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I think I created a monster.......
Way back in December of 99'.
(I must have been extremely bored that day)
I asked every single online Saab club...
how long they had been a fan of Saab
(saaber) and how many Saabs they or
family had owned ...and what ever other
information they wished to tell me
The results filled my email inbox for days......finally two years later..
I have found a home for the stories.
I also have put up some photos for
your
enjoyment from the Wigwam tech
session...because what are words without
pictures?
Without any further ado..READ On...
|
|
Wigwam Saab in Providence Rhode Island.
This is one of the Nordic
Tuned Saabs we were driven in
at the New England Saab
Association's/Wigwam Saab's
first annual tech session.
This is a side view
of the Aero wagon.Unfortunetely the backdrop isn't
so pretty. The city was redoing roads.
Which is a good thing, since the were very bumpy.
|
9-5 Nordic tuned aero on the lift to your right. |
|
|
|
< to the left a tuned Viggen and the red
9-5 aero sedan again. |
SAAB stories.......
On Wednesday the 15th of December 1999, I emailed all the Saab lists on the
internet that I am on with the question How long have you been a Saaber??
I also asked for any other information that everyone wanted to give out..Saab stories, reasons why you own Saabs etc....
car mileage is not necessary but welcome too.
Everyone can email me at aktie9@aol.com, I am putting the info in the order received. To be quite truthful ever since I purchased my very first Saab, I always thought that I was the only one who liked them as much as I do. Boy was I wrong!!
When I came on to the web last January and Started clicking around I had no idea there where any Saab clubs!! What a wonderful suprise!!! I have met and talked to some of the nicest people.
Enough bout me..on to the Saab stories.....
************************
1.
Drew Scott wrote in:
Well, I can't say I've been driving Saabs for very long, only three and a
half years, but when you think that I have only been driving for 4 years, I'm 20,
I think thats pretty good. My baby right now is a 1985 900 that is
unfortunetely getting old but hopefully it will last and then I can get a
Viggen if I win the lotto or something. Drew Scott
***************************************************************
2.
I've only been a Saaber for less than a month now.
Guess this makes me the baby, eh?
dj
***************************************************************
3
From: Tim Winker
At 10:41 AM 12/15/1999 -0500, you wrote:
>How long have you been a Saaber?
My 30th anniversary as a Saaber passed without notice in October.
BTW, the first Saabs rolled off the Trollhattan production line this week
in 1949. Only a few (20?) were completed by the end of the year.
Tim Winker
*************
1985 Saab 900 SPG, Black
1986 Saab 900S, 2-door sedan (future competition car?)
1979 Saab 99GL "NINE-T9"
1977 Saab 99 EMS/Turbo Test Car #993
1969 Sonett V4 ice racer (future vintage racer)
1960 Saab 93F ice racer (future vintage racer)
1979 Chev C-30 Ambulance [For Sale, see www.winktimber.com/forsale/]
(plus a '75 99GL Wagonback, a 1975 99LE 2-dr, three '78 99Ts,
and an '85 900T, on their way to Valhalla)
Former Saabs:
1960 93F - My first car, bought in 1969, sold in 1971
1967 Sonett II #000069, sold 9/99
1979 Saab 99 2-dr, IT racer/ProRally car "2nd Banana" sold 9/99
1975 99 Wagonback "Viggen Vaggon", Winter Beater
1977 99 5-dr "Reanimation"
1985 900 Turbo "Winter Beater Mk. II"
***************************************************************
4.
Marty Adams wrote:
I have been a SAAB driver since I got my license at 16 (1979). My
grandpa and dad owned a dealership at Meyer since 1963, so I kind of
grew up with them. My wife and I purchased the dealership about three
years ago and are raising three little SAAB'ers. My twelve year old son
is currently working on a restoration project (with plenty of help from
other SAAB nuts) of a 1967 SAAB 96. He's currently working on
rebuilding the brake system.
Hope your project goes well.
