One For Classic Car Fans.....

[Adam4868]

Had quite a few Saabs myself...loved a white 900 turbo I had,sadly it was a two door and the arrival of kids finished that car off ☹️
Did have one of the later ones with a 2.2 diesel for a while,but I never really liked it the same as the earlier ones and got rid.
On a totally irrelevant point I thought the soft tops/cabriolet looked crap,one of those cars that never suited that look for me.

 

[raleighnut]

Northampton based Turbo technics owner Geoff Kershaw was the man responsible for a lot of the original Saab adoption of a turbo on its engine and he still has the original 2 door Ems based one or did have the last time I saw him a couple of years ago.

I was at the 'launch' of the 99 Turbo at Donnington Park in 78, all the dealers had their first 'Demonstrators' there giving test laps of the car to potential customers, about 3 were crashed and 2 'blew up' but our boss had given 2 of the mechanics about £300* to take our one out and put about 1,200 miles on it and then do the 'first service' on it so it was 'run in' (some of em had 20-30 mile on the clock then got 'thrashed' round the curcuit)

* took John and Jim 2 days and an overnight stop in a Hotel to do the mileage but it was FAST after that.

 

[biggs682]

I was at the 'launch' of the 99 Turbo at Donnington Park in 78, all the dealers had their first 'Demonstrators' there giving test laps of the car to potential customers, about 3 were crashed and 2 'blew up' but our boss had given 2 of the mechanics about £300* to take our one out and put about 1,200 miles on it and then do the 'first service' on it so it was 'run in' (some of em had 20-30 mile on the clock then got 'thrashed' round the curcuit)

* took John and Jim 2 days and an overnight stop in a Hotel to do the mileage but it was FAST after that.

That would have been a nice 1200 miles for sure

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Jaguar
Cinder Lane
Castleford

No badging on boot-lid to signify if 2.4 or 3.8

I spotted the rear of it as I turned off Saville Road, onto Methley Lane, & passed The Eagle pub, so doubled back

 

[Gunk]

Looking at the bottom of those doors, a lot of Isopon was involved

 

[wiggydiggy]

To be fair they're rather more than that.

SAAB were indeed supposed to simply drop restyled bodies onto GM products to save a few quid, but they went to such lengths completely re-engineering them instead the expense eventually sunk the firm.

Indeed, the one Biggs spotted is an 'NG', factory code 9400, model which is actually based on a massively updated version of the original 900 platform. It was the 2nd generation 9-3, factory code YS3F, of 2003 that shared its origins with the GM platform.

Top Gear did a tribute to Saab not long after one of their collapses into administration, and they talk a lot about how after GM bought them Saab were only supposed to change the badges and other cosmetics. But Saab went so nuts that the car they produced ended up having a different wheelbase entirely to the donor car (Vectra for 9-3 and Insignia for 9-5)

This is part one of it, the other parts should play after the 1st.


View: https://youtu.be/Z-ZXGTJFSig?si=Lw3AYMRpjiN9Djzm

 

[Profpointy]

I had a proper 1983 three door Turbo back in the day, those 93’s are a pale imitation, a dressed up Vauxhall.

Indeed. I test drove a couple of 93 models; one a brand new turbo diesel saloon as a potential company car and later an older petrol convertible. Neither was at all nice.

The predecessor 900 turbo petrol convertable I drove was lovely and I was sorely tempted but it had a worrying steering wobble and some rust so I lost my nerve.

The 95 2.3 litre turbo petrol I did buy is also lovely albeit is a bit big. Still, a £2.5k car which has done me good service for 12 years and 150,000 miles, albeit with a few bills over the years. Luxury bangernomics at it's best for all that. I suspect the first three owners lost maybe £30k in depreciation over the first 70,000 miles and 10 years

 

[Drago]

Northampton based Turbo technics owner Geoff Kershaw was the man responsible for a lot of the original Saab adoption of a turbo on its engine and he still has the original 2 door Ems based one or did have the last time I saw him a couple of years ago.

TT are a short walk from home for me. Bruce often cocks his leg up their gate.

 

[Bonefish Blues]

Not to be confused with Turbot Technics, who are based in Brixham.

 

[biggs682]

TT are a short walk from home for me. Bruce often cocks his leg up their gate.

They are indeed

 

[Profpointy]

Wow !

 

[Gunk]

Wow indeed, lovely!

 

[Adam4868]

Wow !

View attachment 750357

Near enough perfection....but I was never quite struck on the three wipers.
I'd have bought one otherwise 😁

 

[stephec]

Near enough perfection....but I was never quite struck on the three wipers.
I'd have bought one otherwise 😁

Think of the advantages though, you can collect 50% more leaflets on your windscreen.

 

[Profpointy]

And later on yesterday saw another immaculate E type