1972 Saab 99 L - Green

1972 Saab 99 L - Green

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P5BNij

15,769 posts

105 months

Sunday 29th January 2023
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Spinakerr said:
P5BNij said:
Hope you don't mind OP but I thought your wonderful frosty morning start up photo has the makings of an album cover for some obscure Indie band...

Superb choice of classic, love it beer
Nice! Like this perhaps?

Brilliant! Are there any Black Saabath songs on it...? wink

One of my aunt's had a 99 the same age as yours, a black one as I recall, she loved it but only had it for a year or so, she went back Volvo estates after that.

CallThatMusic

2,522 posts

87 months

Sunday 29th January 2023
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Love it.
Passed my test in a very bright green 99L that my Father bought new a couple of weeks before…
Good luck !

S100HP

12,645 posts

166 months

Sunday 29th January 2023
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That is lovely

Spinakerr

Original Poster:

1,164 posts

144 months

Wednesday 1st February 2023
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B'stard Child said:
Upload error there biggrin
Fixed! Thanks.

Appreciate all the comments - some more time has been spent uncovering the nooks and crannies of the 99. There is some rust and work required ont he front subframe, where water and road grot has settled over the years under the front driveshafts. We will be checking it in with TR Autos for our next Somerset to get their opinion.

Some additional satisfying fixes - a pair of matching mirrors arrived to replace the cracked and addled items a'door'ning currently attached.



When was the last time you removed missors from the outside with a screwdriver?

Underlying gasket had the genuine ripples of aged plastic.



I cleaned the area up, Bilt Hambered the holes to stop and rust and used a gasket sealer on both sides of some new plastic, cut from the packaging of the washer tube used above.



Good fit with a beter seal secured.



I then spent a good hour prodding and Bilt Hamber Hydrating any exposed oxide. A top level walk around with a small detailing brush will hopefully halt a few paint chips and edges. It was then time for a 1/2in brush, a blunt screwdriver and some proper ground level prodding.

I follow the technique of aiming to cover only the nooks, crannies and edges of rust once any excess has been removed. I then use a microfibre to remove any excess from the paintwork.









Next up - some clear wax for the arches to stop any further deterioration.

Edited by Spinakerr on Wednesday 1st February 19:05

B'stard Child

28,321 posts

245 months

Wednesday 1st February 2023
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Spinakerr said:
B'stard Child said:
Upload error there biggrin
Fixed! Thanks.
Edited my post - no-one will ever know now biggrin

Spinakerr

Original Poster:

1,164 posts

144 months

Wednesday 1st February 2023
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B'stard Child said:
Edited my post - no-one will ever know now biggrin
Haha - except I just did the same with the latest post, duplicating the mirror gasket picture. I hang my head in shame and humbly withdraw my typesetters advanced memembership card.

miniman

24,827 posts

261 months

Wednesday 1st February 2023
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What a lovely, lovely thing

love

Cambs_Stuart

2,833 posts

83 months

Thursday 2nd February 2023
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Always good to see an update on any of your threads! This looks like another corker.
How does the 99 feel in modern traffic? Does it keep up without having to work it to hard?


Spinakerr

Original Poster:

1,164 posts

144 months

Sunday 19th February 2023
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Cambs_Stuart said:
Always good to see an update on any of your threads! This looks like another corker.
How does the 99 feel in modern traffic? Does it keep up without having to work it to hard?
Thanks - its ideal for modern traffic. 4 speed it tight and 2nd is find for the silly 20mph zones, its narrow, brakes really well, has excellent visibility and suprisingly swift steering. It is a marvel.

Some quick and satisfying jobs on the 99 this morning - firstly I finally sourced the right air filter... and threw the old one to the horizon.



Seatbelts - the old Klippan type with a rudimentary metal hoop were groundbraking in a passenger car, but a pain now, especially when there are two drivers needing different lengths to be set. The wife selected a Securicor set, and fitting them was an absolutel joy today. The original holes were all used, the only expension of brainpower was finfing the correct combination of brackets and fittings to secure the reel to the floor.

Old ones out...







16, 17 and 18mm sockets did the work in short order. Fortunately the 'hoop' on the floor has two neat holes, almost as if proper seatbelts were an option for the future...

History in the making, BSA approved...



I experimented with a few versions of fixings, eventually using some of the old kit and a lot of the new kit to assemble a neat look that also fixed the carpet down and stayed secure.







Only the floor bolts were a real grind due to rust - fortunately easy access and good Stahlwille soct moved them along.



Finally, these new wipers had to go - I managed to find the correct Speedline stainless items and swap them in. A very satisfying fix.





Ready for spring.





