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.

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.

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.

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.

Saab vs. Artificial Intelligence

November 12, 2025 Eleven

I've always had a bit of a soft spot for the original Saab vs. ad campaign - understated yet super stylish Saabs featured in wonderful Nordic landscapes full of adventure, beauty and dreams. Sadly, we don't get to see what they'd have done now, but there was an original Saab vs. Artificial Intelligence ad which I couldn't resist updating with a slightly newer image variation.

I’ve taken my own 2010 Snow Silver Sportwagon, and used AI to feature it in a Nordic Winter landscape, it’s a scenario I’ve imagined a thousand times, but never got to enjoy yet. It’s not an entirely real photograph, but is a wonderful way for us all to imagine and dream, just as Saab would have wanted.

The context of the ad was to highlight Saab’s dedication to safety, real world experiences learnt from humans to then enhance the features on a Saab to achieve peerless safety, Artificial Intelligence might be wonderful at creating inspiration, but I’m glad Saab relied on reality to craft our protective Saabs.

Autumn / Winter 2025 Collection

October 21, 2025 Eleven

It's a rare moment I manage to have a clear driveway, but even rarer to get the time to pull out my current 3 Saab collection and take a photo of them together.

At the beginning of the year, I decided to concentrate on a small collection of 3 or 4 of my favourite Saabs, all in Silver, but as ever, the best laid plans never go smoothly. I accidentally purchased my original 9-3 TTiD Hirsch back, which needed more work than I expected, but once sorted, that sold exceptionally quickly.

After that, things got back on track, and I found my 1998 Silver 9000 Aero, this went nicely alongside my modified 2010 Silver 9-5 Aero Sportwagon. The search then began for a OG 9-3 convertible, again, preferably in Silver and Aero spec, a few came along, but none were quite right, then the unexpected happened, a stunning 2003 Aero convertible in Merlot Red with Sand leather interior; this rare specification seemed too good to turn down, so it quickly joined the collection.

I'm a bit of a sucker for original Saab brochures, and it has recently pushed me toward this idea of all Silver Saabs, the iconic 9000 Aero was featured in Silver, as was the 9-5 Sportwagon, and although the 9-3 convertible was generally shown in the darker Graphite Grey, it looks exceptional in a matching Silver too. The current lineup isn't all Silver as I'd planned, but my god, the Merlot Red convertible is a standout colour, so we'll allow that for now.

What's missing? Ideally an 04 / 05 9-5 Aero saloon, and one day, another classic T16S maybe, but for now, these 3 are keeping me busy.

Embracing the Seasons

October 14, 2025 Eleven

It’s been almost a year since the build on the 9-5 Sportwagon happened, a year of pure enjoyment and of driving this fantastic Saab. I’ve had a long standing admiration for the 9-5, but the earlier generation, not necessarily this specific model year. However, after a number of discussions over a suitable platform wagon for a major modified build, a late 2010 manual, Turbo Edition Sportwagon became the ultimate choice.

Being one of the last Saab 9-5 wagons to ever be manufactured was one bonus, but also benefitting from a host of bin end parts to create the Turbo Edition also helped; audio upgrade with sat nav, perforated heated seats, folding mirrors, Hirsch satin grille surrounds plus all of the usual Aero specification, gives it a real edge over other options.

It’s had a year to settle in to its new guise, an utterly sorted sleeper that just enhances and showcases how wonderful these Saab 9-5’s truly are. When driving, it’s easy to forget you’re in an exceptionally practical estate car, capable of whisking a family along at a very rapid pace, all in Saab’s legendary comfort. Not only that, but the agile handling is an absolute joy, especially with the addition of the limited slip diff.

I tend to drive all of my cars throughout the year, I don’t have a specific choice for Autumn / Winter, and instead, tend to keep them all in service, but the Saabs have a special place for me. The colder months tend to evoke thoughts of long drives with a back drop of wonderful Autumn colours and light, icy Winter landscapes that remind me of it’s Nordic heritage, and the comforting embrace of Saab’s warming interior.

The Original SUV

August 19, 2025 Eleven

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As Saab once put so eloquently ‘Why wait for tomorrow?’ life is all about getting the most out of every day.

They went on to clarify; ‘Grab the opportunities and follow your instincts. With a Saab 9-5 Wagon, you can make it a habit. It gives you innovative solutions and versatility that integrate with your daily needs. At work, with your family or on the way to your favourite activity. Just go where you want and bring what you like – whatever the season’ in other words, the original SUV.

