Saab vs Volvo

August 14, 2026 Eleven

Our base for the week was a spectacular cottage on the edge of the Fjord in Onsala, Sweden, the location tactically chosen for its access to Trollhättan, and more importantly, the Saab Museum. The entire trip was focused around a long awaited visit to The Box exhibition, with everything else taking less priority.

Arriving from England by air, rather than road, we'd planned on hiring a car, however with the lack of available Saabs at Sixt, we settled on a Volvo V60 T6 AWD Hybrid, finished in the wonderfully muted Forest Lake metallic over supremely comfortable, Charcoal leather. As far as the specification goes, the V60 was a great choice for us, it performed faultlessly over a few thousand miles, although I was utterly underwhelmed by it's performance, smoothness and awkward gear changes. Aesthetically however, the V60 and V90 wagons have always appealed to me, their design feels beautifully elegant, and dare I say it, very Swedish.

Besides the pilgrimage to Trollhättan, and a few days spent in Gothenburg, we'd not planned anything specific, just days out to truly explore the Halland area as much as possible. Then we came across an absolute gem of a book - Kulinarisk Resa Genom Halland, or Culinary Guide for Halland for those who don't speak Swedish.

Being total foodies, the book literally became our guiding light for the week, featuring nearly 100 farm shops, herbal gardens, restaurants, cafés and artisans throughout the area, we picked a culinary destination each day, and set off in the V60.

In my ideal world, this entire series of road trips would have been in a Saab, possibly in my classic 9000 Aero or 9-5 Sportwagon, either would have made each and every trip more memorable, but that will be something for us to look forward to in the future.

The weather was spectacular for the entire week, but we had one day where the rain was going to set in for the day, so we decided to pick one of the furthest destinations in the guide, and take the scenic coastal roads for a relaxed road to SOLHAGA in Slöinge. Apparently famous for its breakfasts and legendary gröt, it looked like the perfect place for a rainy day.

A few hours driving in light rain, and we turned off the E6 Coastal road and in to the small village of Slöinge - picturesque timber homes in the iconic Falu Rödfärg and Gulockra Slamfärg paint, endless, deep trees with vibrant green leaves from the rain, and at the heart of the village, SOLHAGA.

I have an enduring affinity with Sweden, its quiet beauty, warm and inviting lighting, and timeless elegance, SOLHAGA encapsulated everything I love about the place. The ground still wet and the wonderfully earthy, fresh smell in the air, the door wide open and the tantalising displays of freshly baked breads and pasties glowing through the window. The gröt lived up to its reputation, and a long, late breakfast was enjoyed, the 2 hour drive was totally worth it.

We plotted our return journey back to Onsala with many detours and stops on the way, the cobbled streets of Falkenberg and its nearby deserted beaches, coffee and fika at Sikta Stenugnsbagei in Varberg and an epic detour on 'the most beautiful road in Halland', the stretch of road between Askome and Gällared.

Late afternoon and the rains had stopped, the sun was shining though the beautiful forests, endless lakes appeared around every curve in the road, and all I could think was - "I really need to do this in a Saab".

Safety First

August 13, 2026 Eleven

It’s impossible to think of Saabs and not think of safety first, it was one of their founding principles after all. Inspired by their aviation engineering, Saab applied the same precision to their cars, and continuously pioneered numerous safety features. They standardised seat belts in all production Saabs, invented headlamp washers and wipers, fitted self-repairing bumpers and even floor mounted ignitions. More notably, they introduced their SAHR (Saab Active Head Restraint) system; a mechanical system activated by the occupant's weight during a rear-end collision to catch the head early and drastically reduce severe whiplash injuries and of course, the glorious night panel feature, ensuring driver’s focus is maintained when darkness falls.

This high level of innovative safety continued into the structural integrity of the cars, including their unique Moose Crash Testing. For this specific reason, they Engineered ultra-strong A-pillars and reinforced roof structures designed to deflect large wandering wildlife away from crashing straight through the windscreens. The car’s entire bodies were designed as large steel safety cages in which the passengers sit protected from outside forces. The bodies are built with a network of protective members and reinforcing plates-entirely covered by soft, energy absorbing padding, and have often been referred to as best in class.

Although the safety element of Saabs has always been a reassuring constant for me, it was an absolute privilege to be able to see their cutaway cars at The Box exhibition, the 900, 9000 and 9-5 models were all on display, and feature colour coded structural components that identify individual zones and features. I’m not an expert on this, but believe the warm zones, such as red, orange and purple mark the ultra high strength steel and passenger safety cages, whilst the cooler zones like yellow and blue, designate the softer, force absorbing crumple zones, designed to deform during a collision.

