Belated introduction
Posted: Tue Oct 15, 2013 1:41 pm
I just realized how rude I've been. I have been on SaabRally multiple times per day for about the last two years ... without ever having introduced myself! Bad form.
My name is Sam - RadioFlyer was the name of my first Talle Red SPG (named after a small child's red wagon - friends seemed to think that was appropriote). I got into Saabs when my dad bought a 9000 CSE when I was in high school (after many years away from Saabs). I loved it enough to get my license revoked for speeding and evasion and when I finally got it back, no one would insure me. Finally found a loophole of sorts - one insurer would give me liability only, which made it only worth it to buy a cheaper car - thus, my dad came home one day with a '93 900 NA and the true addiction began. Below you will the most up-to-date list of past Saabs. Enjoy.
1977? 99 5-door red (My dad's - mom had a matching one in white when I was little. I believe one of these brought me home from the hospital)
1991 9000 S tan (My dad's - he taught me to drive in her and I taught my little sis to drive her at age 13).
1995 9000 CSE dark green (My dad's - drove her to prom. Got three speeding tickets for more than double the speed limit. And outran what would have amounted to countless additional tickets)
1993 900 S Black "8-Ball" (Purchased in VT for $1500 after being kicked off the insurance for losing my license for speeding. Little sister claimed it when I left for South America and fell asleep at the wheel on I-91 in VT, flew off a 35' drop onto boulders and rolled into the trees. Only broke a nail climbing out the passenger side window. And you could have driven the car home. Now still a parts car.)
1991 9000 S ($1500 purchased in VT, lost the brakes in Hanover, NH. Repaired and sold to a first time driver.)
1987 900 SPG Edwardian Grey (Purchased for $800 in Virginia, restored, sold to a guy who never paid and gave it to his sister, saying he got it for free before going to jail for a hit and run and fleeing his parole. I tracked it down years later - it had been driven to a pulp, crashed into, rolled down a hill into a tree, and left to rot behind a barn. I helped the parents sell it to a guy for a second restoration - still going strong!).
1990 900 SPG Airflow Talladega Red "RadioFlyer" (Purchased in NH for $1700 - the guy was asking $5000 - removed airflow kit and drove across the US from Maine to California towing a uhaul trailer. Turned into a camper and hit every major park in Utah and Idaho - got let in for free at almost every one when they saw our camper setup - nearly lost the tranny after a season going up and down Powder Mtn in Utah and sold to my little sister who completely ruined the tranny within a month, helped her sell it to an enthusiast for full restoration - still going strong!)
1987 900 Turbo Black "Black Widow (occupants)" (Purchased in Roseville, CA for $400 - it had sat for 14 years in a garage with an electrical short until the owner won the lottery and gifted it to a friend. The friend found the short, but couldn't figure out the dead battery. Sold to me - replaced the battery, towed to Utah, modified, drove for a winter, busted CVs, and a guy knocked on my door and insisted on buying it as-was for $2000 cash without any of the modifications - bone stock. I agreed. We remained friends ever since and he restored the Saab - still going strong!)
1985 900 SPG Black (Free. Spotted sitting behind a barn in Utah next to a white '88 airflow. I stopped in to talk Saabs and when I asked about the '85, the guy offered to give it to me free if i could get it out of there. I obliged. Wiring harness was burned out and the car was infested with mice and black widows. Parted out.)
1994 900 Commemorative Edition Convertible #308 ($2700 in Utah from a guy who had just lost his job and wanted $6000 for the car. It was pretty much perfect. My wife claimed it for herself and then had a fender bender. Repaired and sold for $6300.)
1990 900 SPG Talladega Red "RadioFlyer II" (My wife was getting sick of me spending too much time on the Saabs, so I bought this one that was said to be perfect. Came with a matching parts car for $4500. The car was NOT perfect! Everything died within about a month and needed almost a full restoration. Fixed almost everything and modified - it was GREAT FUN! Until everything went wrong and it turned back into a lemon. Sold to an enthusiast for another restoration - still going strong!)
1990 900 SPG Talladega Red (Matching parts car that came with the above SPG - had been hit in the rear quarter while parked by a drunk driver in a Mustang in California. Owner got a $7000 insurance payout and gifted the car to a friend who drove it to Utah crabbing on a bent frame - went through 3 sets of tires on the way! Parted out.)
1980 900 Turbo Aquamarine Blue "Lightnin" ($1200 in Oregon. Sat in the high desert for 20 years before an enthusiast rescued it and restored everything in the engine bay. I took a 23 hour bus ride sight unseen to buy it. It started right up and made the 14-hour drive without a hitch. Now fully restored and driven almost daily. Drove our first baby home from the hospital in it).
1991 900 SE Monte Carlo Yellow "Carlos" ($800 in Utah. Had been looking all over the country for one when this came up on a local classified about 15 minutes from home. All the owner knew was that it was a Saab and that he wanted it out of his driveway. I was happy to oblige. Now fully restored and made the drive from Utah to NH without a hitch. Driven almost daily.)