Although I also own a few SUV’s, the Saab Sportwagon does everything they can do and more. In fact, it does it with more style, more elegance and more enjoyment. The Saab 9-5 Sportwagon set out to be just that, sporty and practical, and 20 years on from that brochure, I still believe these are a better option.

‘Let your interests and lifestyle decide how you equip your Saab 9-5 Wagon. Depending on what you choose, you and your car will be ready for just about anything. Recreational activities, work or holiday trips.'

For many reasons, SUV's are a trend that never faded, but I'd still choose the Saab Sportwagon over any SUV, purely for the fact that they just feel better to drive. Their lower stance feels more connected to the road, you still get ample space for utility purposes, and they just feel far less cumbersome. Saab managed to design an exceptional form in the Sportwagon, the lines of the windows flow beautifully from front to back, whilst the side profile quietly suggests purpose.

I still like to stand back and admire the 9-5, and today, I thought I'd take it to a place that felt like home; a Nordic feeling forest, the perfect place for a few photos, made even more memorable with a mileage milestone, 123,456.

Pure Saab Joy

June 16, 2025 Eleven

It seems fitting to do a bit of an update on the Snow Silver 9-5 Sportwagon, as it’s been 6 months since our major build happened, and a few thousand miles of pure Saab driving pleasure since. My initial feeling was one of total joy, joy at the way the 9-5 felt again, obviously being stage 5 tuned meant that if felt rather quick, but more than that, it all felt reassuringly honed.

The entire chassis had been tightened up with new drop links, arms and bushes, the suspension upgraded and stance lowered with Bilstein B12s, and the braking also upgraded with a Neo Brothers big brake kit upfront and Saab performance discs and pads on the rear, add the lsd and this had been transformed into an exceptionally capable, fast road wagon with wonderful cornering dynamics.

After transplanting the entire engine set up from the highly modified donor Aero, we’d also aimed to transfer the existing map. However, after meeting Karl from NoobTune, he’d advised dialling it all down a little for drivability, rather than out and out boost. This has proved a wise decision; day to day driving is handled with ease, as is city traffic, but request a bit more excitement and my god, it delivers it and more.

Out on the road, accelerate, and the Turbo needle immediately flies off the dial, a surge of power pulls the wagon in a way you just don’t expect, no hesitation, no lag, just pure torque. The sweet spot is in 3rd and 4th gear and above 3000rpm, under full boost, you can feel the front end lift a little and the Saab does a wonderful job of controlling its urge to drag you left and right, but it’s still a handful, change into 5th and you’re seriously moving along at a rapid pace. Most impressively though, the Saab always feels reassuringly connected to the road, wet and dry, it gives you the confidence to push it more than many other cars I’ve driven.

So far, it’s been without issue, it’s recently flown through an MOT, and has had some interior pampering, the leather has all been cleaned and conditioned, and I’ve fitted another BlueSaab unit, so my entire Spotify playlist can be enjoyed through the Harman Kardon audio, and the air conditioning has been cleaned and re-gassed, so is beautifully cool again.

Although this generation 9-5 isn’t my favourite aesthetically, the Snow Silver Metallic paintwork, and satin grille and light surrounds have quickly endeared themselves to me, the addition of the Turbo X front spoiler, rear roof spoiler and 19” twin spoke alloys have given it the perfect edge, and feels very much OE+. It’s a Saab I’m hugely proud of, and is truly a joy to own and drive.

Emerald Isle Aero

March 25, 2025 Eleven

Despite having kept this beautiful Aeroriginal rescue sale on the quiet, it has found a new guardian in the most fitting place I could have wished for. It’ll be leaving me to continue its journey over on the Emerald Isle with another Saab devotee.

It’s a hard one to let go of, in part because it’s one of my favourite colour combinations; Green over tan, but also because it’s been a real challenge to get this one to where it is now. Found at a breakers with damage to the front bumper and both side skirts, but lots of signs of being remarkably well cared for in the past.

It was also suffering from a constant oil light at low rpm, and ruined 2 engines in the diagnosis process. We finally replaced pretty much the entire system and has now covered 4000 miles since the rebuild and been absolutely flawless in its performance.

It’s had numerous upgrades along the way, we took another donor car which provided polybushed subframe, Bilstien B12, upgraded brakes, intercooler and a number of other performance mods, we then added a new JT 3” stainless exhaust, Noob Stage 3 map, new alternator, water pump, aux belt, DI pack, plugs, filters and then the wonderful refurbished ALU56 18” alloys finished in satin Anthracite and wrapped with Michelin PS4’s.

