EnG Weekend Snippets
Well, it’s 3 AM and I’m awake because my 8-year-old daughter “couldn’t sleep”. Of course, she lasted all of three minutes after I put her back to bed, but now I’m up. Ah, well, time for some writing.
Before I get to the Saab stuff, let’s talk barbeque for a moment, shall we? I was in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex this week, and I was introduced to Hard Eight Bar-b-que in Coppell, Texas, just outside of Dallas. Great Texas barbeque. Really worth a little side trip if you’re ever in the area. You order standing at a HUGE grill stocked with an incredible variety of meats — Texas beef brisket, steaks, sausages, chicken, ribs, turkey, pork chops, etc. The grillmaster cuts up what you order and puts it onto the scales for pricing. You get as little or as much as you want. Get the jalapeno sausage — not very hot, just very flavorful. I also enjoyed the brisket — tender and juicy. Wash it down with some iced tea. Next time I’m getting the slow-cooked sirloin. Yummy.
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And, from just up the road in Norman, Oklahoma, comes this story about a teenaged owner of a restored 1973 Saab 96. Quite an oddity in the greater Oklahoma City area, I’m sure. He says that the 1700 cc V-4 in the car has parts very similar to the long-reviled Ford Pinto since the next generation of the Ford V-4 that was used in the Saab 96 was an engine of choice in the Pinto. (Shudders to think of parts from a Pinto installed in a Saab.)
The owner will be enrolling in college this fall at the University of Oklahoma (where else?). So, if you’re around, keep an eye out for the 96.
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At least one writer thinks that GM may be in trouble with the Chevrolet Volt. According to Michael Rainey, General Motors is so desperate for the plug-in hybrid to debut in 2010 that they have compressed the development schedule much too far. Far enough to jeopardize the car’s design if the battery development, which is being done in parallel with the vehicle design, doesn’t work out according to plan. He cites a very detailed article in the Atlantic on the subject. The Atlantic piece is mostly background information that regular TS readers will recognize, but it has some valid points.
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Regular reader Robin has made me aware of these additional photos of my inspiration for 9-5 cosmetic mods. Love it, except perhaps the under-the-hood stuff.
More after the break.
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Is there a secret message in this posting? The lines between the different sections looks like Morse code.
I agree on the under-hood stuff. Got to be done with taste and that’s just not my cup of tea, I’m afraid.
A ‘Pimped’ Saab - frightfully flash old boy.
However, each to their own- as long as it’s not mine…
The engine bay covers looks just ridiculous.(my opinion) Except from that, it’s an ok car.
GM is taking a big risk with the Volt for sure. Big risks can lead to big failure or big reward. Let’s hope GM hits a home run on this one.
Interestingly enough, in case you’re interested, Boeing developed the 747 airplane in a similar fashion. The airplane was developed at the same time as the first generation of turbo-fan jet engines. Had the engines not panned out, Boeing would have been toast. The volt, however, has some of GM’s finest Engineers working on it, or so we’re told. The 747 program was run by engineers that were talented enough, obviously, but all the “up and coming” engineers were working on Boeing’s supersonic jet program, which obviously didn’t really end up turning out.
The pinto never used a V-4. It used an inline 4.
He must be talking about the optional V-6.
Ford had a V-6 which was identical to the V-4 minus the balance shaft.
It was called a Taunus V-6 or Colonge V-6. It was also used in the early Mercury Capri. When I needed rocker arms and shafts for my V-4’s, I would order a set for the Mercury Capri (Saab’s were no longer available) And have a machine shop cut the shaft down to the V-4 length.
ctm: Yes. It spells out the true identity of Djup Strupe.
saabdoc: thankfully, I’m no expert on Pintos. Perhaps the new inline 4 had some parts in common with the V4? I don’t know.
eggs - you gotta like those colour matched door rub strips. takes 10 years off the age of the 9-5!
Aeronut: (In best Marv Albert voice) “Yesssss!!”
guy in the 9-5 photos totally matches his saab!
his engine bay looks like a heavy metal album. i bet when he opens the hood, it automatically plays iron maiden.
Blix: you gotta go Swedish — Yngwie Malmsteen.
Well, my first car was a Pinto wagon, back in ‘84.
Love the stealth look of that 9-5, until you open the hood…
Texas BBQ - that place sounds like Rudy’s based here in the San Antonio, TX area - now you’ve got my mouth watering/
Help !
I think I’m living in the past. Those black tinted windows, I never get used to them, even if they appear on every conrner of the street. Just not my cup of tea, I’m afraid. Not attracted by those features either, or curious about the piercings and tattoo’s under the bonnet. Even considering all bad critics about the 9-7, horrible fuel consumption aside, I could easyly live with that 9-7 monstrum, if it hadn’t those black tinted windows.
Personally, I’m smitten by his end 60’s & 70’s style subtle green shading.
Do I live in the past and have I need to see a shrink therefore ? (A Bertone GTV had it in option and a Montreal came standard with it I believe, not to mention a Maserati Khamsin or , do I dare to mention it over here, a BMW 3,0 csi…)
Acquaring a 99 might be a good cure for my black window disease.
Sure you all know these:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bd/1978-SAAB99GLE.jpg
http://www.saabhistory.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/saab_99_front_1970.jpg
http://www.saabhistory.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/1978_99_turbo_front.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b6/Saab_99_EMS_1974_(UK_Spec).jpg/800px-Saab_99_EMS_1974_(UK_Spec).jpghttp://www.tudorsmith.co.uk/images/99Turbo.jpg
http://www.virtual-toy-shop.com/Neo/Saab/99gron.JPG
http://www.saabsportclub.com/site/ssc_musee/auto/images/saab_99_05_1971_4p_auto.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/Saab_99_EMS_1974_(US_Spec).jpg/520px-Saab_99_EMS_1974_(US_Spec).jpg
Can someone help me out and has one for sale ? Low milage, well maintained, LHD, preferable in orange, leather seating and subtle green shaded windows. Turbo if possible.
Thanks in advance.