Saab Archives - Page 2 of 5

Fantasy Friday – Saab Shopping in Sweden

One of the really fun parts of my time living in Sweden was car shopping. I love car shopping under any circumstances, but the ultimate car shopping experience is being in your favoured marque’s country of origin and having access to a bunch of cars that are very rare in your home country.

I ended up buying a car that wasn’t rare at home – a classic Saab 900 – but I spent hours checking out Blocket.se and fantasising about what I could get if price wasn’t a constraint and I felt confident that I’d be in-country for a long time. Sadly, neither of those two factors were working in my favour back in 2011.

So let’s window shop a little. If I were to import a Saab into Australia in the future, my first choice remains a Saab Sonett III, imported from the US. But there are plenty of other Saabs that are rare here and are relatively rare in other countries, too. Fortunately there are still a good number of them in Sweden and Blocket.se is one of the best sources for finding them.

Here’s a selection….. click any of the pictures to enlarge.

Saab 92B

Why not start at/near the beginning. The Saab 92 was the first Saab model ever produced and the 92B was the refreshed version of this initial car. This is a 1954 model, so it’s 60 years old this year. Refreshed paint and brightwork and if the engine’s as good as the day it was first installed, it’ll be pushing out a whopping 39hp!!

The car is for sale in Ängelholm so you might just spot a Koenigsegg being tested when you go to pick it up. The asking price is 135,000SEK.

Here’s the link: Saab 92B (blue) for sale.

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Saab 92B

If you like your old Saab to be a bit more of project, this might be the car for you. It’s said to have all it’s original paint. My guess is it’s mostly original. That glossier section behind the door looks a bit suspicious to me. But aside from a couple of small dents on the other side, it looks like a straight car.

The seller says some interior work needs doing and I’m sure there will be some mechanicals to attend to, but this looks like a (mostly) original starting point for someone. It’s a 1956 model.

The car is for sale in Umeå, in northern Sweden. If it’s been there all its life then that would explain the well preserved, original patina. The price is 43,000SEK.

Here’s the ad: Saab 92B (grey) for sale.

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Saab 96 2-stroke racer

This would be good, I think. Very, very good.

I’m not so hot on the big padded roll bar inside, or the non-standard seats. Concessions to modern safety, I suppose. The car looks outstanding and is said to be fully race-ready with both engine and gearbox rebuilt in Trollhattan.

The seller is asking 125,000SEK and the car is for sale in Linköping.

Here’s the ad: Saab 96 2-stroke racer.

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Saab 96 2-stroke

This car is the standard version of the one above. It looks to be completely standard. Just an early Saab 96 from 1960. Both the exterior and interior look clean, which makes me wonder why it’s advertised at such an affordable 25,000SEK.

The car is for sale at a second-hand dealer in Malmö. He had similar cars for sale back in 2011. At similar prices, too. I never got down south to look at them, unfortunately.

Here’s the ad: Saab 96 2-stroke for sale.

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Saab 95 Castrol

The Saab 95 is desirable to many as it’s much rarer than the classic Saab 96. And how many cars come with just 2-doors but seven seaters? And how many wagons nearly took a podium finish at Monte Carlo?

This looks to be a recent renovation with a reconditioned engine and straight cut gears installed. The minilites and driving lights looks quite good but if I’m reading the translation correctly, this car hasn’t been through an inspection since its restoration. Tread carefully!

The car is for sale in Lund. No price is mentioned but the owner is open to offers.

Here’s the ad: Saab 95 in Castrol colours for sale.

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Saab 95

This 1978 Saab 95, also painted in green, seems to be a much safer bet according to the information in the ad. This car is also restored but in much more standard configuration. The engine is said to run like clockwork and the car passed it’s most recent inspection without comment.

It’s got a new exhaust, new brakes, new tyres and reconditioned soccerball rims. Nice. The asking price is a reasonable 59,000SEK and the car is located in Danderyd, just north of Stockholm.

Here’s the ad: Saab 95 for sale.

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Saab 99 Turbo racer

I haven’t seen this colour scheme on a Saab racing team, but you don’t need the text from the ad to tell you the blue-and-white treatment on the car is in honour of Saab’s Finnish racing efforts.

The car is said to be race-ready to Group A standard and has raced successfully since being built. It certainly looks like it’s been used in anger, but a lack of pristine presentation is not a drawback with a car like this. The engine has a healthy 217hp and is recently reconditioned. Porsche brakes are a standard conversion.

The seller is asking 165,000SEK and the car is located in Sigtuna, between Stockholm and Uppsala.

Here’s the ad: Saab 99 Turbo Grp A racer.

