Scruffy Saab---What to do--HGF again!

[Vantman]

 

Monday was meant to be the last day of filming when I hoped to be driving my car in the final scene but the naff weather scuppered that as they couldn't send the drone camera up. Just done some static shots and drove home. Last day now rescheduled for mid June.

[Vantman]

Today was the last day of filming for me and my Saab in 'Bunny and Clive,which involved 6 hours and 45 miles driving up and down narrow country lanes in and around Clayton,West Sussex. Interesting stuff though driving towards and away from a drone camera,not too fast and not too slow either,followed by the same routes but with a camera mounted on the dashboard and finally lots of still shots.

All in all a nice day with some nice people,decent weather this time,a pub lunch and a bit of cash for my efforts.

 

No pictures until a few weeks time though as there is an embargo on them.

[Vantman]

A few pictures the producer sent me of setting up the camera for the in car travelling shots,it has to be fitted very securely as it is state of the art and costs loads of money,yet they used 50 year old lenses on it for the desired effect

 

This is the man who fitted the camera to the car.

[Pillock]

Those Chinese dash cams are never quite as they look on the eBay listing, are they?

[Jon]

I bet the grip was very happy to work on an older car, as they're much simpler to add car rigs to. The propensity of plastics and lack of edges and lips to strap down to on moderns can be a bit of a nightmare but those threaded towing hooks that protrude out are quite handy, I'll admit. I was ready to make a snarky comment about those rubber suckers not being placed on the wing/bonnet line but then forgot about my favourite design aspect of these SAABs - the clamshell bonnet. Got to say I wouldn't dream of sticking gaffer tape directly on paint, whatever its condition, so many minus points there, however.

 

Always a critic, eh? Anyway, nice SAAB!

[Vantman]

 

You will be pleased to know that the Saab wore its AUTOSHITE sticker all the while it was on location and attracted a few comments.

[Vantman]

A bit more Saab fettling this week. Visited my friendly local garage for a Saab checkover in preparation for a 600 mile weekend trip at the end of this month taking in the Saab National show at Pembrey,Wales.

Up on the ramp and all was declared ok and fit for the journey with a good visual check and a few bolts nipped up. Refitted the headlight protectors after finally finding them in the shed and fitted a new tax disc!

[Vantman]

Not much to report as the scruffy Saab just carries on doing what I ask of it,starts,puts a smile on my face every time I drive it and stops when needed.

 

A few snippets from the film people---

 

Bunny and Clive Premiere at the 2016 BFI London Film Festival

 

Bunny, Clive and a Saab

Thanks to the Saab Owners Club UK, and Brian, the problem of the hero car was sorted out. The retro Volvo estate didn’t have the boot the script required. The Saab 900 is a beauty of a car with big, near ND free windows, a light beige interior finish, massive boot and a matt coat of faded red paint courtesy of time and Mother Nature.  I’d like one.

 

 

PLUS--There is a 3 page article about the car/ film in the current 'Saab Driver' the Saab owners club magazine.

[Vantman]

I have just tried to post a 'review' of the film but i am having a few small problems. Watch this space---

[holbeck]

https://leroyillanois.wordpress.com/2016/09/12/bunny-and-clive-teaser-and-behind-the-scenes/

 

Plenty of hot Swedish action in the behind the scenes clip!

[forddeliveryboy]

Great! You sure they didn't just want to make a film about Saab 900s and autoshite? 

[Vantman]

In anticipation of possibly selling the scruffy Saab I am belatedly updating this thread with the service history of the car whilst in my ownership for the last 27 months and a mere 13000 miles. I can then hopefully direct possible buyers to this complete thread. For sale thread to follow during the coming week----- 

 

 

24-02-16 @47692 miles. Checkover,change engine oil and filter,fit 2 new Falken tyres and new wiper blades.

 

29-04-16 @48930 miles. New throttle position sensor,new vacuum hoses,new n/s rear brake hose and caliper,new n/s rear bump stop,new headlight wiper blades and washer jets and change brake fluid.

 

17-05-16  Flush cooling system and renew coolant,top up air conditioning.

 

25-11-16 @53297 miles. MOT no advisories,new cam cover gasket,change engine oil and filter,change automatic transmission fluid (twice).

 

21-04-17 @55448 miles. Fit new rear brake discs and pads.

 

28-07-17 @57461 miles. Fit new head gasket set and skim cylinder head. Change engine oil and filter,fit new n/s rear brake caliper(again!).

 

29-11-17 @59419 miles. Change engine oil and filter.

 

28-12-17 @60293 miles. New wiper blades and MOT no advisories.

 

This brings the very comprehensive service records complete with most invoices right up to date.

[Vantman]

Now provisionally sold.

[Vantman]

After about three and a half years and being owned by several  Autoshite members i have bought the Scruffy Saab back!

So today my first journey since it returned was to a small local car meet at Headcorn aerodrome---with a bonus Spitfire!

 

 

 

[Vantman]

I have just had the scruffy Saab delivered to my home by the boys that look after it. All it needed pre MOT were both front seat belt buttons renewing and the usual check over and the result was a no advisories pass, performed by the local John Childs garage who understand older cars.

