Saab History

Marc Schwartz Saab Story

Posted on 02. Jun, 2006 by Ryan.

Marc Schwartz an aspiring actor has provided Saab History his “Saab Story”. Enjoy.

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1969 96, My Very First Car

Posted on 23. Aug, 2001 by Ryan.

1969 96, My Very First Car

My very first car was a ’69 96. My father’s boss was moving to Tasmania (really)and didn’t think it was worth it to ship the 96 over, so he gave it to me. I was a senior in high school and didn’t quite know what to make of this inverted bathtub looking thing- I was impressed with the disc brakes, I do remember thinking that. The only thing wrong with it was the rear shocks were pushed up into the trunk due to rust. I scabbed on some kind of homemade bracket things and off I went. I FLOGGED THE LIVIN’ CRAP OUT OF THAT CAR FOR 6 YEARS!!! It only stranded me once- the coil went bad. I was absolutely amazed at how it held up. I broke it in half at one point, by jumping it off the ground trying to do a “Streets of San Franciso” impression- it came down hard on the front wheels and the seam by the firewall gave way. Limped home, took some bed rails (yes, actual bed rails) and welded/bolted them the entire length of the car. Got a couple more years out of it. Took it to college! and about 10 of us would pile into it whenever it snowed and go out in big parking lots and do high speed donuts in reverse to make them puke. Rolled a front tire right off the rim a couple of times. One time during the summer, I was working with a guy that had a Camaro with a big motor. We left work at the same time and I wouldn’t let him pass- weaving all over the road. On a big, long downhill, as I was nearing 100mph, one of the belts in a front tire blew. By the time I got the thing stopped, the tire looked like a firestone special- tread pealed off and the steel belt showing. The Camaro was long gone. So I took it easy on the way home… The stories of abuse are endless. “Hello, my name is Eric… and… I… yes, I’m a Saab abuser. I can admit it now…”

So what went wrong with the car other than consumables? Broke the freewheel once coasting backwards down a hill in first, then popping the clutch to do burn-outs. Burned out a clutch or two (surprise!). Had a slave cylinder go bad. That’s about it, other than the slow demise to undercarriage rust. Never had the motor apart. That absolutely sold me on Saabs- if a car could hold up to that kind of abuse, it had to be special. I’ve had a couple around ever since. Worked my way up through 99′s to 900′s, now back down to the vintage Saabs.

In the end, I got nervous about the rust and decided to sell it. No, that’s a lie- my dad got nervous about the rust and put an ad in the paper. I had graduated to a ’76 99EMS at that point. Next thing I new, a pack o’ hippies that were living in some teepees in the woods outside of town were driving off in it. I think he got $400 for it. Saw it on the road for a few more years, getting lower and lower and lower as the body collapsed… So, do you think I baby my Sonett?

Eric Carter, Vermont

Contact Information
New England Saab Association
Post Office Box 119
Keene, New Hampshire 03431

E-mail info@nesaab.org

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Another 900T

Posted on 02. Jul, 2001 by Ryan.

Another 900T

This story takes place years ago but I laugh every time I think about it. I was a student at Keene State College in Spring of 1994 (wich I knew Ryan back then!). Even though I lived on campus, I managed to drive to class this one particular day – can’t remember why. It was a night class so it was dark when I came out, thinking about the 25 cent Don+Daves wings I was about to put down with my roommate as we were both starving by this time. I must have been thinking a little too hard about the wings because as I went to put the key in to the ’89 Rose-Quartz 900 Turbo, it wouldn’t fit! What was wrong?! After a few seconds of panic, I looked around and noticed that it wasn’t my car. Another 900T driver with the same color/interior/wheels that I had parked right next to me! Interesting how often Saab drivers intentionally park next to eachother isn’t it? Anyway, a quick flick of the wrist in the! lock of the correct car and I was on my way to meet John at Don+Daves. The wings tasted great as usual. I saw the other 900T around campus a few times after that but never discovered who the driver was.

Glen Westerberg Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Contact Information
New England Saab Association
Post Office Box 119
Keene, New Hampshire 03431

E-mail info@nesaab.org

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On A Warm Summer Day

Posted on 26. Jun, 2001 by Ryan.

On A Warm Summer Day

On a warm sunny day I left work in Foxborough MA for a meeting in Marlborough MA driving my 1985 900 SPG. After a few miles on Rt 495 I felt a cough from the engine and noticed the steam wisping out from beneath the hood. Pulling over and looking beneath the hood I saw the angry gash in the main coolant hose spitting and sputtering. A highway safety officer thankfully pulled in behind me to see if I needed help. I told him I planned to nurse it to the next exit and he mentioned there was a service station on the left at the next exit. Leaving the engine running I slowly poured in a gallon of 50/50 mix antifreeze and about a half gallon of dog water from the back seat. I asked my car to hold together to the exit so I could get her off the highway. Slowly we got up to speed and I crested the hill. I shut off the car, coasting 2 miles downhill to the exit, ran the stop sign at the bottom, coasted through the green light and into the parking lot of the se! rvice station. I then took the Saab screwdriver out of the toolkit, removed the damaged hose and walked into the garage. I gingerly placed the still warm hose on the counter and asked if they had any hose that was similar that might work. After rummaging around in the back room for 5 minutes, out he emerged with a hose that when cut was a very close match! I bought another gallon of coolant with the hose and quickly got my baby back together. Soon I was back rushing to my meeting along the interstate. I was only 14 minutes late. And we got the contract.