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Saab 900 Turbo

This is a personal indulgence because I love Acacia Green Saabs and I also love the early Saab 900. Later 900’s got a little conservative compared to the early cars, which still had plenty of 70’s Swedish funkiness. Note the green interior with the clip-down seat belt clasps, straight out of the 99 Turbo.

This car is said to be completely original and unrestored. It’s been off the road since 2005 and hasn’t seen a winter since the late-1980’s.

The car is listed at 85,000SEK but it sounds like the seller expects the price to go higher, saying that he’ll sell to the highest bidder.

The car is located in Habo, on the shores of Lake Vattern. Here’s the ad: Saab 900 Turbo for sale.

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Saab 96 Monte Carlo

OK, I’ve got to cover another 96. I simply can’t resist and I hope you won’t be able to, either.

This is a 1966 Saab 96 Monte Carlo 850. It’s quite possibly the prettiest Saab ever and would be one of the most fun to drive, too. There’s not much detail on this car but if it’s a good one, the 150,000SEK price would be justified.

Here’s the ad: Saab 96 Monte Carlo 850 for sale.

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Saab 90

All the cars listed above are pre-1980. I had to expand my search to find some Saab 90’s.

To the unfamiliar, the Saab 90 was a local model that was basically a Saab 99 with a Saab 900 ‘notchback’ rear end. The interior is Saab 99, as well. This is a faily basic car but if you’re a non-Swede, it’s a definite curiosity.

I saw plenty of these on the road in Sweden and there are quite a few for sale, too. The good thing is the price. This one’s the most expensive for sale on Blocket right now and it’s on 16,000SEK.

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So there you have it, some of my personal favourites from Blocket.se right now.

Check out your local import costs and go for your life!!!

War Of The Noses – Saab 900 (classic)

Okay. You’ve voted for your preferred Saab 9-5 nose and your preferred Saab 99 nose. What about the most popular Saab ever made – the classic Saab 900?

The classic Saab 900 started with a flattish nose that was an evolution of the late 1970’s Saab 99. In the late-80’s the Saab 900 got a more slanted nose.

Which one do you prefer?

The early, flatter nose:

…..Or the later, slightly more slanted probiscus:

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Here’s your poll:

[poll id=”17″]

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The results of the first two polls have been very interesting. I’m still working on my theory and I think there are various factors in play when it comes to the preferred look of each car.

Thanks for participating!

And of course, comments are open.

War Of The Noses – Saab 99

You’ve voted on the Saab 9-5. Here we go again.

This time I’d like you to select your favourite Saab 99 note from these two prominent contenders. Yes, there were other Saab 99 front-end variations but these two are the most-seen.

Note – both periods had variations with dual headlamps (round) on either side. I had to pick one or the other, so I’ve gone with the rectangular European versions just to be consistent.

Earlier – the late 1960’s style…..

Or……

Later – Mid 1970’s style

Here’s your poll…..

[poll id=”16″]

War Of The Noses – Saab 9-5

Here’s a simple question for you, something that’s been occupying my mind for the last few days (sadly, this is true).

Which nose do you prefer on the Saab 9-5? The 1st series with the silver grille or the color-coded nose that came with the facelift?

Examples, using two Saab 9-5 Aeros. The earlier nose first…..

And the later nose……

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Here’s the poll.

[poll id=”15″]

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I’ll follow up with a few more Saab noses as we go through the week.

Yes, I have a theory.

Feel free to have your say in comments.

Saab 900 Monte Carlo Yellow Production Numbers

This is another entry from the Inside Saab days, in a similar vein to my Saab 9-3 Viggen production numbers article. The data was lost when Inside Saab went down, but thankfully I’ve been able to retrieve it thanks largely to the Wayback Machine.

Sadly, the Viggen and the MCY 900 Convertible are the only two models I got the chance to dig up numbers for before Inside Saab was ditched and Saab went under. I hope NEVS still has the old production database as it’s valuable historical information.

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After the success of the Viggen ‘by the numbers’ piece I thought it’d be fun to dig up another model of interest from the database and spill it’s global distribution beans here on the website.

The Saab 900 Convertible is an icon on its own, but the icon-within-the-icon is the Saab 900 Monte Carlo Yellow version of the car. It’s the most fun-looking color in the palette, but it still takes a certain strength of character to buy and own this most attention-grabbing and distinctive color.

So how were they distributed around the world?

The #1 market by volume won’t be a surprise, but the #2 market might be. MCY convertibles were sold in quite a few markets, though many of them had small numbers only.

If you’ve got one of these iconic Saab convertibles, then yours is one of just 893 that were ever made over the life of the model. Look after it.

If you don’t have one of these iconic convertibles but would like one, now you know where most of them were sold – which is a good tip as to where you could look to buy one!