The bodywork had the rear dog legs cut out, leaded correctly and repainted, together with new side skirts, the front bumper fixed, front wing and rear spoiler all repainted too. It’s got age related marks and a few small dents, but is remarkably original, so these just add to its story, which I love to retain as much as possible.

The Sand leather interior has been given a detail with Gliptone leather clean and feed, a new walnut dash fitted to replace a slightly cracked one, together with a Hirsch leather steering wheel, a new SID and a BlueSaab Bluetooth module which is an absolute game changer, especially if you want to keep the magical console configuration looking factory spec.

I can’t deny, I’ll be hugely sad to see this one leave tomorrow, I’ve become rather attached to it, I’ve said before, but this generation Aero just feels like home to me, I love the way it feels and drives, I love the reassurance it gives, the individuality and elegance, it’s as at home arriving at a 5 star hotel as it is a local chip shop, it’ll transport you in sublime comfort and safety, and hopefully, it’ll now have the chance to keep going for many more years.

Whilst it’s hard to let it go, it gives me the opportunity to find more Saabs to rescue and enjoy, to create new variations on my ideal Saabs, and to keep more of these amazing cars on the roads for us all to enjoy.

Inspired by the Hirsch Troll R

March 3, 2025 Eleven

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As with all of my Saab projects, the design, aesthetics and detailing stages are like the icing on the cake for me. The majority of work is often hidden, the mechanical, handling and braking, all crucial, but mostly hidden from all besides the most eagle eyed Saab aficionados. With the unwavering help and support of my friend and Saab guru; Jason Miles, the Sportwagon has been totally transformed in to an absolutely superbly tight car to drive.

But when those stages are complete and I can begin to add my unique touches to the project, that's when I get most excited. The Hirsch inspired 19" alloys had already been fitted, but there was a lot of work still to do with the overall look. It's now had the front and rear bumpers removed, stripped, repaired and repainted, the entire driver's side has also been sanded down, repaired and repainted to eliminate some terrible work it had had done in the past, and we've added a genuine Saab boot spoiler and carefully added a second aperture to the rear diffuser for the twin Abbott Racing exhaust. The front bumper has had a Saab 9-3 Turbo X lower lip added to just give the front a slightly more purposeful appearance, and kept in factory black to echo the rear diffuser.

I'd previously removed the rear badges, but being such a special project, it seemed to deserve a special designation. Through another Saab enthusiast, I'd managed to get hold of a genuine Hirsch 'Troll R' badge, I don't usually like doing this, unless the specific Saab has some Hirsch provenance, but with 340hp, superb handling, braking and driving dynamics, the Sportwagon has been very much inspired by Hirsch thinking, and also, why not, we all have to have a bit of creative licence and fun with these personal Saab projects.

Cut to Friday last week, a stunning, early Spring day, deep blue skies and the sort of day we've been longing for in the UK for the past few months. A call from the amazing bodywork team at Autofection; who tirelessly help me with my flow of Saab rescues, to say that the Sportwagon was ready for collection - perfect.

Not wanting to waste the opportunity of dry roads, a beautifully clean, Snow Silver Saab and gorgeous weather, I asked my very accommodating neighbour if I could use his exquisite driveway to take a few photos. With ancient trees, dappled sunlight, immaculate gravel and bucolic English setting, I couldn't have asked for a better way to capture the final stages of this project.

To me, it emphasises just how timelessly designed these Saabs are, the satin chrome headlight surrounds subtly balance with the Snow Silver paintwork, making this generation 9-5 feel less polarising, whilst the hyper silver alloys and the satin silver roof bars all add to the beauty of the design. This is a project that has taken a lot of time, effort, funds and thought, but the results make me hugely happy and yet another Saab given a totally new lease of life. (Apologies for the number of photos, I really couldn’t choose my favourites this time).

Green Day

February 18, 2025 Eleven

It's true, for the past month or so, I’ve been a bit preoccupied with the 9-5 Sportwagon project and then the new, old 9-3 arriving, so the Graphite Green Aero has been a little neglected.

I'd excitedly fitted the new BlueSaab Bluetooth unit, so before taking it out for a playlist blast, I thought I’d treat this gorgeous Saab to few hours of pampering and a good clean to get rid of the recent grime and salt from the dirty Winter roads.

I am, of course, utterly biased when it comes to Saabs, especially the older 9-5, but I can't help being amazed at just how well they stand up against modern day alternatives. I'm not a huge fan of overly fussy aesthetics, endless angles and confused lighting, but I still feel this generation 9-5 easily hold their own against arguably far more prestigious cars, I take my own alternatives as examples; the Mercedes S500 and the Porsche Cayenne Turbo S for instance, both stunning, but do they make me smile as much as the Saab 9-5, not really.

