Project I boughted a Saab

[Uncle Jimmy]

Been looking for a project and finally got one, a Scabrous Saab 96. Excuse the shite photos.

It was colleckshuned from a wet place (Wales) a friendly man with a Recovery van was pressganged.

[Uncle Jimmy]

I think it bares a close resemblance to a turtle, a mutant turtle...

[Skizzer]

Exciting! Anglesey reg number for added win.

[Uncle Jimmy]

Back at the facility realisation that a lot of work is required began to sink in...

The bonnet, which operates in the usual Saab slidey fashion comes off with two bolts.

[Skizzer]

Turtle as in it's turned turtle or are the photos just upside down?

 

When you say project, how fooked is it? Edit: Ah.

[Keymaster]

That's ace!

 

Same colour as the one my Grandad had back in the early 80's, we called it "the submarine car" when we were kids.

 

Sadly he's lost his marbles and doesn't remember his Saabs anymore but I'll be showing him this thread to see if it jogs his memory.

[Junkman]

Shitting Nora is this grim and fucked.

 

I IZ WELL ENVY

[Asimo]

Great: always wanted to try one of these because FREEWHEEL.

[320touring]

more of this sort of thing!

 

nice work:)

[Uncle Jimmy]

First off oil was changed for some kwality £15 20/50. The engine turns freely and the oil was surprisingly clean.

Carburettors on these V4 Saabs are a FOMOCO turd which is not highly regarded... It will be cleaned and used briefly before I buy an appropriate Weber.

The body unsurprisingly is worse than I thought,

some rusty holes in the front valance. The wings bolt on so beating out the dents there will be easy enough.

[Uncle Jimmy]

Turtle as in it's turned turtle or are the photos just upside down?

When you say project, how fooked is it? Edit: Ah.

It's fairly shagged, 55k miles on the clock, the seats and steering wheel appear to corroborate that. The wings and front valance are the areas that will need attention. Sills, floor and upper regions look alright. Moar photos to follow.

[DVee8]

And some say Autoshite isn't what it was.

 

Another to add to the must read thread.

[mercrocker]

Excellent.....Much to like about these.

[UmBongo]

My uncle had two or three estate versions of this in the late 70's.

 

One was red, one was yellow and there may not have been another one, actually.

 

I loved the little seat in the back that allowed us kids to survey the view to the rear.

[Tamworthbay]

Cracking buy, bet it wasn't cheap.

[forddeliveryboy]

Brilliant cars, would have one as a daily if not addicted to veg. Some nutty vids -

 

 

 

[forddeliveryboy]

Just noticed the obvious mistake. Under which of the two different number plates is it registered?

[billyboy406v6]

What a fantastic car ! Pics of grotty bits are eagerly awaited.

[Vantman]

Top buying,I got loads of info etc. from here when I had the 95 estate version---     http://www.saab-v4.co.uk/speedball/default.asp

[Uncle Jimmy]

Just noticed the obvious mistake. Under which of the two different number plates is it registered?

Well spotted, apparently it traversed Wales for years with the mistaken numberplates.

[Uncle Jimmy]

A passing Swedish mechanic was collared, a fuel system was rigged, points were cleaned and set and the superbly built FOMOCO carburiser was replaced.

[Justin Case]

Great cars, I had two. The wings go around the sidelights, they are held in place by a 'saddle' which collects mud and crud; take them off, clean and rustproof, they don't look too bad. Only worrying part for rot is the join between inner wing, floor and bulkhead, this is virtually impossible to repair.

my second one wa a 96L, bigger bumpers and slightly roomier.  I think it also had a Weber carb and not Ford, well it didn't die from fuel evaporation unlike the earlier one. More frog than turtle though, especially as the 96L was in Kermit Green . Get it running, they are remarkably sure-footed and fun to drive and the only cars other than the Alfa that I would ever have again.

[Uncle Jimmy]

....first turn of the key and Cowabunga, the Aquatic beast roared into life. Ford V4s have a tremendous sound! Even running a single barrel el cheapo carb they sound GR8. In future a Weber twin choke and adapter will be purchased...

[Uncle Jimmy]

I find the interior hilarious, it's so narrow and basic in contrast to my Volvo which is the same age.

[strangeangel]

You'll probably have noticed already from all the 'Likes', but I think this is definitely big and clever. Top thread, will be watching for updates!

[forddeliveryboy]

Well spotted, apparently it traversed Wales for years with the mistaken numberplates.

 

Wonder how long it will take the super computers which patrol this country's roads to notice this discrepency?

[Ghosty]

The only way to sort that plate is to order a lone riveted digit from somewhere and stick it on.

[Uncle Jimmy]

Great: always wanted to try one of these because FREEWHEEL.

The freewheel 'operation device' is located on the floor to the left of the clutch pedal, a little plastic T handle. How the fuck you're supposed to push it in, never mind pull it out whilst driving I can't imagine!

[The Moog]

Ohhhh I have always wanted one of these but never had the room/time/money

[eddyramrod]

Splendid.  That is all.