Notes:

MY(date) = Model Year
Japan had two importers for these cars. I’ve combined the numbers in the table below.
My understanding is that MCY Convertibles were sold with different engine outputs in some markets. Yours could be a LPT or a HOT engine depending on where it was sold. I haven’t delved into those numbers here.

Country	MY1991	MY1992	MY1993	MY1994	Total
Sweden	9	3	3	-	15
IDS	5	7	10	1	23
Denmark	5	-	-	-	5
Finland	-	2	1	-	3
Norway	-	1	-	-	1
Belgium	-	10	4	0	14
Great Britain	25	17	12	-	54
Netherlands	1	2	6	-	9
Italy	10	23	25	-	58
France	40	-	13	-	53
Portugal	-	1	-	-	1
Switzerland	3	9	7	-	19
Germany	56	13	7	1	77
Austria	-	3	5	-	8
USA	299	6	2	4	311
Australia	-	16	22	4	42
Cyprus	-	1	-	-	1
Spain	10	1	1	-	12
Japan	-	57	9	-	66
South Korea	-	-	1	-	1
Singapore	-	3	-	-	3
Hong Kong	-	94	11	-	105
Ireland	-	-	1	-	1
Thailand	-	1	3	-	4
China	-	1	2	2	5
Kuwait	-	-	-	1	1
Puerto Rico	-	1	-	-	1

Saab 9-3 Viggen Production Numbers

I prepared this article a few years ago for Inside Saab, the website that I ran while employed by Saab Automobile. This table is based on official production numbers I obtained while working at Saab, in Trollhattan.

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The Saab 9-3 Viggen is one of those iconic, flawed Saabs that’s loved by everyone who’s ever owned one. The car was absolutely bonkers and quite capable of killing its owner under the right wrong circumstances. But it was so beautifully made inside and out, and it was so out there, that it still draws plenty of oohs and aahs whenever it’s seen.

I’ve owned a Viggen (that’s my old one, above) and over the years I’ve had a lot of email from other Viggen owners asking if I knew how many of them were made and imported into their particular market.

I’m pleased to be able to pass on the following, which should satisfy most of you detail-oriented statisticians. The only thing we haven’t been able to get are the distinct numbers for 3-door and 5-door models.

Note: these are production numbers and there may be some difference between when a car was produced and when it was sold. Your car might have been first sold in 2002, but been produced as a 2001 model and sat on a dealership forecourt for some time.

Abbreviations:

LR = Laser Red
LB = Lightning Blue
CY = Cayenne Red
MCY = Monte Carlo Yellow
SG = Steel Grey

Hard = Hardtop (both 3 and 5 door)
Conv = Convertible

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UNITED STATES

Colour	1999 Hard	2000 Hard	2000 Conv	2001 Hard	2001 Conv	2002 Hard	2002 Conv
Black	2	229	94	151	280	68	106
LR				62	97	18	29
LB	420	47	40
MCY	2	48	18
Silver	2	240	97			50	71
SG				207	365	95	116

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GREAT BRITAIN

Colour	1999 Hard	1999 Conv	2000 Hard	2000 Conv
Black	16	10	6	20
LB	95	50	24	55
MCY	11	9	2	9
Silver	30	18	7	32

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GERMANY

Colour	1999 Hard	1999 Conv	2000 Hard	2000 Conv
Black	1	58	13	35
LB	51	2	14	9
MCY		2	2	1
Silver			2	6

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CANADA

Colour	2000 Hard	2000 Conv	2001 Hard	2001 Conv
Black	26	11	3	1
LR			1
LB	28	9
MCY	6
Silver	28	14
SG			8	5

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INTERNAL USE

Colour	1999 Hard	1999 Conv	2000 Hard	2000 Conv	2001 Hard	2001 Conv	2002 Hard	2002 Conv
Black	11	6	2		3		1
CR	5	2
LR					2	1	2
LB	13	5	13	2	6
MCY	10	3	7	2
Silver	7	6	1				4	1
SG					5	1	4

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SWEDEN

Colour	1999 Hard	1999 Conv	2000 Hard	2000 Conv	2001 Hard
Black	2	1	2		1
LB	72	1	7	3
MCY	9	1	1	1
Silver	3	1	3

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AUSTRALIA

Colour	1999 Hard	1999 Conv	2000 Hard	2000 Conv
Black			23	3
LB	18	18	22	6

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SWITZERLAND

Colour	1999 Hard	1999 Conv	2000 Hard	2000 Conv
Black	8	6	5	2
LB	20	2	13	1
MCY	2		2
Silver	3		3	3