It's a BlueSaab Day. And I'm feeling good

February 18, 2025 Eleven

Keeping my Saabs looking as close to factory as possible, has been a consistent theme to my rescues, and especially the interiors. I’ve always loved the aesthetic of the 9-5, the dashboard and console, the form and function of the buttons and displays, and even the standard audio system.

But, no matter how nice it is to use a few of your old CD’s, not having a decent connection to music steaming is a real shame. Yes, I’ve tried the tape with the wire, I’ve also installed a few aux plugs, but none have been a great solution, and the cables coming from your dashboard are ugly and distracting.

Last week however, I happened to log on to one of the Facebook Saab Groups and discover a super clever guy called Frank Mathieson in Cornwall, had crafted the perfect solution for our old Saabs, the BlueSaab V6. (9-3 : 1999-2002 and 9-5 : 1998-2005). I immediately messaged him to see if I could be one of this version’s lucky recipients, and a few days later, one arrived.

My Graphite Green Aero already had a CD multi changer in the boot, so I excitedly disconnected the unit and removed the cage, plugged the BlueSaab unit directly into the exciting wiring loom, and hoped in the car to give it a go; an initial flat battery scuppered my excitement for a few minutes, but after boosting it from the Defender, the Saab kicked back in to life, the BlueSaab V6 immediately showed up as a Bluetooth device on my iPhone, and boom, Spotify was playing.

Beautifully clear, no distortion and showed up simply as CD1 on my SID where the multi changer would have been featured, and the steering control volume buttons worked perfectly too. It’s not full of features, you can’t choose track etc from your head unit, but the beauty is in it’s simplicity, choose you favourite Saab playlist, turn up the volume and drive.

Thanks for the innovation and commitment Frank. To me, this is exactly what I’ve been searching for, a way to keep my 9-5 interior looking like it did from Trollhättan, but also have the benefit of Bluetooth steaming. Great work. Frank can be contacted via Facebook, but i’m unsure how many units in each batch he’s able to produce, so might not always be available.

Snow Silver Road Trials

January 13, 2025 Eleven

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It’s been a few weeks since the mechanical side of the Snow Silver Sportwagon were completed, and it’s been an absolute pleasure to put it through its paces and do some road testing. Over 1000 miles covered now, and things have settled in beautifully. The forged engine is just sublime, with immediate, effortless power, the rebuilt 19T Turbo helps deliver smile inducing torque and an impressive surge throughout the rpm range, it has silky smooth gear changes thanks to a few internal modifications, and just the right amount of visceral grunt from the twin Abbott exhausts.

The triumph however, is the transformation of the handling, the Bilstien B12 kit, polybushed subframe and rear arms, the larger alloys, subtly wider track, Goodyear F1’s and the upgraded braking deliver a hugely capable car. Add the Quaife limited slip diff, and it actually feels like it drags you around corners, something you don’t usually expect from a superbly comfortable wagon, this really is the essence of a sleeper in my opinion.

We’ve only had a couple of minor issues to overcome, an original coolant hose decided to burst and has now been replaced with another DO88 silicon one, and the map has been reflashed again by Karl at NoobTune to remedy the traction and ABS lights which had been linked to the older generation ECU, it’s running around a healthy 335 - 340hp on a Stage 5, which Karl has specifically tailored to deliver very liveable, everyday power.

Next stage will be the bodywork, both front and rear bumpers to repaint and the driver’s side has some marks I’m just not happy with. These together with a few subtle aesthetic mods will get it to a stage I’m content with, in the meantime, it’s proving hugely capable and coping nicely with the filthy roads and extreme Winter weather.

Project Snow Silver Progress

December 18, 2024 Eleven

It’s been a massive few weeks for the Snow Silver Sportwagon project, and having such a dedicated amount of time on it has meant progress has been rapid. Utmost respect to my friend and Saab guru; Jason Miles for taking this project on, and his attention to detail has been inspirational, if something looked like it might need attention in the future, it’s been done, to future proof the build.

The entire subframe and rear arms got Powerflex Polybushes, the new Bilstien B12 suspension was fitted together with new bump stops followed by the entire, newly fitted brake system from the Nocturne Blue Aero, upgraded front big brakes from Neo Brothers and genuine Saab Sport discs and upgraded pads on the rear and today, the full Abbott 3” stainless exhaust system went back on, including downpipe.

The amount of work that’s gone in to making this 9-5 Sportwagon special is hugely satisfying, one more day and Jason will pretty much have the mechanical side of the project finished, we’ve got to rectify an ABS fault, but other than that, we’ve had the car running and out of the workshop for the first time.