Even back in 1989, when Saab had introduced their outstanding 9000, they featured wonderful illustrations to highlight their safety and innovation, these are just some of the features listed in the original brochure :

Large crumple zones at the front and rear, designed to arrest the collision forces.
The sturdy reinforcing members in the doors provide effective protection in side-on collisions.
Collapsible steering column and a large, impact-absorb-ing steering wheel centre pad
Head restraints with a special plate that protects the neck vertebrae in a collision from the front or rear.
Heavy padding throughout the interior. Smooth surfaces without hard edges or projecting controls.

‘The Saab 9000 is an extremely safe car. Its chassis design provides consistent and "forgiving" behaviour in all situations and never produces unpleasant surprises. In case of collision, the driver and passengers are well protected by one of the safest car bodies ever built.’

There are endless documents and words written about Saab safety, but I’d never been able to find many pictures of these actual cutaway cars, not only are they intriguing to study, but an absolute joy to stand and look at. These where never meant to be about beauty, but in their own way, they were some of the most beautiful in the collection.

Hirsch as Art

August 12, 2026 Eleven

Although we’ve been renovating our current home for the past 3 years now, the garage has been low on the list of priorities. We initially had all of the 18th century brickwork and beams blasted to allow the space to breathe correctly like an old building should, but past that, nothing has been done.

Due to my constant hoarding of Saabs and various parts, it was becoming a bit of a danger zone, even just to get the cars in safely, so a few days off work has allowed me the time to sort through, and clear the space up a bit.

I always wanted to create a bit of a ‘man cave’ somewhere to enjoy the cars, and have it feel more homely than a regular garage, it’s a long way from being that, but with it’s clean floors, beautiful brickwork, beams and hi bay lighting, it’s getting there.

I have a number of sets of Saab wheels, including a few recently refurbished Hirsch, and wanted them kept neatly away from other clutter, so have fastened a series of brackets to allow me to store and display at the same time. Sitting above the 9000 Aero and it’s garage partner, they looked so fantastic, I thought I’d share the beginnings of my garage.

SAABFEST 26

August 5, 2026 Eleven

Although I couldn’t spend the entire weekend at the this year’s SAABFEST, I did manage to visit on Sunday for a few hours, and what a turnout. I took the wonderful 9000 T18, and the 150 mile round trip was an absolute pleasure, it quickly joined the rows and rows of Saabs gathered, from early 93 and 95 classics, through to some of the final edition 9-3 and 9-5’s and every conceivable model inbetween, including a lone Sonnett.

The weather was again, absolutely superb, sunlight reflecting on spotless cars, convertible roofs down, bonnets open revealing their pampered hearts, and boots full of genuine Saab goodies to rummage through and buy. Hosted at Foxfield Railway in Stoke-on-Trent, the Saabs had been given designated areas that loosely split the earlier cars from the later ones - classics and modern classics shall we say, but it’s all too easy to forget that all of them are at least 15 years old now, despite looking so timeless.

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Every year, I’m excited to quietly wander around an ever changing collection, I find them inspiring to study, the perfectionist cars, nut and bolt restorations that could have just rolled off the production line, the driven cars with their stories to tell and inviting patina, and the highly modified cars, with every conceivable detail changed to enhance these amazing Saabs.

It’s also a pleasure to meet some of the owners, ask about their pride and joy, and generally soak up the vibe for a few hours. Also a shout out for the organisers, they do such a wonderful job of bringing all of these cars and people together, and a special mention to Elli - it’s always an absolute joy to see his smiling face at these Saab Owners Club events.

This is my small collection of photos, Saabs I find interesting and inspiring, small details that make the difference between a good and great car, photos of the people and faces that bring the event to life. I always feel privileged to be a part of such a welcoming community, wear no one is excluded or frowned upon for doing something a bit different from the rest, after all, that what Saabs are all about - Moving your mind.

Circles of Trust

July 28, 2026 Eleven

My longstanding fondness for Hirsch Performance is no secret, I’ve always felt their ability to make meaningful modifications that actually enhance our Saabs was really special, especially when it came to wheel design.

'Hirsch Performance has developed alloy wheels in four outstandingly stylish and distinctive designs, enhancing the appearance of your Saab. The high-performance wheels are either flow formed (S-twin spoke) or manufactured using a low-pressure casting process (3-spoke and 6-spoke) and are both outstandingly lightweight and robust. The reduced unsprung mass improves both dynamic properties and comfort. What is more, perfect roundness has been ensured, minimising the need for balance weights. These characteristics may be hard to notice for the untrained eye, but you may notice the smooth, vibration-free ride.'

I’ve historically preferred the classic simplicity of the original 6 spoke, and also the clean lines of the 5 twin spoke, but have never been a massive fan of the larger 19” 3 twin spoke.