Spinakerr

Original Poster:

1,164 posts

144 months

Wednesday 1st March 2023
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First proper outing following the drive home from Brum last weekend - to Somerset to see my parents and TR Autos, Saab gurus, for an independent scrutiny.

I realised afetr the first hour that this was the first actual drive in proper sunlight, and taking the A303 at its various 30/50/60mph zones is perfect for the 99. Plenty of hills to challenge my 4th gear anticipation equation, and generally keeping to 55mph on the dual carraigeways I made sure I didnt get in anyone's way.

The 99 is a true joy to drive - its not often I delve into the finer details of actual driving, my threads are generally about 'fixed this, bought that bit, restored this', but if you may indulge me:

Open garage doors. Unlock boot, with an actual key, and press the chrome button to have it spring open. Load bags, plus a few tools just in case. Gently press the boot closed, to be rewarded by one of the most satisfying 'closed' car noises ever. Solid and woody, like a single bass drum kick.

Unlock door in dark garage, and note the key hole by the handbrake it illuminated by a shrouded bulb when door ajar. Sigh at the brilliance. Insert key.

Pump fast pedal three times, pull choke out about (checks ambient temperature) a third. Twist key for it to instantly catch. Find peace in a 20 second balance of choke and accelerator, noting the red light on the choke and you bottom getting warmer... yes, a seat warmer! In 1972!

Pull new three point Securicor brown belt across lap, locate reverse and ease out onto the road. Tight gearbox, perfect brake balance and fingertip steering bring calm to your day. No stero, a noticeable but not deafening engine hum and a low swoosh over the chrome mirrors your only companion. Spend two hours in the increasing sunlight as the dull M3 transforms into wiggly A303, then the fun A303 with actual scenery, to Somerset. Relish in the final 'hill stage' near Glastonbury, with a small footprint narrow lanes are no issue, the giant glass aiding visibility.

Arrive. Look back.




Northbrook

1,429 posts

62 months

Wednesday 1st March 2023
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Lovely!

Cambs_Stuart

2,833 posts

83 months

Wednesday 1st March 2023
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What a really well proportioned car. Now you've got this are you still using the turbo?

Edited by Cambs_Stuart on Thursday 2nd March 09:43

ingenieur

3,992 posts

180 months

Friday 3rd March 2023
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I was watching the mirrors on eBay and saw they got sold. Now I think I'm watching your old mirrors on eBay. I like to watch mirrors for Saab 99s on eBay.

Mr Tidy

22,065 posts

126 months

Friday 3rd March 2023
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Spinakerr said:
Now we're back to the proper classic motoring experience - hot cloth on the locks to warm up the barrel...





We.. ahem... managed without the boot...
That was one of the advantages of being a smoker in the 70s/80s. I'd just my lighter to warm the key up - always worked a treat!

BananaFama

4,404 posts

78 months

Friday 3rd March 2023
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There's a set of genuine Saab 99 rubber mats on Ebay ,seller doesn't want much for them ,they do look well used though in places .

Spinakerr

Original Poster:

1,164 posts

144 months

Saturday 4th March 2023
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ingenieur said:
I was watching the mirrors on eBay and saw they got sold. Now I think I'm watching your old mirrors on eBay. I like to watch mirrors for Saab 99s on eBay.
You missed one - the old mirrors just sold! This post really made my wife laugh - thank you.

Spinakerr

Original Poster:

1,164 posts

144 months

Saturday 4th March 2023
quotequote all
Mr Tidy said:
That was one of the advantages of being a smoker in the 70s/80s. I'd just my lighter to warm the key up - always worked a treat!
My mum says she has one of those 1980s 'hot keys' somewhere. No more frost expected this year, and the locks seen a bit happier after WD40 and regular use!


On the mats - they look too far gone I think, a bit of a well travelled biscuit about them. The same guy had better sets I missed in Jan and Feb. No matter these things do pop up...

Edited by Spinakerr on Saturday 4th March 08:16

jamesson

2,977 posts

220 months

Sunday 5th March 2023
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This is absolutely magnificent. The colour inside and out is perfect for its era. Hats off to your wife for buying it!

miniman

24,827 posts

261 months

Sunday 5th March 2023
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Saw this today and thought of you!

bolidemichael

13,717 posts

200 months

Wednesday 8th March 2023
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I've really enjoyed this thread so far, having finally caught up and the post about with the side shot of it in Somerset was worth the indulgence.

I would've thunk that the previous owner having been particular about his car and a Rolls Royce engineer would've maintained it better than he had. Was it a load of guff to amplify the price, or was he just getting on a bit/time poor/too many projects?