My name is Sam - RadioFlyer was the name of my first Talle Red SPG (named after a small child's red wagon - friends seemed to think that was appropriote). I got into Saabs when my dad bought a 9000 CSE when I was in high school (after many years away from Saabs). I loved it enough to get my license revoked for speeding and evasion and when I finally got it back, no one would insure me. Finally found a loophole of sorts - one insurer would give me liability only, which made it only worth it to buy a cheaper car - thus, my dad came home one day with a '93 900 NA and the true addiction began. Below you will the most up-to-date list of past Saabs. Enjoy.
1977? 99 5-door red (My dad's - mom had a matching one in white when I was little. I believe one of these brought me home from the hospital)
1991 9000 S tan (My dad's - he taught me to drive in her and I taught my little sis to drive her at age 13).
1995 9000 CSE dark green (My dad's - drove her to prom. Got three speeding tickets for more than double the speed limit. And outran what would have amounted to countless additional tickets)
1993 900 S Black "8-Ball" (Purchased in VT for $1500 after being kicked off the insurance for losing my license for speeding. Little sister claimed it when I left for South America and fell asleep at the wheel on I-91 in VT, flew off a 35' drop onto boulders and rolled into the trees. Only broke a nail climbing out the passenger side window. And you could have driven the car home. Now still a parts car.)
1991 9000 S ($1500 purchased in VT, lost the brakes in Hanover, NH. Repaired and sold to a first time driver.)
1987 900 SPG Edwardian Grey (Purchased for $800 in Virginia, restored, sold to a guy who never paid and gave it to his sister, saying he got it for free before going to jail for a hit and run and fleeing his parole. I tracked it down years later - it had been driven to a pulp, crashed into, rolled down a hill into a tree, and left to rot behind a barn. I helped the parents sell it to a guy for a second restoration - still going strong!).
1990 900 SPG Airflow Talladega Red "RadioFlyer" (Purchased in NH for $1700 - the guy was asking $5000 - removed airflow kit and drove across the US from Maine to California towing a uhaul trailer. Turned into a camper and hit every major park in Utah and Idaho - got let in for free at almost every one when they saw our camper setup - nearly lost the tranny after a season going up and down Powder Mtn in Utah and sold to my little sister who completely ruined the tranny within a month, helped her sell it to an enthusiast for full restoration - still going strong!)
1987 900 Turbo Black "Black Widow (occupants)" (Purchased in Roseville, CA for $400 - it had sat for 14 years in a garage with an electrical short until the owner won the lottery and gifted it to a friend. The friend found the short, but couldn't figure out the dead battery. Sold to me - replaced the battery, towed to Utah, modified, drove for a winter, busted CVs, and a guy knocked on my door and insisted on buying it as-was for $2000 cash without any of the modifications - bone stock. I agreed. We remained friends ever since and he restored the Saab - still going strong!)
1985 900 SPG Black (Free. Spotted sitting behind a barn in Utah next to a white '88 airflow. I stopped in to talk Saabs and when I asked about the '85, the guy offered to give it to me free if i could get it out of there. I obliged. Wiring harness was burned out and the car was infested with mice and black widows. Parted out.)
1994 900 Commemorative Edition Convertible #308 ($2700 in Utah from a guy who had just lost his job and wanted $6000 for the car. It was pretty much perfect. My wife claimed it for herself and then had a fender bender. Repaired and sold for $6300.)
1990 900 SPG Talladega Red "RadioFlyer II" (My wife was getting sick of me spending too much time on the Saabs, so I bought this one that was said to be perfect. Came with a matching parts car for $4500. The car was NOT perfect! Everything died within about a month and needed almost a full restoration. Fixed almost everything and modified - it was GREAT FUN! Until everything went wrong and it turned back into a lemon. Sold to an enthusiast for another restoration - still going strong!)
1990 900 SPG Talladega Red (Matching parts car that came with the above SPG - had been hit in the rear quarter while parked by a drunk driver in a Mustang in California. Owner got a $7000 insurance payout and gifted the car to a friend who drove it to Utah crabbing on a bent frame - went through 3 sets of tires on the way! Parted out.)
1980 900 Turbo Aquamarine Blue "Lightnin" ($1200 in Oregon. Sat in the high desert for 20 years before an enthusiast rescued it and restored everything in the engine bay. I took a 23 hour bus ride sight unseen to buy it. It started right up and made the 14-hour drive without a hitch. Now fully restored and driven almost daily. Drove our first baby home from the hospital in it).
1991 900 SE Monte Carlo Yellow "Carlos" ($800 in Utah. Had been looking all over the country for one when this came up on a local classified about 15 minutes from home. All the owner knew was that it was a Saab and that he wanted it out of his driveway. I was happy to oblige. Now fully restored and made the drive from Utah to NH without a hitch. Driven almost daily.)