With a quick jet wash of the hidden parts, unseen but just as important, the Snow Silver Saab started to look the part, the suspension had settled down to reveal it’s new stance, and the twin tailpipes look purposefully menacing poking out of the rear bumper.

We put the 18” Team Dynamics wheels on just for a quick shakedown, but these will be replaced by new alloys which have just been clad with Goodyear Eagle F1 tyres to fully embrace the 350hp power and superb torque put through the Quaife LSD.

Next stage will be more aesthetic, the paintwork needs some attention and a few more subtle OE+ mods will be on their way in the new year.

Project Snow Silver. Day I

December 10, 2024 Eleven

We’ve been patiently waiting to start this very exciting project for the past few months, and yesterday, it all began like a hurricane. Several hours in, and the Nocturne Blue 9-5 had been completely disassembled, the modified and performance parts carefully removed, checked and catalogued, and the engine and gearbox ready to be removed the following day.

It’s been a hard decision to not save the Blue Aero, but having covered some 250,000 hard miles, it was exceptionally tired, nearly all panels required some kind of attention, and quite honestly, financially it just didn’t make sense. More importantly though, the beating heart of the car will live on in a new guise, the wonderfully strong engine was fully modified less than 100,000 miles ago, and after many miles covered, has proven it’s worth, it’ll benefit from numerous new ancillary parts, and be reunited with a freshly rebuilt manual gearbox, with LSD, upgraded clutch, new slave cylinder and gaskets.

It’s one less Saab for the world, but we’ve been fastidious with removing the parts that will become spares for the Graphite Green Aero, including switches, SID and heater units, lights and many interior parts have all been put aside for future use.

I’ve been getting a steady request for parts to be sourced and ordered, the new Bilstein B12 kit has arrived, along with new wheels and the ECU has been shipped off the Karl at Noobtune for a new bespoke Stage 5 remap.

As the next few days progress, I’ll attempt to take photos at various stages of the build, I’m truly humbled by Jason’s knowledge of Saabs, and quite honestly, feel this would not have begun without his friendship or belief in my projects. These are not my normal, ‘finished project’ photos, these are moments of the build, captured and enjoyed for their detail, I find a genuine beauty in the deconstructed nature of them, the hundreds and thousands of individual parts that come together to form a single car, in this case, a Saab that continues the journey of two.

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The Snow Hunter

November 18, 2024 Eleven

Our global Saab community has endless factions, we’re blessed to have so many of us who adore these cars and take the time to not only rescue, repair, modify, drive and enjoy them, but also talk about them together too.

I recently joined yet another Facebook group; Saabs Modified Worldwide, and instantly found a current project that just made me smile. John Michael over in Minnesota is creating a Saab that is built for one purpose and one purpose only, fun.

In his words, this is the Snow Camouflage Deer Hunter Edition, he’s set about massaging the bodywork to accommodate massive 20 x 11.5” wheels together with 31” RBP tyres, it’s had a 3.5” lift, and all 4 corners will have bespoke fabricated arches to complete the conversion. In readiness for the Minnesota Winter season with ample snow, John has also wrapped the entire car in Snow camouflage, removed all standard front lights and added powerful light bars across the entire front of the car.

Originally a standard 2001 9-5 with 140,000 miles and manual gearbox, this car has been given a new lease of life, one that perfectly captures the spirit and fun of Saab. I can’t wait to feature this one finished and see it’s first outing in the snow.

Saabs Modified Worldwide | Members Only Group

Perfect Imperfection

November 12, 2024 Eleven

I’ve always been a great believer in imperfection, I love these Saabs to be able to share their journeys, both good and bad, with imperfection, there’s a beauty that helps tell a story. The Graphite Green Aero is a great example, I could chase the ‘factory fresh’ route, but here’s the thing, it would lose its soul.

How did this exceptionally beautiful Saab end up at a breakers yard, no history, no V5C? How was it so nicely maintained and yet had a reoccurring oil light issue? Who added carbon fibre to the B pillars and front lower spoiler? I might not be able to answer these questions, but through its imperfections, I’m able to create a story in my mind, and to me, that’s priceless.

I don't confess to know everything about these cars, or be a mechanical genius, but with the help of a few fantastic people, I take huge pleasure in rescuing and restoring these amazing Saabs back to usable, everyday cars. To be driven and adored, not locked away for show days and weekends, yes, they might have a few marks here and there, but that’s what makes each and every one special.

Life is about the journey and the experiences along the way, these Saabs make wonderful companions and form endless memories, it’s time to embrace these imperfections.