SAAB 900 Classic Convertible
Discussion
This is my Mothers Saab. She gave up driving around 3 years ago and it has been garaged since.
The car is mostly sound, although the pictures don't show how dusty the car is. My plan is to get the car up to shape, MOT'd and hopefully get some use out of it before the end of summer.
o/s/f wheel arch needs replaced
o/s/r arch has a scab, possibly goes under the plastic trim
scratch on the drivers door. I'm hoping a local chips away guy can sort this.
The screen has ( delaminated? ) in this corner. I'm hoping the convertible has the same screen as the saloons / hatches. Anyone know for sure?
The car was bought new (1992 K plate) and rustproofed at that time. Apart from the above pictures it all quite tidy. You can see from this "before" picture that the car needs a proper clean.
Lastly, here is a picture of the car washed earlier today.
Hoping to start polishing the car tomorrow. I'll also post up my "To Do" list of jobs needing done.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated, and thanks for looking.
The car is mostly sound, although the pictures don't show how dusty the car is. My plan is to get the car up to shape, MOT'd and hopefully get some use out of it before the end of summer.
o/s/f wheel arch needs replaced
o/s/r arch has a scab, possibly goes under the plastic trim
scratch on the drivers door. I'm hoping a local chips away guy can sort this.
The screen has ( delaminated? ) in this corner. I'm hoping the convertible has the same screen as the saloons / hatches. Anyone know for sure?
The car was bought new (1992 K plate) and rustproofed at that time. Apart from the above pictures it all quite tidy. You can see from this "before" picture that the car needs a proper clean.
Lastly, here is a picture of the car washed earlier today.
Hoping to start polishing the car tomorrow. I'll also post up my "To Do" list of jobs needing done.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated, and thanks for looking.
Thanks adcy, i bet the screen isn't cheap! I'm ok with the spanners but a bonded screen isn't something i would even attempt. I will look more into the costs once i progress a bit.
Cheers Job38. As projects go, it should be fairly easy. As i said earlier, it is a one owner / low mileage car that has been serviced once a year. I should have pulled my finger out a few weeks back and i could be enjoying the sun!
Didn't have much time today, but i managed to get the bonnet machine polished. It's the first time i have used one and went ok. TBH, i think i could have achieved similar results by hand though. I was too nervous of going through the paint!
Not a great picture of todays work
Hoping to get a few more panels done at the weekend and next week, time permitting.
After that i'll give the engine a service and try and arrange for the car to be collected for its MoT.
Thanks all.
Cheers Job38. As projects go, it should be fairly easy. As i said earlier, it is a one owner / low mileage car that has been serviced once a year. I should have pulled my finger out a few weeks back and i could be enjoying the sun!
Didn't have much time today, but i managed to get the bonnet machine polished. It's the first time i have used one and went ok. TBH, i think i could have achieved similar results by hand though. I was too nervous of going through the paint!
Not a great picture of todays work
Hoping to get a few more panels done at the weekend and next week, time permitting.
After that i'll give the engine a service and try and arrange for the car to be collected for its MoT.
Thanks all.
Managed to get the boot polished this morning. Still using the machine polisher, but i could have achieved the same results by hand. I'm hoping practise makes perfect.
Made a quick list of what is needing done. In no particular order ;
polish and wax
paint windscreen frame / replace windscreen
o/s/f plastic arch needs replaced ( i have one )
service
MoT
central locking not working
front electric windows are very slow and dont go fully up without assistance
interior light not working
a few small scratches needing touched up
That list is not exhaustive, but it's enough to be getting on with.
If anyone knows anything about these faults, feel free to comment. Advice always appreciated!
Cheers
Made a quick list of what is needing done. In no particular order ;
polish and wax
paint windscreen frame / replace windscreen
o/s/f plastic arch needs replaced ( i have one )
service
MoT
central locking not working
front electric windows are very slow and dont go fully up without assistance
interior light not working
a few small scratches needing touched up
That list is not exhaustive, but it's enough to be getting on with.
If anyone knows anything about these faults, feel free to comment. Advice always appreciated!
Cheers
Managed to get the offside front wing polished before the car was collected by the garage for its Mot. And after a long day of checking my phone, to make sure it was still working, the garage called to say it had passed! There were a few advisories, which i'll go over with the garage tomorrow.
Master plan is to get the polishing finished,then start on giving the engine bay a clean. Since the car was new, i've sprayed WD40 / chain lube every now and then to keep the rust away. Its worked, but under the bonnet needs a good clean.
Hoping to get this done by Sunday PM. After this i'll do the service, but i'm working away from home for a bit so progress will slow.
Thanks for looking and any advice appreciated.
I didn't know how long the car was going to be off the road, and i didn't want to lose the private registration. I put them on retention, so the car is now on its K plate. Looks odd to me, for the last 20 years its always had " 123 GGB " on it. Now the car is MoT'd, the private plates will be going back on it in the next few weeks. That was a waste of money for transfers and retention.
Anyway, the polishing is complete, and i got a coat of wax on it yesterday. The old Saab is starting to look quite presentable again.
I'm getting less time to work on it now, but under bonnet, hood clean and the black plastic trim are next on the list.
Bonnet half waxed, don't know if this will show up.
And all shiny.
Thanks for looking.