Marty Adams < info@meyergarage.com>
Meyer Garage
***************************************************************
5.
Pat wrote:
I'm 18 and I've been driving my Saab from the day I got my liscense. It's a
1984 900s. It had 168k when I started and now its got 194k. I love driving
it, working on it and epecially listening to music in it. I have an eight
speaker stereo system that I have installed gradually over the past couple
of years.
Pat (gator25fan@aol.com)
84 900 s
ps. anyone else have any stereo ideas for 900s email me and share them.
***************************************************************
6.
hmm.. started in '78 with my rally 96....back then I only had one car...;-)
Lester (rally@prysm.net)
***************************************************************
7.
Phil Lacefield wrote:
Man, now you got me all thinking, and I got to realizing that I've been at
this for thirteen years now! Got my first, a '77 99 (which, ironically
enough, I may well be getting back from the current owner for FREE this
week!) in early 1987, so I'm almost there.
Thanks for making me feel old and decrepit, you!
Phil
***************************************************************
8.
Dear Heather, that's quite a task you're taking on!
OK, here goes.
Chris Mills
Keene, NH
Saaber 33 years - since 1966 - I was 3 when my Dad brought home a new
96(RIP)
- sat me on his lap behind the wheel and let me "drive" it.
In '68 he bought a Deluxe (RIP? or is there some chance I might one
day still find it?)
In '82, I bought my first Saab - a '70 96 for (RIP)
'83, a '72 96(RIP)
'86, a '71 96 ice racer(RIP)
'91, a '72 96 in Saratoga Spgs, NY. Still have it - runs fine
(The guy said it'd belonged to the Pres of the NJ Saab Club)
'96, a '72 95 in VA, from Herbert Wheeler(RIP - Herbert, not the car)
Still have the car - runs fine
'97, a '73 97 - parts car (anyone interested?)
our first new car ever - a '97 900SE 5-door (65k miles already)
'98, a late 60's/early 70's 95 and 96 - both parts cars(anyone
interested?)
'99, my last Saab purchase for this century - '69 Sonett V4 - runs
strong!
(co-stars with Christina Ricci in "The Ice Storm", actually
it's just a coupla secs)
Good luck with compiling this monster!
Chris
***************************************************************
9.
Jonjonbart@aol.com writes:
Is a "SAABer" a fan, or an owner? I've been a fan since my
grandfather got his first one in 1960. I was less than a year old.
A string of them, all strokers, were in my family continuously
from that time until 1973. My personal first was a '66 96 in 1979
until 1982. Another break until 1986 when my brother got a 900 turbo
and then a 9-3 V6. The third break happened in 1996 until three months ago
when I got my Sonett II. 28 of the past 40 years with some years of multiple cars.
Jon
************************************************************
10.
My dear friend Frannie Sclar also is a SAABer she just has no access to the web
So I will put her info here. You can email me if you have questions on her Saabs. I have pics...and proof!! Read on...
Frannie Sclar
88 900 T--- original owner of it.
Traded it in 1999 to the dealer she bought it at for a 1996 900 V-6 Se convert.
Not a special year or anything...until you realize who has driven this car....
Jerry Seinfeld and friends.
Dharma and Greg tv show used it.
Dick Vandyke
Among many others.....
***************************************************************
11.
Vincent Tong writes:
My family's been a Saab family since '85. The Saab count now is 4,
though only two are left alive and my uncle drives one of them now.
The first was that 85 900 base hatch, then came an 87 900S 4-door,
the 88 9000T and my current 88 SPG. Of course, I've only been
driving since...hmmm...got my learner's when I was 15 and learnt on
the 85 and the 9k; never drove the 87 because I was too young when
it was around (it got smashed). So...6 years (21 now) I guess,
Saabs are all I've driven, and I've lived with them all my life now
too. But my mom drives a 98 Volvo V70 now, and I use it on occasion
too.
See my site for my Saab story!
http://plaza.powersurfr.com/vtong
***************************************************************
12.