J. Sweet Dighton, Massachusetts

Contact Information
New England Saab Association
Post Office Box 119
Keene, New Hampshire 03431

E-mail info@nesaab.org

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My 1986 900 still going strong.

Posted on 21. May, 2001 by Ryan.

My 1986 900 still going strong

I recently applied for membership and on your application you ask for interesting Saab stories. I thought you might like to read the story of my 1986 900, purchased for a mere $100.00 3 years ago and still going strong.

My husband is a Wildlife Rehabilitator. The Wildlife Center property where he works includes several “dirt lots” used for storage, and cages, etc. The Staff Veterinarian has also found a unique use for this property–as a home for his collection of “dead cars”. These being cars previously driven that have “given up the ghost” for various reasons such as transmission failure, blown engine, etc. The cars consist of various Toyotas and Subarus. My husband came home one day to tell me his boss had added to the dead cars–one 1986 Saab 900. His boss was purchasing a new Toyota (why I don’t know considering the make of most of the dead cars)and had left the Saab for dead which my husband thought strange because it still ran fine.

We were looking for a second car at the time, just for local driving for my husband and I figured, what the heck, call the boss, find out the scoop, and see what he wants for it. Well, he said it needed some work, was making funny noises, but I could have it for $100.00 if I was interested. You bet I was. Having heard how long lived Saabs could be and having had an uncle with an old 99 that kicked butt in the snow I went to check it out.

The car was full to the top with green trash bags, old food wrappers, papers, and in the hatchback there was a little bird’s nest. Instead of a 5 speed shift lever there was a metal rod and instead of an ignition, there was a screwdriver you had to spin a particular way to start the car. Well, probably anyone else would have run screaming, but I started the poor thing up and actually was able to drive it around (with difficulty) the Wildlife Center grounds. The transmission, clutch, brakes, steering, all felt fine. The “funny noise” was a loose bracket under the hood. The wrong sparkplugs were installed and there hadn’t been an oil change in about 4 years but I figured if the thing could run despite all that and it had only 111,000 miles on it, I had to have it. To make a very long story short, three years later and about $2500.00 in repairs, it has become our most reliable car. My 1993 Dodge Shadow is dying(with only 80,000); I have commandeered the Saab and will ! save it for my 4 year old for his first car(I’m sure it will still be running)!

Elaine J. Laing, Braintree, MA

Contact Information
New England Saab Association
Post Office Box 119
Keene, New Hampshire 03431

E-mail info@nesaab.org

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SAAB 96 in Ohio

Posted on 25. Feb, 2001 by Ryan.

Driving home from a weekend at friends in the country, I noticed the gas
gauge getting low enough for the 8 gallons of gas to mix with a quart of
oil required in Dad’s 1967 Saab 96. Pulled into a SOHIO station just
outside of the middle of nowhere for a fillup. For you youngsters, this
was in 1969 when ‘Self Serve’ hadn’t been invented yet, so the attendant
trotted out to the drivers side and asked the inevitable “Fill-er-up?”
“Sure” I replied. “But first pour in this can of oil.”
“No problem, just pop the hood for me.” When I explained the oil went in
the gas tank, I got one of those deer in the headlight looks.
“You can’t do that, boy!”
“No problem, it’s a 2 stroke motor”
“A what? Oil goes in the motor!”
“I know, but this is a 2 stroke motor, no valves, and the oil mixes with
the gas.”
Now, I will admit this was not the best year nor place to have long hair,
but at this point the attendant flew in to a rage about how the youth of
America was just crazy with all the dope going around and he didn’t want
any of it at his station and ordered me off his property. The more I tried
to explain, the more upset he got. I always made it a point to honk and
wave every time I drove by that station in Dad’s Saab after that!

My first car I could legally drive was a hand me down from Dad; a 1967
Saab 96. Just what every 16 year old in 1969 looked forward to!? Well, it
was priced right and pretty economical to drive once I replaced the clutch
and front tires. My Saab taught me that it didn’t take raw horse power to
light up the tires, just a lack of brains. I used the car to drive to
school my senior year and took a lot of ribbing about it, especially when
the muscle car crowd got a look under the hood! None of them understood 2
strokes and thought the motor was out of a lawn mower or some thing.
To get on with the story, there was one class mate of mine that bragged
he never paid for gas. He carried a five gallon can and a piece of hose
and ‘borrowed’ gas when ever he needed it. I guess I mentioned one day
that he should be careful not to ‘borrow’ gas from my car. Well, you all
know where this is going. Sure enough a day later he came chugging into
the school parking lot blowing clouds of blue smoke. Worst case of fouled
plugs any Ford every suffered.

