Date: Sat, 31 Mar 2007 14:54:14 GMT From: Paul Halliday <pjghnospamyonder.co.uk> Subject: Re: Two SAAB family again?
in article C2343290.7E3B%pjghnospamyonder.co.uk, Paul Halliday at pjghnospamyonder.co.uk wrote on 31/03/2007 15:45: > in article 5ShPh.114089$Ko5.32258nospamfe08.phx, Rod H at rodhoggnospamnet > wrote on 31/03/2007 01:23: > >> I have a boss that sez he wants a saab just like >> mine. but it has to be a convertible. I don't know if I have seen a 1985 >> convertible. (there is not that many cars of my era driving around in my >> neck of the woods). does anyone know the history of saab convertible. I >> know that for a while there were no american companys producing convertible. >> I thought it was in the 80's. > > I take it that your drive a 1985 model? "Tabitha" is a 1992 model year, BTW. > > Okay ... Here goes ... > > Before the SAAB 900 convertible existed, Lynx Engineering (based in the UK) > built two conversions; a red one and a blue one. I know the whereabouts of > the blue one, but the red one continues to elude me. > <http://www.pjgh.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/saab/specials/pages/1984_900i_lynx_con > vertible.html> > > Inspired, SAAB cooked up a production model convertible: > <http://www.pjgh.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/saab/specials/pages/1986_my_convertibl > e.html> > > These "flat nose" convertibles are rare ... Very rare. I have seen one or > two come up on eBay now and again, but don't expect to find one easily. That > said, they were in full production from late 1986, so finding one of the > early ones and retro-fitting a flat front - headlamps, grille, bumpers, side > stripes - would give the same effect. > > I have seen an odd looking convertible that had the flat front bumpers and > side stripes fitted, but the sloped headlamps were left on. That was a > custom job and actually it looked pretty sharp. > > Where are you from? Certain markets got particularly desirable convertibles, > as special editions. > > Springtime in Sweden (1988) US Market: > <http://www.pjgh.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/saab/specials/pages/1988_sis.html> > Monte Carlo (1991) US ... The European Markets: > <http://www.pjgh.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/saab/specials/pages/1991_monte_carlo.h > tml> > 900S Aero (1993) UK Market (part of "The Classic Collection): > <http://www.pjgh.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/saab/specials/pages/1993_900s_aero_con > vertible_uk_special.html> > 900 T16S Aero (1993) UK Market (again, part of "The Classic Collection"): > <http://www.pjgh.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/saab/specials/pages/1993_t16s_converti > ble_uk_special.html> > Commemorative Edition (CET) (1994) US Market: > <http://www.pjgh.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/saab/specials/pages/1994_cet_convertib > le.html> > > 1994 was the final model year for the classic 900 convertible. It overran > the production of the hard top by one year, while the new GM/SAAB 900 > convertible was prepared. Oh duh! Yes ... Valmet cooked up the prototype for SAAB, who put it into production. I have yet to write the page for Valmet's contribution to the classic 900, but in the meantime: <http://www.saabphotos.com/gallery/Orca_C900SE/Valmet_Convertible_001> <http://www.saabphotos.com/gallery/Orca_C900SE/Valmet_Convertible_002> ... at the little Valmet museum in Finland. They made up a full C900 limousine (as distinct from the CD model) and experimented with a twin B202 engine V8 ... And ... A 1600CC B201 (8V) engine!!! There's also some talk of a Dutch edition, known as the "Royal Viking", but I have yet to confirm that one. I think it was a dealer edition: <http://www.saabphotos.com/gallery/albums/Orca_C900SE/11515852_2_big_gen.jpg > <http://www.saabphotos.com/gallery/albums/Orca_C900SE/11515852_4_big_gen.jpg > Paul 1989 900 Turbo S http://saab.go.dyndns.org/
