Article on a older SAAB

[bam2002]

http://www.autofiends.com/index.php/200 ... 00-enduro/


If you dont know about this site you should visit it.

B

[Crazyswede]

Ahh yes the ever so rare 900 Enduro...basically a factory available kit only offered in Australia...if I recall correctly. A few years ago we located someone in Australia that had one and tried to get some dimensions on the body work....as I recall that person had no interest in helping to recreate the kit. I think there are only like 17 of the Enduros known to exist. Basically it had the wheel flares, air dam, a boosted 8v engine with water injection, wider wheels etc. Cool car though.

I just read the article....so i was pretty close. I would not be a very difficult car to recreate....I think it would look fantastic in 2 door form.

[rsp57]

These were brought out to commemorate SAAB breaking all the Australian endurance records up to 24 hours. This was done at the now defunct Surfers Paradise race circurt. The original race car failed after about 4 hours with a burnt valve caused by a cross threaded spark plug. A Reps car was commandeered from the car park and was converted, brakes, race seat wheels etc. and set out at just before the midnight deadline. The car went very well and broke all records negating Audi"s attempt of only a month earlier. Audi's name never appeared in the record books for that year. How do i know this useless info, i was there as part of the team.

[Geoff]

Hey, that's a cool bit of history! I've been wondering what prompted the "Enduro" name. I assume that when the new car hit the track, the clock restarted?

[rsp57]

Yes Geoff, the clock started at midnight and the car set off after the "build process" at about twenty past twelve and still set the early records for standing half mile/ mile etc. I have a photo of the car somewhere and will attempt to locate and post.

[Pythagorus]

Hi I think this is closer: 10 were built and one spare. SaaB Australia did it and it was such a fantatic looking and working item SaaB Europa tried to copy for limited produciton it and ran into problems with Australia. The silly thing is that a lot of money could have been made by paying those who designed it...instead it's become a little known rare car...the history MUST be known in depth by someone who reads this site. By "in depth" I mean as in for example knowing intimately the history of the cosworth RS escort.Wheels were Simmons as I recall...they were expensive,

(I remember my lovely lowered black Fairlane was stolen (uninsured) and stripped of my Simmons' out at Rooty Hill while I was laid up from a building site injury. ...about $3000 worth went...however the car also had some $20,000 in specialist tools, my families military heirlooms (General Wootten's) and a set of tapes and recorder I'd made for my children as I drove interstate etc....on our life together All was stolen. ...Police did less than nothing and local council (Nth Sydney) was obstrucitonist (I had a very good idea which council employee stole it) interesting story surrounding that!!

It wasn't a "body kit" as available to you and to me but a SaaB organised item, suspension, gauges and motor had some changes...I think the Kompressor went to 1.2 bar. If I recall correctly 7 are known. What happened to the spare I don't know. There are so many seemingly repetitiious and unansered questions with SaaB surely some enterprising author could make great book of definitive and complete knowledge. Just getting information on my (or any) 2.3 L 1991 Carlsson is hard enough. Voila

[rsp57]

The wheels were Simmons, made in South Australia and very expensive in the day. 6inch front and 8 inch rear which made them fun on wet road. The boost was raised and water injection added. The body kit was commissioned by SAAB Australia and made by a local fiberglass company. When they were released i thought they were ugly and they haven't grown on me over the years. In my opinion they looked tacky and amateurish. Please, before you crucify me this is only my opinion but i have seen and worked on them in the flesh. I do realise i may get death threats for saying these things but the 900 had smooth lines and the box guards did nothing for them, my opinion again. (i must be getting old and grumpy).

[Hans]

The car would've handled much better if they'd but the 6-inch rims on the back and the 8-inchers on the front.

[SwedeSport]

The wheels were cool, as was the 2 tone paint. The flares competed with the lines of the car instead of complementing them.

[airsweden]

maybe better on a 2 door?