It can be amazing where you can find nice people these days. If you
watch TV news you can always tell where not to find them, in fact from
watching TV you might think none exists outside of your own home. Well let
me tell you otherwise.
My Dad has recently been diagnosed as suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.
His short term memory has been going for a number of years but his last
heart attack took what ever was left. He still laughs when he should but
doesn’t always no why. With the help of the staff at a very nice nursing
home in Aurora, Ohio we are trying to make Dad’s days more comforting. One
suggestion was to make a memory photo book. A simple photo of things from
his past; friends, families and hobbies that he enjoyed. Mom said she
would take care of family photos, so I volunteered to take hobbies.
My Dad’s favorite car was a 1967 powder blue Saab 96 It was bigger,
faster, and rode much nicer than the 1960 DKW 750 that it replaced and Dad
showed it off every where we went. Every car after that was compared to
the Saab but none measure up. I looked for hours trying to find a photo of
that car before turning to the innernet. Found a site with Saab club links
that lead me to the New England Saab Association page. That lead me to
Ryan Emge. A name, a person I had never met and may never meet. But
within minutes of sending a request for a photo of a 1967 powder blue Saab
96, the name of a person that jumped into the project with every resource
he had. That was Friday. This morning I came in to work, signed on to
E-mail to find a letter from Ryan with an attached photo!! Just what the
doctor order!
You may not hear about nice people on the 6:00 news or read about them in
the daily paper, but they are out there. If you are every driving through
New Salem, MA, honk and wave at every Saab that goes by. It might be Ryan,
it might not. But knowing Ryan as little as I do, I would guess that most
fellow Saab enthusiasts in town know him as a nice guy.

Paul L. Kort

Contact Information
NEW ENGLAND SAAB ASSOCIATION
P.O. BOX 119
KEENE, NEW HAMPSHIRE 03431

E-mail info@nesaab.org

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My First Car

Posted on 25. Feb, 2001 by Ryan.

My First Car

My first car that I actually owned not a loaner from a
parent. Was a blue 1984 900 . I named him Spider. Paid $3000
for him in 1993. I thought it was a good deal. Because the previous owner
was not nice to the car, I paid another $3-4000, fixing him up but I loved
him anyway.

Eventually we invested in a junked 82′ model to help speed up
the repairs. Then when we were done with it we sold it to a local junkyard
for $25. I recently found out that the junkyard sold the junked 82′ again
for a $1000. Ha it figures!!! But my Spider is doing fine.

We got tired of fixing him because I am a nanny and need a reliable car
everyday so, we decided a newer model is what we really needed,so last
September my fiance purchased for me a 1993 9000 cs. Fire engine red!!
I decided to name him Red rover, a name that suits him especially when
passing other cars!!! I did not trade my Spider in to the dealer when I
got my new car though. I sold it to a Saab mechanic that my fiance knows
from all of the repair work we did on the car. I decided that I did not
care how much I sold my car for because its more than just a car to me.
So I gave the car away to our friend for $600. Just enough to pay for my
newer car to get on the road! So I lost money but who cares at least
the car went to a good home.

Heather Henry, Worcester, MA

Contact Information
NEW ENGLAND SAAB ASSOCIATION
P.O. BOX 119
KEENE, NEW HAMPSHIRE 03431

E-mail info@nesaab.org

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Our Ski trip to Maine

Posted on 25. Feb, 2001 by Ryan.

Our Ski trip to Maine

We went skiing in Maine..3 years ago..in January. A big thaw hit, and rain.
We got caught in the middle of it. Roads to Sunday River Ski resort were all
out of commission. Its now 3am and its now freezing. (This is when it gets good)
We proceeded around about route, and encountered an ice flow (flooded river with
snow bergs, covering the entire road for about 200 yards, and water windshield
high:)

We had to proceed(not knowing the water was that high). We got to the middle of
the flow (hood high with water) and the Saab died( duh..no kidding). Luckily,
a local Mainer was in the area with a big 4 wheel drive. He pushed us out of the
water (Arctic Sea)to dry pavement. We thought we would be spending the night in
the Maine National Forest,but no…The Saab only needed the removal of the air
filter ( which was frozen ), and we were off and running again. Here is the scary
part! We were waiste high in freezing water IN THE CAR.The car actually floated
for a bit down river till the water came in the car..(Thank GOD) Alarm going nuts
and finally complete deadness. We got the Saab going and drove it to Sunday River,
where it completely froze for the next few days( had to pry the door open to get
in it)

To sum the story,,,,,SAABS RULE….that was death for most other cars, and us also,
if was not for Saab……Thanx Saab

BTW…It was a 94 900 turbo…..never had a prob after that!
Good luck all, and thanx for your attention!

Kurt Johnson, N Kingstown RI

Contact Information
NEW ENGLAND SAAB ASSOCIATION
P.O. BOX 119
KEENE, NEW HAMPSHIRE 03431

E-mail info@nesaab.org

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