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FRANCE

Colour	1999 Hard	1999 Conv	2000 Hard	2000 Conv
Black	11		5	5
LB	15	1	7	4
MCY				1
Silver	9	3	6	1

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INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC (IDS)

Colour	2000 Hard	2000 Conv	2001 Hard	2001 Conv	2002 Hard	2002 Conv
Black	4	2	2	1	1	1
LR			1	3		1
LB	10	9
MCY	1	1
Silver	6	4			3	1
SG			6	4

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NETHERLANDS

Colour	1999 Hard	1999 Conv	2000 Hard	2000 Conv
Black			8	11
LB	1	1	14	7
MCY			1
Silver			3	4

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BELGIUM

Colour	2000 Hard	2000 Conv
Black	5	4
LB	13	3
MCY	3
Silver	2	5

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SOUTH AFRICA

Colour	2000 Hard	2000 Conv
Black	2	2
LB	6	5
MCY	2	2
Silver	4	4

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ITALY

Two different importers were used in Italy. I’ve combined both figures below.

Colour	1999 Hard	2000 Hard	2000 Conv
Black	5	5	1
LB	7	2	2
Silver	11	7	5

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SPAIN

Colour	2000 Hard	2000 Conv
Black	8	1
LB	7
MCY	2	1
Silver	4

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JAPAN

Colour	2000 Hard	2000 Conv
LB	16
MCY	5
Silver	1

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NORWAY

Colour	2000 Hard	2000 Conv
Black	3	5
LB	9	1
MCY	1

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HUNGARY

Colour	1999 Conv	2000 Hard
Black		1
LB		7
MCY	1	2
Silver		1

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FINLAND

Colour	1999 Hard	2000 Hard
LB	3	1
MCY		2

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GREECE

Colour	2000 Hard	2000 Conv
Black	1
Silver	2	1

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AUSTRIA

Colour	1999 Hard	2000 Hard
LB	2	1

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I will do the rest of them without the use of tables as they’re all reasonably simple…..

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IRELAND

Viggen produced only for MY2000 and only in hardtop form.

Black – 1
Lightning Blue – 4
Silver – 1

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TURKEY

Viggen produced only for MY2000 and only in hardtop form.

Lightning Blue – 3

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PORTUGAL

Viggen produced only for MY2000 and only in hardtop form.

Black – 1
Lightning Blue – 1
Silver – 1

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RUSSIA

Viggen produced only in hardtop form. Figures are for three different importers.

1999 – Lightning Blue – 1

2000 – Silver – 1
2000 – Lightning Blue – 2

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POLAND

Viggen produced only for MY2000 in hardtop form

Black – 1
Lightning Blue – 1

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CZECH REPUBLIC

Viggen produced only for MY2000 in hardtop form.

Lightning Blue – 1

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HONG KONG

Viggen produced only for MY 2000

Lightning Blue Hardtop – 1
Lightning Blue Convertible – 1

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SAAB OPEL FINANCE

Viggen produced only for MY2000 in hardtop form.

Black – 1

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LITHUANIA

Viggen produced only for MY2000

Lightning Blue Hardtop – 1
Lightning Blue Convertible – 1

Go to top

On Saab: Final Thoughts For A While… Probably… Maybe

[hr]

Prompted by a recent comments thread over at Saabs United and the level of detail at which people were examining things, I figured it was probably time for me to reflect on my own interest levels. Are the measures people apply to the company within normal parameters – myself included? Maybe it’s time to shut up, wait and then evaluate any new product from Saab when the company has one to show (and no, I don’t consider the 2014 Saab 9-3 to be a new product).

I’ve been critical of various parts of NEVS’s operation and my critical approach has been there for two important and inter-linked reasons. Firstly, I have friends and acquaintances who are very interested in anything Saab does, any product Saab makes. Are they getting full disclosure about the product and the company that’s making it? And second, I think it’s important to take such an approach when the company is under new and relatively inexperienced management.

The bottom line, with those criteria in mind:

Could I recommend to friends that they spend five-figures on a car from this company?
Is the car itself compelling enough to do so?

I think they are honest and fair questions. If I’m going to write anything about Saab, especially given my personal history when it comes to writing about the company, then I want to make sure I include as much information as possible and present it in the right context.

In the past, the first question was a no-brainer. Even under GM, Saab was Saab. There was a clear line of continuity from 1947 to 2011 in terms of geography, vehicle lines and management. There was continued innovation along a certain theme, commitment to a set of principles that governed vehicle technology and design, as well as a hope that any principles that we were watered down during the GM years could be restored.

That first question is no longer a no-brainer. There has been a clear and distinct change of management and the company aims to make vehicles that are clearly different from those in the past. They will use some historical components (out of economic necessity) but the aim to focus on electric vehicles is a clear shift that only some of Saab’s historic customer base can align with.