Anyway, the polishing is complete, and i got a coat of wax on it yesterday. The old Saab is starting to look quite presentable again.
I'm getting less time to work on it now, but under bonnet, hood clean and the black plastic trim are next on the list.
Bonnet half waxed, don't know if this will show up.
And all shiny.
Thanks for looking.
Been working away, but managed a few hours last and this weekend. Because of the limited time i decided to work on the boot. Stand by for some exciting pictures!
Removed the false floor and emptied the boot. Good points are ; no major rust, and nothing missing. Even the locking wheel nut and plastic bag for carrying the spare are still there.
Bad points ; space saver was flat. No idea if it's punctured or just flat after 20 odd year of non use. Managed to tighten the valve half a turn so hopefully its this. I've re inflated, and i'll check again in a few weeks.
Boot interior light wasn't working. Tested the bulb, all OK there. Turns out there was a blown fuse under the rear seat. Result, boot light now good, and the interior light and central locking now working. An easy job.
Lastly, there was a rust scab on the offside of the boot opening, hidden when the boot is closed ;
No pictures yet of the next step. Removed the light and masked off the rust. Then wire brushed with a drill back to bare metal. There is a small hole aprox 20mm x 10mm hidden behind the rear light. I know my limits with bodywork, so this will get fixed along with the other paint issues. In the meantime i treated the area with rust killer, undercoat, then 2 coats of model paint. Not a great colour match, but it wont get any worse in the near future, and it is hidden with the boot closed. I'll post some pictures of the repair next weekend when i'm back home.
Next weekends plans are to finish off the boot area. Also, depending on weather, i am hoping to get the roof treated with a Renovo kit.
As always, any advice appreciated.
Thanks for looking.
Oh PS, Anyone know where the jack handle gets stowed?
Removed the false floor and emptied the boot. Good points are ; no major rust, and nothing missing. Even the locking wheel nut and plastic bag for carrying the spare are still there.
Bad points ; space saver was flat. No idea if it's punctured or just flat after 20 odd year of non use. Managed to tighten the valve half a turn so hopefully its this. I've re inflated, and i'll check again in a few weeks.
Boot interior light wasn't working. Tested the bulb, all OK there. Turns out there was a blown fuse under the rear seat. Result, boot light now good, and the interior light and central locking now working. An easy job.
Lastly, there was a rust scab on the offside of the boot opening, hidden when the boot is closed ;
No pictures yet of the next step. Removed the light and masked off the rust. Then wire brushed with a drill back to bare metal. There is a small hole aprox 20mm x 10mm hidden behind the rear light. I know my limits with bodywork, so this will get fixed along with the other paint issues. In the meantime i treated the area with rust killer, undercoat, then 2 coats of model paint. Not a great colour match, but it wont get any worse in the near future, and it is hidden with the boot closed. I'll post some pictures of the repair next weekend when i'm back home.
Next weekends plans are to finish off the boot area. Also, depending on weather, i am hoping to get the roof treated with a Renovo kit.
As always, any advice appreciated.
Thanks for looking.
Oh PS, Anyone know where the jack handle gets stowed?
Lovely car and its good news that you've decided to keep it, I've always had a soft spot for the 900 cabriolet and its in the best colour and must be one of the last of the decent saabs built before becoming rebadged vauxhalls.
I had a 90 in the same colour as yours and it also had a bit of rust on the wheel arch I managed to buy the correct colour paint in rattle can form and it was a perfect colour match and repair so you may manage to get an invisible repair doing it yourself.
I had a 90 in the same colour as yours and it also had a bit of rust on the wheel arch I managed to buy the correct colour paint in rattle can form and it was a perfect colour match and repair so you may manage to get an invisible repair doing it yourself.
Thank you Alfahorn.
Cheers Vince. The colour is Imola Red (240?). I'll get some quotes / advice from local painters. I wouldn't attempt the exterior paint defects. I may give the rust spot on the boot a go. If it goes wrong then it's still hidden behind the lid.
I might also try the windscreen frame. It would be easy to mask up, and there's no blending in etc.
Kcrimson, i think it has done around 65000 miles.
I'm quite enjoying the car. Because it's not my main car, i'm under no time pressure to get jobs finished.
Cheers Vince. The colour is Imola Red (240?). I'll get some quotes / advice from local painters. I wouldn't attempt the exterior paint defects. I may give the rust spot on the boot a go. If it goes wrong then it's still hidden behind the lid.
I might also try the windscreen frame. It would be easy to mask up, and there's no blending in etc.
Kcrimson, i think it has done around 65000 miles.
I'm quite enjoying the car. Because it's not my main car, i'm under no time pressure to get jobs finished.
That is one rare car if it only has 65k on the clock.
The prices these go for these days is crazy. ten years ago nobody wanted them and you could pick them up for peanuts. It's not uncommon to see the rarer editions line the Ruby and Carlsson for £7k plus.
These cars go on forever.......
The prices these go for these days is crazy. ten years ago nobody wanted them and you could pick them up for peanuts. It's not uncommon to see the rarer editions line the Ruby and Carlsson for £7k plus.
These cars go on forever.......
That is lovely and so is the plate. My OH has no interest in cars at all but one she keeps pointing out every time we spot one is this shape Saab. Despite the hiccups, your Mum's one looks lovely. I hope you can get it all sorted and back as it should be without too much hassle and expense. Lovely car 
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