only Ward but it's past custodians that have helped keep a Saab like this so wonderful for the future.

Watch the full detail process here.

Interior Therapy

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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.