The second question – is the car compelling enough to recommend? – is one that we, as Saab fans, allowed ourselves a certain amount of flexibility with in the past. The 9-3 and 9-5 were definitely great cars in their heyday, but they lagged behind some of the competition due to material and equipment choices that were restricted by cost-cutting measures enforced by GM. The gap between these cars and the competition only expanded as time went on. We accepted and forgave these gaps in the product because the cars were still very good, and because they were Saabs.

The change of management and subsequent change of direction has meant a lesser willingness on the part of many to be so forgiving, however. And I think that’s quite fair.

Saab is no longer the company that it used to be. And that’s where I think that some of the commenters in the SU thread might have things wrong. It’s where I think I’ve probably been wrong at times, too.

We’re approaching matters related to Saab as if the company were undergoing what we’d all like to think is a subtle shift in the historical continuum. We’d all like to believe that historical changes in the ownership/management of the company were just subtle kinks in a straight line. If we’re honest, however, I think we’ll admit that the GM ‘kink’ was more like a dent, the Spyker ‘kink’ was a vastly under-funded effort to bring it back (to some degree) and this latest NEVS ‘kink’ is, in fact, almost a right-angle bend.

Quite a few Saab fans are evaluating NEVS’s progress with Saab – every itty-bitty detail, sometimes – according to their own wishes of what they’d like Saab to become, a view that is quite likely biased by historical perspective and experience. That’s all quite natural but I wonder if they’re torturing their automotive soul by doing so.

It’s fair to have aspirations and an opinion on what’s happening but that needs to be tempered by a key understanding that some are yet to encounter – you might not be Saab’s target market any more.

—

Be that as it may, most traditional Saab fans have an interest in what’s going on and just like everyone else, I’ve got a few thoughts to share.

The fans – Moving On

I find it a little strange that I have to put this in print, but…..

I’ve been damned by a few people in comments and I know others have, too. Our crime? Moving on and exploring other automotive interests.

My message to anyone contemplating the same – go for it. Moving on and experiencing other vehicle makes is not a crime. In fact, condemning someone for doing so is much closer to a crime than actually doing so. Saab is not a cult (though there are references made to “the cult of [brand]” made about many enthusiast followings, they should only ever be taken as light-hearted spin). Saab is a car company and for automotive enthusiasts, a hobby. Yes, the cars foster heightened levels of interest for many but being interested in Saab doesn’t mean that you’re bound to Saab only. Anyone who has a serious crack at you for doing so ought to re-examine their priorities.

So if you’ve got other automotive interests, feel free to check them out and get excited about them. You’re not turning your back on anyone and you’re not a traitor to anything. No-one lives, dies or is morally compromised by your alternative automotive interests. You’re just a person who’s interested in cars and that’s perfectly fine.

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The fans – Staying Put

Just like moving on, staying put with Saab is fine, too. You’re not strange, you’re not a hero. You’re just a person who’s interested in cars – Saabs, especially – and that’s perfectly fine, too.

I imagine a lot of people are going to maintain their interest in historic Saabs and a smaller proportion will have an avid interest in both historic Saabs and NEVS Saabs together. I think all Saab fans will maintain an interest in what goes on with the Saab name, but there shouldn’t be any conflict between current and historic Saab fans.

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The company – Public Relations and Marketing

I really hope that NEVS puts a PR machine together soon and starts to communicate its story more clearly to its target market, wherever and whatever that may be.

Of course, the story will depend on a few things:

How deeply linked they want to be to Saab’s history and traditional market, and
The products they intend to develop in the future.

Do they want to tie themselves to Saab’s history – make themselves part of that continuum? That draws a boundary around the historical part of the story.

The future product and the philosophies that underpin it will give direction to where the story is heading.

Their target market will influence the way in which the story is told.

NEVS will choose the story it wants to tell and in doing so, it needs to decide upon those things.

—

The company – Product

This is the car business. PR and marketing can do some of the work, but at the end of the day it’s all about the product. It’s down to how you design and execute.

The last 20 years have been more difficult for Saab fans (in product terms) than the 20 years that preceded. Yes, the product was more reliable and efficient, but it was less distinctive as a Saab. The 9-3 and 9-5 won a number of new Saab fans, but they also lost a number of traditional Saab fans and it’s fair to say that the GM era put a taint (not a stain) on the Saab brand in the eyes of much of the motoring press.

If NEVS want to reset, then they need to do something special with their first all-new vehicle when it finally arrives.

They need to build a killer product for which there are no contextual explanations needed, no excuses. They need to hit all mention of compromise out of the park.