Todd Campisino wrote:
Heather, I have been driving Saab's now for 10 years as well. I started in
89 w/ a Zircon Blue 86 900 8v before I ended up w/ my 88 SPG SCANIA. My wife
Mary has now been driving Saab's for 6 years. She started out w/ a Red 87
900 then to a Silver 90 900S and now here present car the Platana Grey 91
Special Edition TC. We have had great luck w/ them all & no wrecks we have
just sold or traded them around for different ones. For instance my 86 had
198k on it when I handed the key over to it. And it to like SCANIA was a
concourse winner at the 92 owners convention.
Todd
**************************************************************
13.
Jeff Powell writes:
I grew up in blue-smoke SAABs. 93s, 95s, 96s. My Uncle had a Sonett V4.
I haven't written up my saab-story, but my sig has all the SAABs I've owned.
I owned my first really truly my own SAAB in 1985.
Current SAABs: Past SAABs:
1972/4 Sonett [in boxes!] 1972 Sonett III
1987 9000s [Silver Slug] 1973 99EMS
1993 9000CS [family car] 1978 99T 3 door
1994 900s C [missing] 1979 99GL
1984 900T 4 door
1986 900T
1986 9000s
1987 900T
***************************************************************
14.
Chip writes :
In 1988, Dad and I were cruising along I-80 in New Jersey in the express
lanes. I looked over to see a brand-new 900T in the local lanes, guy on one
of those newfangled cellphones, all over his lane. Dad said "That guy's in
trouble." I looked over my shoulder about 3-4 seconds later and saw the 900
going end over end, literally, the front end was in the ground and the
hatch came up in the air, then it rolled down the culvert. Paper the next
day said he got through with minor injuries.
Bought my first SAAB a few years later, a 1984 900S (sold). Then the '89
900 (traded). Then the '91 900 (hit to death). Then my first 96, another
one (both dead), then the 90 SPG (sold), then a '66 96 (dead), '72 96
(sold), the 93F, the Cop Car (sold), the '72 wagon (sold), '82 900T (dead
from rust) the '63 96, '75 99 (project), '89 9000S (hit to death), '86 9kT
(sold), '74 99EMS (sold), another 93F (sold), 85 900T, '69 96 (sold), '86
SPG and '69 Sonett V4. Whew. That enough? If not add up about 10 parts
cars, from 96es to Sonetts to 99s to an '85 900S just acquired (bad autobox).
Cheers-
William "Chip" Lamb
West of Sweden SAAB
Charles City, VA.
http://www.wmsbrg.com/sweden/
***************************************************************
15.
Thor writes:
Well, Dad bought a brandy new 93B sometime back in the 50's. Front hinged
doors, pull cable starter, 3 cylinders and ribbon speedometer, IIRC. He
used to sit me on his lap so I could steer the car down our 50ft long
driveway. Dad eventually traded the 93 for a new bullnose 96. In 1970 I
took my road test in Dad's new '70 99E.
In 1974 I bought my own first SAAB, a '66 96 with drum brakes. Rallyed
and autocrossed extensively, though it was never particularly quick through
the cones.
http://members.xoom.com/_XMCM/Mjollnir9/669675.jpg
In 1976 I bought the Sonett II (#000198) which I also autocrossed and time
trialed with most weekends. It was very quick on the autocross course.
http://members.xoom.com/_XMCM/Mjollnir9/000198b.jpg
Then I got married.
Post matrimonial SAABs included a '78 99 EMS, '83 900 (base), '84 900
(base)
http://members.xoom.com/_XMCM/Mjollnir9/may84fab.jpg
and the current ride, Mjollnir.
http://members.xoom.com/_XMCM/Mjollnir9/mjollnir.jpg
Here's most of my SAAB story:
http://members.xoom.com/Mjollnir9/thors.htm
So, I guess you could say I've been driving SAABs since I was around 5 yrs
old...
