The Future from the Past

January 10, 2024 Eleven

One benefit of hoarding, is that I have an entire library full of Saab photos to flick through when I’m searching for inspiration. During a recent wander through the archives, I came across this absolute beauty of a car; the then newly launched 9-5.

Back in 2011, I borrowed a 9-5 TTiD 4 Aero demonstrator from my local Saab dealer; Bond Street Saab. It was beautifully specified with virtually every available option and had also been subtly enhanced by them.

Arctic white solid paintwork with a satin black, panoramic roof, 10 spoke edge silver 19" alloys, tuned and lowered sport chassis and jet black leather ventilated sport interior, when inside, the beautifully designed, white sunroof blind gave the entire space an etherial feel, very Nordic, and the overall sense was of a wonderfully crafted car, unlike any other on the market at the time.

We all know its life was cut short by the events that overwhelmed Saab, but I still feel it was a last, brave creation that showed a little bit of Saab’s true spirit again, a design that looks as fresh today as it did in 2011. For the entire time I had the car, it rained, but to be honest, I really couldn’t think of a better environment to photograph the gorgeous Arctic White 9-5.

Another Saab Year Begins

January 3, 2024 Eleven

I woke up on the first day of a new year, and was welcomed by beautiful sunlight. The constant rains had stopped for a moment, and blessed us with a bit of much needed sun, what made it even more rewarding, was the light gleaming off the freshly cleaned super Aero alloys on the 9000.

It made me think of two things; firstly, that life moves fast, here we are at the start of year another year already, and as I get older, it seems to go even faster. Secondly, how stunning are those Super Aero alloys?

Designed by Saab in the early 90’s, they have become some of the most iconic wheels in Saab’s history, in fact, I’d go so far to say, they’ve become iconic in the wider automotive world too.

Despite their petit 16 x 6.5 size, these alloys look large against the 9000’s silhouette, the expanse of bright metallic silver and matching hubcaps hide the wheel bolts and are aesthetically, perfectly balanced. Tyres are 205/55/16 and enhance that wonderfully comforting, old school look even further.

Here’s to another year, of health, happiness and Saabs.

Sacrifice

July 13, 2023 Eleven

The risks of buying a Saab without service history are high, buying one which had already been handed over to a breaker's yard are even higher, yet still, this one needed to be saved.

I spoke directly to the breakers, and in their words "It looks way too f**king good to crush it mate" gave me hope, I'd already done a full background check; no accidents, no theft, consistent milage and even the MOT history appeared to be excellent.

When it arrived, I was hugely relieved to see it looked as good as the blurred EBay images had lead me to believe, the forklift had damaged the exhaust system and Aero side skirts, and the footwell was covered in dirt and oil from the breaker's yard.

However, although the engine seemed to run ok, the oil light came on at low idle, we changed the oil pump, dropped and cleaned the sump and replaced all of the fluids, but sadly, after a few hundred miles, it returned but this time, it took out the engine too.

Now this is where the sacrifice comes in, I'd also found a nice Black 9-5 Aero for another project, bodywork tatty, but engine excellent, so I've taken the decision to break that Black one to save this beauty, a few hundred miles under it's belt and finger's crossed, all seems great.

I find the Graphite Green Metallic a real visual treat and so rare in the UK, that together with the fact that the bodywork is really clean, meant that this one would always win to me, the subframe had been changed and fully polybushed, the upgraded intercooler, intake pipes and brakes had all been upgraded, so had the suspension, all in, this is a car we've carefully built ourselves and now know it quite well.

I'm rather sad we've had to sacrifice another Saab Aero, but needs must, what it does leave though, is a number of excellent parts for others to make use of if anyone's interested :

Saab 9-5 Aero manual 5 speed gearbox FM55B05 Petrol £300
Saab ALU56 18" alloys (require refurb but straight and no cracks) £300
Abbott Racing 9-5 saloon rear boot lip (Rare) £150
Full black Aero interior with heated seats £200
Projector headlight units (need refurb) £100
Rear light clusters £100

Feel free to ask about anything else, we're currently stripping it down, so might be able to help, collection will be from Leicester, sorry, but I really can't arrange transportation, but happy if you arrange yourselves.

*Green always wins, I really can’t resist any car in green.*

A Road Trip to...

May 8, 2019 Eleven

…Cardigan, North Wales. Firstly, this is more about driving than it is about cars, and dare I say it, not all journeys need to be in a Saab, it helps, but let’s face it, a great Road Trip is a great Road Trip and if you love driving as much as I do, it’s pretty much always as exciting as the destination itself.

I was heading out to Makers & Mavericks, an event hosted by the inspirational jeans company, Hiut Denim based in Cardigan, North Wales and what promised to be 500 miles of pure driving pleasure.

The initial part of the journey to Wales is always laborious, 50 mph speed restrictions, endless traffic and mind numbing roads, but patience is a virtue and you’ll soon find yourself driving along immaculate roads and winding your way through ever more beautiful landscapes. Hit the A44 running alongside the River Wye and you’ll quickly gain altitude with majestic snow capped Alpine forests on one side and wild open mountainside the other, take the opportunity to turn off the main A44 and embrace the majestic wind farms and shear beauty of the valleys nearby.

A little further on and in to the valley with endless tree lined, sun dappled roads, wind down the windows and enjoy the raw, visceral sounds of the engine bouncing off the tress and hillside rocks. this opens up on to the A487 coastal road with immaculate sparkling blue ocean views and slate lined beaches, eventually leading to my temporary market town home.

After a weekend of meeting some inspirational and exceptionally talented creatives, I had the pleasure of the return journey home, and it didn’t disappoint.

The Morning After

February 22, 2019 Eleven

The 9-5 has been under the knife for the past few days, the obligatory rust cut out on the rear wheel arch bases, welded and made beautiful again and some surface dents removed from the bonnet.

The front Aero bib had been broken and fixed poorly in the past, which has also been removed, plastic welded and resprayed again too.

And of course the icing on the cake - the rare Saab boot lip spoiler has now been renovated, resprayed and attached. Cosmetically it makes a world of difference to the look and style of the car, it adds a purposeful touch to the rear, discreet but a bit edgy, it really adds the finishing touch to the Saabs exterior.

The folks I use, Leicester Autobody, really are fantastic, they care about perfection and although the Saab was possibly the 'cheapest' car in the workshop, it felt every bit as pampered as the Porsches, Ferrari and wonderfully rare, early Subaru also their for a touch of cosmetic surgery.

The morning after collecting it, I returned to a car park and seeing the Saab felt proud to own such a stunning car, the details have made a huge difference to the overall style and in my eyes, is no a pretty much perfect 9-5.