NEVS and Saab can survive if they fall short of this lofty goal, but just imagine the positive impact they could have by blowing the negative aspects of the GM era out of the water with a truly killer product.

Car companies live and die by the quality of their product. It’s a measure of GM’s colossal success through the mid-20th century that they were able to hang on until 2009 before going into bankruptcy, given all the crap they built from the 70’s onwards. There are few companies in this modern era (and maybe none in the car industry today) that could withstand such a long run of dud products dominating their range.

NEVS’s survival will ultimately depend on the quality of their product and its ability to meet the needs of a market.

The survival of Saab fans will depend on whether or not they are a part of that market.

[hr]

With that off my chest, I’m going to sit and watch what’s going on at Saab.

I’m very interested in what they’re doing. I’m very hopeful for the future but I also have to acknowledge that my love for the Saab brand is based on its Swedish roots and philosophies. If Saab is extracted from Sweden, I know that my interest will shift dramatically and I offer no reservations and make no apologies for that.

NEVS/Saab need to get their story together. They need to get their product together.

Anything I could say about either of those two priorities right now would be little more than educated guesswork and aspiration. I’m a little tired of that (both from myself and from others) so I’m looking forward to sitting back and seeing what they do.

Some of the Saab fans that are getting all up tight about various aspects of the company’s operations might want to do the same.

The challenges that NEVS face have to be met by NEVS.

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Monday Reading – Classic Mercs, Fiat, Goodwood, Saab + Volvo Sales and Maserati

[hr]

Here’s the very best of automotive reading from around the web over the weekend.

Well, what I think was the best reading. Let’s see what you think.

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Congratulations to Volvo on increasing its sales in 2013.

Volvo sold 427,840 vehicles in 2013, a small increase over 2012. The boost came thanks to large rise in Chinese sales and a small rise in Swedish sales. The US market, still #1 for Volvo, dropped by 10% so if they can arrest that slide in the near future, things will indeed look brighter for the other Swede.

Don’t mind the picture to the right. It’s an in-joke.

—

We’ve been talking classics a fair bit lately and Hemmings have rightly touted an upcoming auction as the ultimate classic car showdown. This one’s going to have a huge influence, I think.

Take two very, very desirable classics – Mercedes Benz 300SL Gullwings. Give them both a black exterior and a red interior.

The difference?

One of them is completely original and in a condition that many would say needs restoration after years of storage. The other is completely restored – it was black out of the factory and it’s black now, but the interior has been changed from red with green tartan cloth, to red leather.

Which will attract the highest bid?

My money’s on the restoration, but I’d love the original to come out on top.

Click through to Hemmings for the full details.

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I’m going to write my last Saab article in a while over the course of the next week or so. This comments thread at Saabs United has convinced me that there’s nothing to write about with regards to Saab at the moment and won’t be for some time.

It’s slightly amusing and very, very sad – all at the same time.

I’ll write something and post when ready. It’s not in any way a rebuttal of the article, which I think is quite good and fair. It’s just my own thoughts on Saab’s current situation in light of their 31 vehicle sales in December, and why that situation doesn’t need any more comment from me for a while. I think a few others might find themselves in the same boat.

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I like the Fiat X1/9.

There. I said it.

I really like the Fiat X1/9 when it’s photographed as well as that one.

—

A Lancia Fulvia with a chopped top?

No thanks.

And yet, this one’s expected to fetch more than £200,000 at auction in the near future.

Must be something to do with its race history and being eligible for nearly every historic event in Europe.

Still, no.

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Maserati is 100 years old this year?

I think we should celebrate.

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Here’s another collection of photos from Goodwood 2013.

Not as good the set from Any Given Reason, but still worth a look.

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And while we’re talking Any Given Reason, can you imagine stumbling upon a garage where Michael Schumacher’s personally specified Ferrari F40 is considered merely an entree?

Imagine you’re a tourist and you stumbled on this – because that’s what happened to AGR’s Andrew Coles. What he saw was completely unexpected and will blow your mind.

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Finally, a bird of paradise photographed by yours truly at the Royal Hobart Botanical Gardens on the weekend.

Bloomin Beauty!

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Mid-Week Reading: Volvo, Benz Do New Models; Audi, Ford Do Interiors. Saab 96 Does Boston

[hr] [dropcap]I[/dropcap]t’s time for a little mid-week reading, combing through the more interesting news and entertainment from the automowebopshere. This week, Ford and Audi take interior functionality in two different directions. Volvo and Mercedes Benz show some new product, both real and imagined.

And there’s a couple of nice Saab stories, too.

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Let’s start with one of those Saab stories.

The more obsessive Saab nuts would be familiar with this old publicity shot from the launch of the Saab 99 back in the late 1960’s.