*****************************
Thor Carlson - Newton, NJ
'86 SPG "Mjollnir" 152K
carlsont@ptdprolog.net
http://home.ptd.net/~carlsont
***************************************************************
16
Eric Van Spelde writes:
I've been driving Saabs from 1991 (82 900 GLs 4-dr slushbox from
Oct.91-Oct 92, then nothing, then Saabine (85 900T 8v 5-door) from Jan.
'94 on. Presently trying to wake her up after major engine/trans
surgery...
Eric
***************************************************************
17
Seth wrote:
Well lets see here, I got my first Saab after my First Ovlov was killed
when I was rear ended by an elderly woman in an SUV. It was an 85 8 valve
base model with a 5 speed transmission and absolutely no power what so
ever. though it was great in the snow, got good gas mileage and I do miss
that car which I sold to my parents and it later died when I broadsided a
teenager who pulled out of his drive way in a brand new SUV with out
looking. A year later I bought a Saab 83 4dr turbo from my sister and
drove it for a year until one day the transmission exploded. That was a
great car as I drove it into the ground and it is the car that I got the
S&R steering wheel from. After that I bought my 75 99 (waiting for new
drive train) which I drove as a daily driver for 2 years, and have used on
and off for the past year. And I bought my 4th Saab last March my 1986 900
2 door 16v. I may be getting several more Saabs soon, so I may be up to 5
or 6.
Seth S
***************************************************************
18
Jon dennis writes:
I've been around SAABs my whole life. I have my grandfather to thank, he
bought his first SAAB, a 96 stroker, new in '67. Of course this was 13
years before I was born. He owned a number of 95s, 96s, and 99s throughout
the 'seventies and early 'eighties. My mother learned to drive on a 96.
One of my aunt crashed her pea-soup green 95 after falling asleep at the
wheel. Some of my earliest memories are of riding in my dad's '72 96. My
mother had originally got it from my grandfather in '77 or '78, but she
gave it to my dad after she got a brand new Chevy Citation right after I
was born. Even as a small child I always preferred to ride in the 96. I
also can remember riding in my grandfather's 99 EMS and my aunt's '71 99
Automatic (with a vinyl roof). One of my cousins had a '72 99 four door
with a vinyl roof too, but she blew the engine. My father really liked the
96. He drove it until '84 when it had an engine fire on the way to work.
It remained parked out in our back yard for another 12 or 13 years.
My personal involvement SAABs began in about 1993 when I was 13. I
kept bugging my dad about restoring his old 96. My grandfather used to
have SAAB repair shop in the late '70s in Lynnfield (I think), MA and he'd
given my father a bunch of parts to fix the 96. Unfortunately, my
grandfather passed away in '92. We found the '72 96 to be too rusty to
restore and by that time I got a running '71 96 parts car that had been
rolled over. We actually started to restore that, but it wasn't too sound
structure-wise. However, we had rebuilt the engine from the '72 96 and
dropped that in there. When I got my licence in '96, I went through a
Volvo and two VWs. By this time I also acquired another project, a '60 93F
that some guy up the road gave to me. I didn't finally have a SAAB to
drive until I bought my '68 95 in Oct. '97. Ironically, it was the same
year and color as the 95 my mom had when she was in highschool. Anyway, I
blew the engine on X-Mas night of that year and I spent a few months
rebuilding the car, I dropped the '72 engine in with a rebuilt tranny, new
brakes, etc. By this time I acquired a really nice '72 95 with a bad
balance shaft gear, and I was forced to give away the 93F. I drove the '68
95 until Sept. '98 when i took it off the road because of rust. Shortly
thereafter, I bought my current SAAB, a '76 99EMS. We've had a healthy
love/hate relationship ever since then. Phew...
Okay folks, there's my SAAB Story. A guess I got carried away with it.
- Jon
***************************************************************
19
Nick writes:
This will be long....(Probably boring too...)
