HERE THE CAR HAS BEEN ASSESSED BY AN ENGINEER, FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANY,AS TO SALVAGE RETENTION, ETC....?
THE 'SAABWORLD' IS A VERY CLOSE-KNIT COMMUNITY,AND WITHIN JUST HOURS OF THE CRASH,ON THE EVENT? I WAS POINTED IN THE DIRECTION OF A RALLY PREPARED 'ROLLING' 99 TURBO BODYSHELL BACK ON THE 'UK' MAINLAND.
IT TOOK A WEEK OR TWO,BEFORE I COULD TRAVEL THE 3 HOUR DRIVE,TO GO AND LOOK OVER THE BODYSHELL.
I HAVE KNOWN THE CAR,FOR OVER 20 YEARS.......IT WAS CAMPAIGNED IN MANY EVENTS HERE IN THE NORTH-WEST OF ENGLAND,BEFORE BEING STRIPPED BACK,AND SUBSEQUENT EXTENSIVE WORK'S DONE TO THE CAR AKIN TO THE ORIGINAL COMPETITIONS DEPT. SAAB 99 TURBO SPECIFICATION, EVEN GOING AS FAR AS THE ENGINE BAY LOWER FLOOR BOXED IN,TO PROVIDE RAM-AIR TUNNELS FOR BRAKE COOLING ON THE FRONT DISCS/CALIPERS.
SEAM WELDED,GUSSETED,STRENGTHENED,PLATED,AND THE ROLLCAGE CAGE TIED INTO PILLARS,WHEEL ARCHES CUT AND 'TUBBED' FOR FIBREGLASS S&R WHEEL ARCHES,ALL UNDERSEAL/SOUND DEADENING REMOVED AND THE UNDERSIDE/INSIDE PAINTED IN WHITE.
IN TERMS OF BODYSHELL PREPARATION,IT'S ALL DONE AND WILL SAVE ME THE DUBIOUS TASK,OF DOING ALL THE HARD/TEDIOUS WORK....AND MORE IMPORTANTLY,AN AWFUL LOT OF THAT OH-SO VAUABLE ELUSIVE COMMODITY THESE DAYS?.............
'TIME'!
CURRENTLY SAT ON STRENGTHENED WISHBONES,BILSTEINS,WITH THE UPGRADED BOLT-THRU PANHARD ROD BRACKET, ON THE REAR BOOT FLOOR CROSS MEMBER,AND A VAN LOAD OF SPARES/UNOBTANIUM TO COME WITH THE CAR,ALONG WITH GLASS-FIBRE HOOD AND TRUNK LID,A DEAL WAS RAPIDLY STRUCK.
THIS SATURDAY,A VERY GOOD FRIEND ACCOMPANIED ME ON THE 3 HOUR DRIVE,TO GO AND COLLECT THE BODYSHELL ON THE TRAILER
WE LEFT AT 7AM....ON A LOVELY SUNNY MORNING.AFTER INFLATING THE TYRES,THE ROLLING BODYSHELL EMERGED FROM IT'S RESTING PLACE WITHIN A FARM BUILDING WHERE IT HAS SAT, CAREFULLY COVERED FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS....UNTIL NOW