Via the Saab Museum’s facebook page comes this story, reuniting the three ladies that first climbed into the back to show the generous accommodation on offer in the 99.

Non-Swedes will need Google Translate as it’s in Swedish.

Quick tip: they weren’t models from an agency called in for a photo shoot, but regular Saab employees. And they were happy to recreate the photo for the reunion. Well done, ladies. 🙂

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I like what Volvo are doing at the moment. They really are becoming a car that a Saab fan can get seriously interested in and not just because they’re Swedish.

Volvo has just shown their XC Coupe concept car, which will make its real life debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit next week.

Websites are tipping that this is the basis for a new XC90, albeit with fewer doors and fewer seats. I’ll wait and see on that one. Volvo aren’t exactly Honda when it comes to concept cars mimicking reality.

But this is nice. And the video’s very Saaby. I wonder how much crossover there is between former Saab and current Volvo PR/Marketing staff and agencies 🙂

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Via Jalopnik…..

I like what Audi are proposing to do with their interior electronics.

I’m not (and never have been) a big fan of large touchscreens outside the driver’s field of vision. While I have a lot of admiration for Tesla’s tech in general, I can’t stand that giant black brick they’ve got for a control centre inside the car. What Audi have done here is use the electric display in the binnacle to display the more vital centre console information and for me, it looks fantastic.

Next, they just need some chunky knobs, buttons and sliders for the HVAC system and entertainment (a-la Saab 900) and we’ll really be rolling.

I like the temp display on the vents, too.

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In contrast, Ford is introducing a new function whereby your car’s controls can order a Domino’s pizza for you.

The automaker has teamed up with the pizza maker on an app for its Sync AppLink system that will allow driver’s to order Domino’s through voice commands. Users will have to set up a Pizza Profile with pre-configured menus through their Domino’s mobile app, but it’s relatively straightforward and expected to be available later this year on more than 1 million Ford products that have Sync AppLink.

America – sometimes you really do ask for it, ya know?

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Mercedes Benz might have the answer for all those people wondering what they’re going to do when the lease on their 9-3x comes up (I’m looking at you, Hugh 🙂 ). The GLA45 AMG looks a fair bit smaller than the 9-3x (ok, a lot) but it’s got the jacked up exterior trim bits and with that new MB turbocharged 355hp engine, it’ll go like stink.

I’m not sold on the exterior, to be honest, but the interior looks pretty damn nice. Check out the shifter. That’s some nice attention to detail (and yes, it’s probably been seen before but it’s the first time I’ve really noticed it).

Like the Volvo mentioned above, it’ll make a debit at the NAIAS. Price, as yet unknown, but it’ll add a nice premium to your 9-3x changeover, I’m sure.

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Given that we’re talking classics a bit at the moment, it’s timely that US insurer and collector experts, Hagerty, has just announced their 2014 Hot List – the cars released in the 2014 model year that Hagerty believe will become collectable classics in the future. Note: they only consider cars under US$100K base price.

The 2014 Hagerty Hot List (along with base price):

1. Jaguar F-Type R ($99,000) – The British marque makes a triumphant return to the sports car scene with the growling F-Type. Boasting a healthy V8 engine and rear drive platform, the F-Type will surely be a driving enthusiast choice soon enough.

2. BMW M5 Sedan ($92,900) – A performance-oriented sedan with an old school manual transmission is quickly becoming an extinct species. While more drivers shun the thought of using three pedals, we applaud BMW for keeping this option alive in this segment.

3. Chevrolet COPO Camaro ($90,000) – Chevrolet basically guarantees future collectability of the drag- strip ready COPO Camaro by limiting production to 69 units. It is only appropriate that the first production model will be sold at the upcoming Barrett-Jackson auction in Arizona.

4. Maserati Ghibli S ($75,000) – The Ghibli returns for a third time, and this time as a four door. The twin turbochargers feeding the 410 horsepower 3.0 liter V6 ensures the Ghibli is more than just pretty curves.

5. Alfa Romeo 4C ($54,000) – A budget-friendly Italian sports car might sound like an oxymoron, but the 4C is saying all the right words. With a carbon fiber tub leading to a curb weight of just over 2,100 lbs., this sporty two-seater isn’t pulling any punches as it aims at the U.S. market.

6. Chevrolet Corvette ($51,000) – The Corvette is the most popularly collected vehicle in the U.S. so GM had no choice but to make the new C7 great. It is a nice mix of Corvette heritage with real world performance figures and technology goodies. Dollar for dollar this is the best performance buy on the market.

7. Nissan 370Z NISMO ($43,000) – The Nissan Z car has amassed a following and the 370Z NISMO is the latest and greatest in this lineage. With Japanese cars now representing a standalone class of collectables in a way that we have not seen in the past, 350 and 370Zs will not be ignored by collectors in years to come.