I've been with saabs since 1995.. My first one was a 86 900 (Leon)
sport, I sold it to a friend about 6 months after buying it because
the company I was working for was paying me some good $$ for the car
& I had to travel a lot & the 900 had 530k km... So i went hunting
for a newer saab, & it had to be a turbo one... After trying a
couple of 900 turbo, I felt in love for a 92 9000t(Jack), I drove it
for about a year. that car was fantastic for the speed, but
insurance wise, a disaster.. 320$ canadian a month, the 900(Leon) i
had before was 50$ a month... So I had to sell it after I switched jobs. My friend who bought the 900(Leon) sport, was looking for
something quicker, so I let him try that 9000t(Jack), he bought it
the day after... So I went hunting again, this time, for a 900, not
turbo (ouch!) & 4 door... So I found a nice one for quite cheap & in
pretty good shape. A couple of days after, my friend who bought the
900(Leon) & 9000(Jack) (yes, him again :) Call me back asking if I
had modified anything in the 9000.. I said no & why, well, he went to
a specialized saab garage & they told him that it was modified with abbot stuff & all... Now I understood why it was quicker then all
the other turbo I tried when I was shopping around... It was quicker
than a Aero, & I mean a lot more! Ok, so this time, I don't need a
car for going to work, so that car is perfect... (89 900(Charlotte) 4
door) Until, about 2 months ago, my wife got an offer for a really
nice job, but outside of the city, so she need a car, & she is
scrared of having a 10 years old car for commuting to work everyday
(200 km total), so we went looking for a newer saab, a good deal
around 96->98, but this time... nothing! We looked for about 1 1/2
month, & we couldn't find a saab that both of us could agree on..
It was my first experience of sharing a car, & let me tell you it's
not that easy... So it ended up with a golf gti vr6 98(no name yet,
& harder to find...), hmm, don't laugh! So now, I'm mostly using the
89 900(Charlotte) but paying too for the gti... At least, I'm still
in the saab family!
keep on saabing!
nick
89 900 4dr 253k
98 vw gti vr6 12k
*The gti vr6 is not bad, a lot of under steer (I got used though with
the 9000t) quite fast, you can go up 'til 210km/h in fourth speed...
But it lack on a lot of stuff the saab has....But It's much better
then a SUV or something like that...*
***************************************************************
20
OK, Heather, here we go, most recent first
1996 9000 CSE Ecopower, December 1999 to date
1991 900i 16v Lux, November 1999 to December 1999 (I loved it, wife didn't)
1973 99 LE Auto, August 1999 to date (bought for Carrie as a wedding
present)
1994 Ford Mondeo, December 1998 to December 1999 (traded in for the 9000)
1990 Peugeot 405, January 1998 to December 1998 (piece of sh!t that fell
apart)
1974 Volkswagen 1200L, February 1994 to date (currently off road, awaiting
some TLC)
Cheers
James
***************************************************************
21
The nosy one:
I guess I'm a relative newby compared to most of the stories.
Five years ago, I lost in a divorce settlement & had to take the88 Festiva (actually not a bad econo-box commuter, just fugly and not any fun). I was looking thru the classifieds for something to be my first project car when I found this 78 99 for almost free. I knew absolutely nothing about Saabs, but it just looked cool to me.That car took three years to get back on the road. I still drive it regularly, and it's still my project: it's got MSS cam, headers and
exhaust (to be installed soon). Next, I want to get sway bars and give the front end a complete going thru (just need $$$!). Shortly after buying the 99, I noticed an 85 900T on the side of the road with a for sale sign. One test drive and I was forever hooked on Saab turbos...
It was a neglected car & I ended up replacing just about every brake, suspension, and steering component in it the two years that I owned it. When the head cracked, I was already fed up with doing repairs, the tranny was almost gone, and the a/c was shot. So I dumped it & went to a NG - 95 900SET.
Sometimes I miss the old 85, but I sure like the comforts of
the newer car.
My story, fwiw.
- Matt Frazer in Detroit
95 900 SET - 75k mi.
78 99L - ?? mi.