A recent opportunity made me take a little more time to admire the design, and decided to take a leap of faith and buy a set. They weren’t in the best visual condition, with a few minor buckles and kerb scars, so they’ve been lovingly refurbished by the team at Perfection Alloys to match my recent set of classic 6 spokes. To finished them off, they’ve been treated to a set of Goodyear Eagle F1 tyres, which have performed admirably on my Sportwagon in 225/35/19 combination.

Now for the hard decisions; which Saab do they go on, the og 9-5 saloon or the dame 9-5 Sportwagon. Offering them up to the silver cars, they work equally well on both, the contrast in colour is absolute perfection, and offers each a new look, it won’t be an easy choice whatever I choose.

UR Saab & the early years

July 15, 2026 Eleven

The UR Saab is an absolute privilege to see in person. When you stop and consider, just for a moment, the genius engineers and designers at Saab, created this exceptional prototype back in 1948, that's nearly 80 years ago. Heavily inspired by their military aircraft and aerodynamics, the original prototype (Project 92001) looked like a sectional profile of an airplane wing, this highly aerodynamic shape gave it a drag coefficient of just 0.30, years ahead of the automotive industry.

I know there's far more detailed histories and facts on these early models, but as I walked around possibly the finest ever collection of Saabs, I wanted to include a basic overview of them (please correct me if any information is wrong).

As the exhibition begins, the glorious UR Saab prototype greets you at the door, Saab only ever built four of these, but a year later, they evolved in to the 92, the first ever Saab production car and a spacious family vehicle. These early models used tiny 25 horsepower, two-stroke engines and pioneered front-wheel drive which enabled them to conquer the harsh Swedish Winters. Also, a fact I didn't know, was that Saab had a huge surplus of cellulose-based camouflage paint from wartime aircraft production, so all early 92s were painted in a dark Military Green.

After a long and successful production run of 7 years and some 20,000 vehicles sold, Saab once again evolved their creation, and the 93, 95 and 96 models were born. The 93 was first introduced with a three-cylinder engine, whilst the later 96 eventually gained the mighty Ford V4 engine producing an impressive 68 horsepower in its final configuration. Saab enjoyed global sales success with these generation of cars, and decided to enter into Swedish motorsport, later gaining fame on the world motorsport stage. Victories in world rally events and a second in class finish at the 1959 Le Mans 24 Hours gave this small Swedish firm their huge reputation for reliability, endurance, speed and handling.

Almost 550,000 of this early generation Saabs were built over an incredible 20 year production run, which took them in to the 1980's and the birth of their mighty 99 series cars.

What the Saab Car Museum Box exhibition manages to do, is guide you through a collection of some of the finest examples, from early rally cars, to rare prototypes and gloriously renovated examples, I could spend an entire day just admiring them. I haven't ever had the pleasure of owning or driving one, but the history and promise they hold is inspirational.

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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Settling In

April 22, 2026 Eleven

When I first spotted this rare 9000 Aero T18, I immediately thought that it would become a long term resident, one of my stable Saabs. I’d been searching for a car that provided a level of uniqueness amongst other 9000’s, and being only 1 of 21 global builds, it certainly had the rarity.

I’ve now owned it for a few months, and have fallen for its modified performance, its firmly routed 90’s aesthetic, and its single owner, low milage provenance. Let’s face it, 9000 Aeros are a very special breed of Saab already, but add the special edition collaboration between Abbott Racing and Saab City, and you have a bit of a unicorn.

Although it was in great condition, it had plenty of niggling faults and areas for improvement. As you use these older Saabs, you get to know how they drive, and what might need attention, this one having a number of modified parts, means that some would need to be sourced and purchased for future security, the brakes and suspension for instance, these are luckily still stocked by Abbott Racing, but other parts, such as the exhaust and interior parts can’t be bought or possibly even replicated.

We found a number of initial issues; link rods, CV boot, thermostat and exhaust hangers, all worn and needed replacing. We’ve given the car a good service with fresh oil and filters, we’ve freed off the brakes and generally given it a reset. Far more work will come, possibly to include a suspension and brake refresh, but we have time, this one will remain in the collection for the foreseeable future.

Internally, the Saab is in wonderful condition, but some of the instrument cluster bulbs needed replacing, and a new vent and switch installing, we took the opportunity to also replace the dashboard speakers to a set of heavy duty, 2 way Alpine units.

Last Sunday also gave me a good opportunity for a quick clean, a gorgeous sunny morning and a local classic car gathering was the perfect platform for showing off this unique Saab. It gets a lot of admiring glances and inspires conversation, usually around someone, knowing someone who once had a Saab 9000 Aero ‘ super fast cars, wonderfully comfortable, wish I’d never let it go’, but very, very few would know what this specific T18 actually is besides dedicated Saab folk, and that’s a great feeling.

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.