8. Dodge Challenger Shaker ($36,995) – While the styling of the new Challenger has always harkened back to the glory days of muscle cars, nothing says horsepower wars like a bulging hood scoop. Dodge went back to the roots and added the iconic shaker hood to atop of a healthy HEMI engine and R/T options package. We will take ours in Plum Crazy Pearl.

9. Jeep Wrangler Rubicon X ($35,095) – Vintage SUV’s are the fastest growing segment and Jeep leads that pack. While more comfortable than its bare bones workhorse ancestor, the Rubicon X is highly capable for not a lot of money. Many of these now compete at events, which means they will one day command respect at vintage off-road demonstrations.

10. Ford Fiesta ST ($21,400) – Following the enthusiasm surrounding the Focus ST, the little brother Fiesta ST has been pumping the same iron. Youthful buyers attracted to compact cars don’t always want to sacrifice performance. The Fiesta looks, sounds and acts the part of a modern day enthusiast’s car.

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I can see numbers 1 to 8 being possibilities.

As much as I like the idea of the Fiesta ST (and I’m sure the Jeep’s great), I think they should have stopped at 8. Trying to go to 10 for sake of round numbers just gets you in trouble sometimes.

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And a Saab story to finish off with, via Autoweek.com

When I first read the headline – Tackling Boston in a Saab 96 – I really hoped that this would show the Saab 96 conquering the arctic windex, or whatever it’s called that’s causing the snowy conditions in the US right now.

Sadly, it seems to have been written pre-vortex so the photos don’t show cars neck-deep in the white stuff while the Saab happily trundles by.

This is a wonderful piece, though. It’s the story of a guy in Boston who’s recently bought a 1973 Saab 96 and uses it as much as possible, even leaving his Saab 9000 at home in deference to the old V4.

“I suppose you don’t get much road rage?”

“Well, you saw that person let me out of my driveway?” Charles had made a left onto Cambridge Ave, and a woman in a Jetta — perhaps a curiosity-seeker — had stopped to let us pull out. A rarity in Boston. In this car, nobody gets mad at you. Probably because they’re wondering what the hell it is in the first place.

That just about sums it up.

Fantasy Friday: NG Saab 9-5 V6 XWD Wagon (i.e. Unicorn For Sale)

[hr] [dropcap]S[/dropcap]aabs were only produced under Spyker’s ownership for a period of 15 months or so and the company released two all-new models in that time – the 9-5 and the 9-4x.

Given its short production run prior to bankruptcy, a new generation Saab 9-5 – even in sedan form – is a reasonably rare thing. A Saab 9-4x is even rarer because GM pulled the manufacturing rug out from under Saab’s feet pretty soon after production commenced.

The genuine rocking-horse-poo rarity award, however, has to go to the Saab 9-5 SportCombi, or wagon, in common parlance. Only 27 of them received serial numbers and they were never officially sold by Saab Automobile to paying customers. They were eventually sold at auction by Saab’s bankruptcy administrators to various cashed-up enthusiasts, a number of whom have done the hard yards to register them in various countries around Europe.

Given it’s rarity, then, any NG Saab 9-5 SportCombi is of definite interest to a Saab fan. But at what price?

Well, one that’s just come up for sale might just be the genuine unicorn amongst the bunch and the seller’s asking a pretty penny for it, too. This is not only one-of-just-twenty-seven made (#21, actually), it’s reported to be the only one with a V6 engine.

This will be an interesting sale to watch and therefore gauge the collectability of rare Saabs. There would have been a reasonable cost incurred in purchasing this car and getting it complied for registration. But will anyone be willing to shell out the €84155 asking price? That’s €70,000 plus 19% VAT so it’s possible a non-European might pick it up VAT-free, but then they might not be able to drive it and that’s a lot of money for a show car with minimal established show appeal outside Saab circles.

As mentioned, the car has a 300hp V6 engine, coupled to an automatic transmission. It’s finished in Java Brown Metallic with black full leather interior. Those with a keen eye will also spot the XWD badge on the rear tailgate AND a Hirsch badge, too. It’s an Aero model and seems to be carrying every bit of equipment that Saab could pack into the car. It has leather steering wheel, satnav, 20-inch Hirsch wheels (original 18″ wheels come with it, too), Xenon headlamps and Saab’s optional U-rail system in the back.

The car seems to have enjoyed an active life already, having clocked up some 50,000kms on its odometer.

This Saab 9-5 XWD Aero SportCombi is currently for sale in Germany. The ad is online at mobile.de.

Kudos to the guys at Saabworld for spotting it.

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