***************************************************************
22
Ernest writes:
My wife and I have been in Saabs since 1983 - with her 900T hatchback. It still has original turbo and only second clutch. Mileage now 260,000.
Also have 1991 900T Monte Carlo yellow SPG convertible (60K miles); 1992 900T white convertible (35K), and 1992 900T hatchback (80K).
Ernie the Attorney Linek@bannerwitcoff.com (Ernest V. Linek
***************************************************************
23
try0548@ritvax.isc.rit.edu (Tom Young)
Hey Heather!
I was in your area just this weekend!
It seems like every mad bloke with a pen and a degree is giving me something to do this week, but that's all about to change.And now, I'd like to take the chance to introduce to Turbo! the newest
addition to the TulSAAB automotive paddock...
!Blikka the '97 Aero!
Yes, she's attractive, smart, fast, and all I ever wanted.
I picked her up in Sudbury on Saturday afternoon and drove back to
Rochester that night. More computers, speed and luxury than I know what
to do with; I got 'er up to 125 before I chickened out. She wasn't even
breathing hard.
So now in my fourth year being SAABsessed with SAABism, I've *bought* my
second Saab. I've handled quite a few as a tech though, so that makes up
for the lack of multiple cars I guess. I always told myself I didn't
like the 9000's until I worked on an Aero. For those who don't know me
as well, I work at Brookside Saab of Tulsa, Oklahoma and study
Automotive Engineering at the Rochester Inst. of Tech. We got a '93 Aero
in Imola Red for a trade on a new 9-3cv at SoT. She was somewhat of a
delivery car for awhile :). It was all downhill from there. So after
this summer, I told myself, well, I never want to sell Ingrid the '83t,
so I'll set the bar really high. Then push came to shove and a
transmission went out, so I figured it was time to take the plunge a few
stock sales later.
I've dropped the down for a U-Haul and will be wanderlusting my way down
to Okie for the holidays with Ingrid on the tow dolly.
Meanwhile, I have to find the hot girl with the '86 900s so I can woo
her [fingers xxxxxd]. YOW! Too much fun!
-SAABhuman
(way cool because now underneath my name goes:)
Blikka '97 9k Aero
Ingrid '83 900t 3ck
***************************************************************
24
jwhalen@cloud9.net (John Whalen) writes:
Hey Heather...Here's some info for yer....
Started driving Saabs in 85. My new girlfriend then had just purchased a brand
spanking new white 85 900. I had loved the look of Saabs since 80, and
now one was finally available. Two yrs later, I picked up a mint
condition 1980 900GLE 5-door, with those little cool back windows. Loved
the car. Eventually the new gf and I married, and we were now a two Saab
family. Unfortunately, the marriage ended, and gone went the white 900.
Fortunately the blue 80 900 still remained securely till I gave it away
to some friends in New Paltz. Soon afterwards I picked up a *mint* forest
green 85 900S from a close friend. The car had 65K - today it has 220K. I still use to commute 120 miles/day. Last May I picked up a 92 900T, and am almost finished an SPG conversion+.
- John
Forest Green 85 900S 220K
Black 92 900T 95K
PS. I'm an identical triplet, and neither of my bro's drives Saabs.
Though we eventually all did go to the same school and work in the same
company.
***************************************************************
Day three....December 17th 1999 . Answers to my question: "How long have you been
a Saaber? And tell me your SAAB story.. results and answers are still pouring in....
*********************************************************
From: "peter briggs"
My Saab ownership started in about 1974 and has continued to the present day
with just two short periods of abstinence.Cars owned as follows:-
1968 96 V4 deluxe
1973 96 V4
1976 99EMS
1976 99 Combi
1966 96 two-stroke (still owned tenth year of ownership)
1982 99 GL
1983 99GL (still owned )
The most I have paid for any of them was £2000 (for the stroker ten years
ago!)it just proves its enthusiasm not cash that counts!!
Pete
***************************************************************
From: Graham Cullen
At the moment, I am 17 years old so I have only been
into Saabs for a few years, but I have owned.
