Well finally I can post a ride of my own instead of commenting/photoshopping on other peoples!
Picked up this utter beauty on Saturday from Stafford after winning it in a spookily under-bidded fleabay auction that ended with me as the owner for only a sniff under £900. I actually just missed it bidding on it for sale the previous time it was for sale - so it seems a wee bit like destiny that we should be together...
It's pretty immaculate. The bodywork has been restored in the past 4-5 years (on the Isle of Man I believe by a collector) so there's very little to do bar a bit of bubbling on the nearside wheel-arch. It's the 1705cc Triumph engined beast that seems very happy to bimble along at 75+ without missing a beat. Great fun through the 4speed in twisty lanes too.
The chrome is just awesome, as is the interior. Loads of lovely Saab quirks - wraparound screen, shackle-style seatbelt fixing, ignition key by the gear lever (which is great - I always seem to bash my knees on keys in the 'usual' position by the steering wheel). Oh and it has the 'freewheel' drive option which I've yet to try out - but might be good for saving a few pennies on petrol if I can stand the feeling of the engine dropping out of earshot as you coast down hills. And it smells great. It's the same age as the first car my dad got when I was about 6 years old - Cars from the seventies just seem to smell better.
Creature comforts are solid but thin - Seats are great, visibility excellent, but there's no stereo or ciggie lighter to charge phones or other modern distractions. But who cares - the engine sounds great and is entertainment enough.
Things that need doing?
Rear seat trim has seen better days - sun damage mainly - and is in dire need of a retrim - might do all the seats at the same time since the fronts are a bit shabby; there's a little leak on the rocker cover that needs sorting with a new gasket and the driver's door could do with adjusting so it shuts without needing a bit of persuasion (it sort of bounces if you slam it too hard and needs pushing into place.
Engine misfires slightly if you really pile on the gas [hoping this isn't anything too serious] but hasn't missed a beat otherwise. It hasn't been converted to unleaded so have to add lead substitute when I fill up [remarkably economical it would seem]; Maybe a little later on I'll think about getting the head reconditioned and hardened in the right places so as to deal with modern fuels, but I understand it's fine to use as long as I continue with the lead the substitute in the meantime. It's not gonna be a high mileage machine - even if it will be our sort-of-daily.
Part of me likes the idea of hitting it with the proverbial stick, but it looks pretty darn elegant and 'right' at the height it is already - and the only lowering springs I can see online seem to be for post '74 models - so I think I'll leave it for now. Living in London with all those sodding speed-bumps - might not be the best idea anyway...
These are the only pics I have for now (mostly off the auction). Hope to add some more detailed ones soon.
Anyone with some sage Saab tips/links/recommendations please feel free to chime in...
And thanks for reading!
Picked up this utter beauty on Saturday from Stafford after winning it in a spookily under-bidded fleabay auction that ended with me as the owner for only a sniff under £900. I actually just missed it bidding on it for sale the previous time it was for sale - so it seems a wee bit like destiny that we should be together...
It's pretty immaculate. The bodywork has been restored in the past 4-5 years (on the Isle of Man I believe by a collector) so there's very little to do bar a bit of bubbling on the nearside wheel-arch. It's the 1705cc Triumph engined beast that seems very happy to bimble along at 75+ without missing a beat. Great fun through the 4speed in twisty lanes too.
The chrome is just awesome, as is the interior. Loads of lovely Saab quirks - wraparound screen, shackle-style seatbelt fixing, ignition key by the gear lever (which is great - I always seem to bash my knees on keys in the 'usual' position by the steering wheel). Oh and it has the 'freewheel' drive option which I've yet to try out - but might be good for saving a few pennies on petrol if I can stand the feeling of the engine dropping out of earshot as you coast down hills. And it smells great. It's the same age as the first car my dad got when I was about 6 years old - Cars from the seventies just seem to smell better.
Creature comforts are solid but thin - Seats are great, visibility excellent, but there's no stereo or ciggie lighter to charge phones or other modern distractions. But who cares - the engine sounds great and is entertainment enough.
Things that need doing?
Rear seat trim has seen better days - sun damage mainly - and is in dire need of a retrim - might do all the seats at the same time since the fronts are a bit shabby; there's a little leak on the rocker cover that needs sorting with a new gasket and the driver's door could do with adjusting so it shuts without needing a bit of persuasion (it sort of bounces if you slam it too hard and needs pushing into place.
Engine misfires slightly if you really pile on the gas [hoping this isn't anything too serious] but hasn't missed a beat otherwise. It hasn't been converted to unleaded so have to add lead substitute when I fill up [remarkably economical it would seem]; Maybe a little later on I'll think about getting the head reconditioned and hardened in the right places so as to deal with modern fuels, but I understand it's fine to use as long as I continue with the lead the substitute in the meantime. It's not gonna be a high mileage machine - even if it will be our sort-of-daily.
Part of me likes the idea of hitting it with the proverbial stick, but it looks pretty darn elegant and 'right' at the height it is already - and the only lowering springs I can see online seem to be for post '74 models - so I think I'll leave it for now. Living in London with all those sodding speed-bumps - might not be the best idea anyway...
These are the only pics I have for now (mostly off the auction). Hope to add some more detailed ones soon.
Anyone with some sage Saab tips/links/recommendations please feel free to chime in...
And thanks for reading!
