Old Saabs, anyone know?

[TerryBPP]

I have always liked the look of the 70's Saabs. Why dont I see any of these restored or modified into racecars? Here is one on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6438&item=4550569290&rd=1

Are they as unrealiable as the 80's Saab's? Would be sweet with a turbo motor in it.

[Rot 911]

The Sonnets are cool looking cars, but really, really slow. You used to see lots of Saabs in road rallys.

[SteveStromberg]

Saab Sonnets Slow?
I dont think so I owned 3 of them.
With a 1700cc Weber carb and a Ashcroft Exhaust, 195's up front, 135s; in the back there wasnt a 911 who could keep up with me on any road with turns.
Full speed into the turn then just point the front around it.
911 had me on the straight but nothing could keep up in the twistes.

http://pages.prodigy.net/jackashcraft/saabparts.html
http://www.saab-v4.co.uk/links.asp#v4parts
http://home.ptd.net/%7Ecarlsont/#a9

[TerryBPP]

Looks like there is alot of room in the engine bay for a bigger motor. Wonder what could be stuffed in there. Probably a Ford 302, but thats not clever enough.

[SteveStromberg]

There is no need a well tuned sonnet is untouchable on any road with curves.

[URY914]

Here's a Saab race car, a 99.

[M.D. Holloway]

I had an old 99, thing was a lead sled, worst problem I ever had was the headliner.

That Sonnet thats for sale, nice lines but would you buy a car without a title?

[david c.]

99's are sweet. My old mechanic used to fiddle with them and had an article about a race-prepped 99 published in Autoweek a few years ago. They can really rip with the Ford four pot.

[M.D. Holloway]

my old 74 (i think) 99 couldn't get out of it's own way but I got tons of looks in it. I was told it had a thicker gauge sheet metal than other cars - don't know if that was true or not but I never had a problem with it. Pretty good car, never should have gotten rid of it...boy if I had a dime for everytime I heard that line!

[Steve Carlton]

First new car I ever got was a 1980 900 Turbo like this one, except with red velour interior. Awesome car, fast for its day. Super practical, nice seating position. Fold down the back seat and it'd be a wagon. Basic mechanicals were strong, but always little stuff wrong. Every time I'd bring it in for service I'd have a list of 5 things wrong, and when I'd leave 2 would still be not fixed. Turbo wasn't intercooled that year; blew just before the 50K emissions ran out (and I idled it before and after driving). I think I replaced 7 soft alloys from various incidents. Loaned it to my brother when he visited and he stuffed it into a guard rail on a sharp offramp in the rain. Still miss that car...

[M.D. Holloway]

when you own a Saab, all you do is Saab...

[Steve Carlton]

And you get to tell Saab stories...

[jyl]

I've been tempted by a used Saab - e.g. a 900 Turbo - as I like the quirky looks, the space, the price . . . but everyone, I mean everyone, tells me to run far, far away. Even my mechanic has asked me to think of something else.

[Steve Carlton]

Talk to Peter at Embarcadero Automotive- good guy. He could probably tell you what to expect or maybe if there's a good year...

www.embarcaderoauto.com

[tcar]

Originally posted by URY914
Here's a Saab race car, a 99.

Nope. It's a 96. Pretty heavily modified.

99's (after '73) were pretty good cars, pretty reliable.

Once you got into larger motors and turbos with the 900 up to '93, the tranny and pinion bearing just couldn't handle it. Autos also were troublesome.

Achilles heal - tranny/pinion.

Easy to work on. Turbos a boatload of fun. Fold the seat down and you can carry a washing machine upright.

I've had a couple. Make sure there's a SAAB garage around if you can't do the work yourself.

[CoreyDSFA]

1990 we bought this 1972 Saab 99 EMS Racecar that was set up to GT3 Specifications. We ran it in very few SCCA Autocross events in Southern California. 4-speed Rally transmission, 2.0 w/ 45mm Side Draft Carbs, Fuel Cell, Full Cage, Lexan windows in the back 3, and stuck like glue in the corners.

[Embraer]

wonder what happened to terry? used to be a regular poster

[Nostril Cheese]

I thought he was pretty busy selling cars these days.

[JavaBrewer]

LOL I clicked on the ebay link Terry had in the OP. Always a soft spot for the old Saabs. Loved the 99 and 900 turbos. Just never had the $$ to buy one when I was younger.

[M.D. Holloway]

a thread almost 10 years old resurrected