64' 95
66' 95
71' 95 -Restored
73' 96 -Turning into rally car at this very moment
69' 95
71' 95
I was also wondering what a cast iron, ribbed, tranny
case was worth. I was also wondering what you guys do
for brake line hoses on the old 4 bolt disc brakes for
a sonett II. I have heard that there is a Volvo hose
that is the proper thread and length, but I don't know
what car it came off of. So if anyone could help I
would be very thankful.
___________________________
Bet We've been in possession of our SAAB shorter than anyone. In fact the
car is still in Honolulu, due for delivery on the 23rd. Its a '96 900SE in
light bronze with 18,000 miles on it. Sure was sweet to drive and the
bells and whistles should keep me busy for months. Problem is, may have to
do the maintenance myself, as there is no mechanic's on the island. May be
looking to you all for lots of advice.
Aloha
Kona Coffee Rover and now SAAB
***************************
John’s Saab Story or Heather had to ask……
Today, twenty-one years ago I purchased my first Saab, a brand, spanking
new 1979 99GL, painted Chamotte Brown with a Saddle Brown interior.
Sticker price was ,500 but I paid ,300, IIRC, without tax, license
or destination charges (included in the price back then). The car was
driven home that evening, filled up with 12.2 gallons of Mobil regular
(leaded ? even!) for 59.9 cents per gallon (I keep records). In the
car’s first year it was driven just over 15,000 miles. While this might
not sound like much it is considering I was carpooling and only drove 35
miles to work once per week. Most of my miles were on long distance
trips (home then was in the far northwestern ‘burbs of Chicago), twice
to Colorado, where it turned over 10,000 miles (got photos of the
roll-over) about five miles east of the Moffat Tunnel, the UP (Upper
Peninsula of Michigan to those outlanders) seven times, Indiana-no-place
(known for insurance companies and some law schools such as
Ooeeyy-Pooeey) three or four times and all over central Illinois and
Wisconsin. On one return trip from Colorado, I was bored (I-state driving does that, especially thru central Illinois) and have photos of
the instrument cluster with the speed at 55 mph, 210 miles on the trip
meter, tank half-full (or 7 gallons used), 13 inches of vacuum at about
15:30. This Saab , aka "the Slaab" or bhor-giv-vorrn-giv-vorn (this was
the days of the Swedish Chef on TV’s Muppet Show), prompted my father
eat some crow and purchase his first Saab, a 1980 900GLE (although with
an autotragic), after giving me quite a bit of grief for buying a
"foreign car". This is also the Saab that provided the jump starting for
a number of American irons on some ?25 degree F mornings after parties.
One cold, (15 below or so) Saturday evening in January 1981, I left work
(sucking up some OT), the poor car complained mightily, but started
right up, and gave me a very rough (shocks were frozen) ride home, where
I collected my camera gear and proceeded to take photos of bank
time/temperature signs for my other job as a newspaper photographer.
Other stories with this car include being driven to the first SOC in
Galena, IL in 1983 (how many Saabs can say that? ? other than Sadie) an
agricultural excursion ? sideways into a farmer's freshly plowed &
planted field on my birthday in 1982. It cost in quarters to clean
all that fresh, black dirt from the wheels and running gear and proof
that 4 banger’s could chase the Union Pacific Railroad in Nebraska.
"Chasing" trains is a hobby of mine that involves taking photos, of a
train, then running ahead, stopping, taking more photos, running ahead,
etc. This may not seem all that spectacular until one learns the UP does
70-75 mph across Nebraska. I had the then 5 month old 99GL above an
indicated 110 mph more than once. At any rate, the "99" is only one of
11 Saabs I have owned. They are:
’73 Sonett III, acquired 8/85, now has 87k
’79 900 GLE, acquired 2/89, sold/traded 3/92, put 45k miles on it. Indy
Saab shop used it an Ovlov parts shed until it became a steel source for
new Toyotas.