Then it was back to the boys workshop for some pre winter maintenance, the car had been misfiring on start up and was cured by a new set of plug leads and spark plugs.Then on to tracing an engine oil leak which was cured by fitting a new rocker cover gasket, i was told that it was a frustrating job fitting it! Next job was to flush the cooling system as the coolant looked rather brown, so they removed all the hoses and thermostat, opened the block drain bung and flushed away, what came out was quite manky, so while they were at it they flushed the heater matrix as well. All new hoses,clips and a thermostat were fitted along with fresh anti freeze/coolant. They also tightened up a very, very loose fitting alternator!

Two exterior jobs were a new window seal  fitted on the drivers door and a new badge on the bonnet!!

It's now ready for winter motoring,it runs very well now and hopefully the miles per gallon will increase.

 

[Spottedlaurel]

7 minutes ago, Vantman said:

...........performed by the local John Childs garage who understand older cars.

Great to hear they're still going. I'm sure we've discussed it before, but that's where my Laurel came from (I believe as a part-ex against a new Perodua).

Good news about the SAAB progress too.

[Fabergé Greggs]

17 hours ago, Vantman said:

I have just had the scruffy Saab delivered to my home by the boys that look after it. All it needed pre MOT were both front seat belt buttons renewing and the usual check over and the result was a no advisories pass, performed by the local John Childs garage who understand older cars.

Then it was back to the boys workshop for some pre winter maintenance, the car had been misfiring on start up and was cured by a new set of plug leads and spark plugs.Then on to tracing an engine oil leak which was cured by fitting a new rocker cover gasket, i was told that it was a frustrating job fitting it! Next job was to flush the cooling system as the coolant looked rather brown, so they removed all the hoses and thermostat, opened the block drain bung and flushed away, what came out was quite manky, so while they were at it they flushed the heater matrix as well. All new hoses,clips and a thermostat were fitted along with fresh anti freeze/coolant. They also tightened up a very, very loose fitting alternator!

Two exterior jobs were a new window seal  fitted on the drivers door and a new badge on the bonnet!!

It's now ready for winter motoring,it runs very well now and hopefully the miles per gallon will increase.

 

It’s so satisfying to think of it being treated to all these little bits and bobs  

[Fumbler]

19 hours ago, Vantman said:

John Childs garage

 

Good garage. I've seen several local cars with their sticker on them.

[Vantman]

4 minutes ago, Fumbler said:

Good garage. I've seen several local cars with their sticker on them.

Yes it's a well respected garage,i have known John since the mid 1960s.

[Vantman]

Just a small update,the Saab is mainly behaving itself apart from another oil leak suddenly appearing which turned out to be a partly broken hose clip on the hose from the power steering reservoir---new clip fitted and fluid topped up,job done.

It gets used fairly often to keep things moving and this Saturday i am going to a ' Kent Saabs' meet at the Spitfire and Hurricane Museum at Manston. No polishing will be done as there will be more than enough shiny go faster Saabs there!

[Vantman]

'Old Giffer' (me) showing of the Scruffy Saab at the local Saab meet!

[Split_Pin]

It looks great, much more interesting than some over-restored thing that only gets wheeled out twice a year.

[Fabergé Greggs]

On 4/9/2022 at 7:16 PM, Vantman said:

'Old Giffer' (me) showing of the Scruffy Saab at the local Saab meet!

Great to see it!  Hope you’re enjoying it (again)! 

[Vantman]

11 hours ago, Fabergé Greggs said:

Great to see it!  Hope you’re enjoying it (again)! 

Yes i certainly am enjoying it again, it gets lots of comments when i am out and about with it.  Have you moved to Kent yet @Fabergé Greggs?

[Fabergé Greggs]

51 minutes ago, Vantman said:

Yes i certainly am enjoying it again, it gets lots of comments when i am out and about with it.  Have you moved to Kent yet @Fabergé Greggs?

Indeed, now situated on the Kent coast. Be great to catch up at some gathering or other. 

[Vantman]

1 minute ago, Fabergé Greggs said:

Indeed, now situated on the Kent coast. Be great to catch up at some gathering or other. 

That sounds like a good plan,i will let you know when the next Kent Saabs meet is at Manston Spitfire/Hurricane museum CT125DF,it's an interesting museum with lots to see and a cafe.

[Fabergé Greggs]

2 minutes ago, Vantman said:

That sounds like a good plan,i will let you know when the next Kent Saabs meet is at Manston Spitfire/Hurricane museum CT125DF,it's an interesting museum with lots to see and a cafe.

Sounds great, thats only down the road! 

[Vantman]

It's that MOT time of year again for the Scruffy Saab so off to the the local boys that look after it for a pre MOT.

Front brake pads renewed, nsr brake caliper freed off, new wiper blades on the headlamps, engine oil and filter changed as well as the fuel filter.

MOT passed, no advisories! Another years motoring ahead and it's just over 77000 miles now but it still looks scruffy😄.

[Vantman]

After chasing a misfiring and stalling engine for several months including new plugs,rotor arm,plug leads and idle control valve etc. i visited a Saab specialist today who done a 'sniff test' and confirmed head gasket failure again.

After going through the cars history and telling him that it had a new head gasket including a head skim about 20,000 miles ago he has advised me against doing another head removal and possible skim,mainly for cost reasons and parts availability.

Ungrateful car, i only treated it to a new exhaust system a month ago!

So what to do,throw loads of money at it or get rid of it?

[Mally]

Many will say fix it. I am not one of those.

Fix it if you love it.

Otherwise flog it on here for scrap value and cut your losses.