’79 99GL, acquired 8/89 as a parts mother, drove home from PO with the
coolant overflow reservoir cap melted into the reservoir. Ran great, but
made a bit of steam. Dead in Driveway (DID).
’75 99LE, acquired 3/92, have put 60k on it. DID, transmission committed
suicide. Soon to provide parts for my 99 collection.
’73 96, acquired 4/92. Verona Green in all its’ putrid color, sold 7/96,
due to loss of storage space. Neat car, has NO RUST,
’83 900T, acquired 1/93, Only have put about 5k miles on it, all in
1993, transmission went south 4 days after the ’93 convention DID.
’81 900T, acquired 8/94 aka the "Cop Killer", put 30k on this one before
a run-in with the smokies….got a broken nose on left front. First bent
sheet metal on a car in 23 years, DID to be used for a donor heart &
lungs (engine & transmission) for the original 99GL.
’85 900T, acquired 1/97, have put 35k on this one since, including a
drive to Waterville Valley in August ’97, and the very long drive back
home for my father’s funeral the Wednesday after the convention.
’93 900S acquired 8/97, put 6k on my father’s third Saab before trading
it off. Why have a normally aspirated 16 valve with autotragic, when
you’ve got 3 other 900’s with Turbo AND 5 speed?
’94 9000CSE, acquired 12/97, traded dad’s ’93 900S for this beauty. Put
25k miles on her in 18 months before selling this past May. Followed
Eric Johnson (in #283) & Tom Donney (in the "Class of ’50") to Hilton
Head with this car. Also the location of the famous "Listen to the
Smell" remark, what do you say when you’re following two strokers. Tom
Donney claims the 9000 got 35mpg (it really did!!) while following the
strokers ‘cause of all the unburned hydrocarbons from the strokers…..
Saabs I shoulda bought:
Quantum Formula S. A friend found an ad in the Sunday Chicago Tribune in
the fall of 1992. If my boss wasn’t trying to fire me at the time I
probably would have bought it. It is now in the Saab friendly hands of
Mark School in Appleton, WI. IIRC the car sold for about ,500. Mark
bought the car in the summer of ’94.
’92 900S ragtop. No turbo, but did attract a lot of looks. I had the use
of this midnight blue & gray cloth beauty for about two hours the
Saturday of the ’93 convention. I brought her home to clean-up (me, not the ragtop) before the banquet and try out a ragtop. Gave a ride around
the block to my neighbor (she still asks me about the car) with the tape
deck spouting Count Basie at full volume (which prolly explains the
looks I got!) Who says you need a Turbo to have fun in a Saab.
I’m eating up a whole lot of bandwidth. So I’ll end this. We haven’t
heard from Uncle Bob for a while. Maybe he'll check in with his list of
Saabs. It'll soon be the 21st anniversary of him doing all sorts of good
things with Saabs.
Jon Hochstetter
Kenosha, WI
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Another view of the Seinfeld Saab and my 9k....click to see another
Granted the car is a V-6...its still
very cool knowing famous people drove
it. |
Frannie Sclar's 96' 900 convertible.
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I was lucky enough to go for a ride..
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Our gmc with cargo
Notice the Pea green bonett
on the back of the truck? Yep
the same bonett from the pea
green five door in the jyard
photo. This truck is the one
who left us stranded for 9
days in Penn in the middle
of February 2000. This truck
is still alive to this day.
We gave it to a family member
who uses it to plow his
driveway in winter. When it
dies for good, I have dibs on
the fuel sending unit. (fuel
sending unit was what died and left
us stranded in Pa. Also it was a
dealership only part, actually we ended
up having to have one delivered directly
from Detroit...since the dealer doesn't
have them in stock) So no you can't fix these
trucks from parts only at a generic parts store.
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Another view at the Saab Romp 99'
My apologies for the
quality of this photo.
It's been moved around
so much between computers,
and whatnot..it got damaged.
Maybe I'll scan it in one of
these days and replace it....
....maybe not.
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