1969-1984 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
 | [Main Saab Model 99 Bulletin Board | BBFAQ |
Prev by Date | Next by Date | Post Followup ]
Member Login / Signup - Members see fewer ads. - Latest Member Gallery Photos
Re: How to assess worthy 99 project car? Posted by DougM [Email]  (#211)  [Profile/Gallery]
(more from DougM) on Thu, 4 Dec 2003 12:21:56
In Reply to: How to assess worthy 99 project car?, David Ingram, Thu, 4 Dec 2003 10:25:57 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
Thanks to the internet, I have found two basket cases and brought them both back to life. The internet and TSN have also helped in securing the parts and some knowledge needed to re-build both cars.
My 73 was found in a field in West Virginia thanks to a tip from Chip Lamb of West of Sweden Saab. The interior and all the exposed rubber parts were trashed from sun damage, and it had a blown motor. The body was alsmost rust free. Fortunate for me, I had been sitting on a 74EMS for six years, which had a good interior and motor, but the body had seen better days. I was in the process of repairing all the rust, until I made that call to Chip Lamb. Nine months later, $5000, and 1500 hours, I had a completely restored 99.
My 75EMS was found here in the classifieds, and it was only 45 minutes from my house. 62k miles one owner car, mint interior, good running engine, and smooth shifting transmission. It was bashed all to hell, and needed extensive bodywork. I do body and paint, so I jumped on the purchase. Six months later, $3500, and another 1500 hours, I have another gorgeous 99.
What is your skill level with automobile repair? I do 99.9% of my own work, which keeps the costs of the restorations down to just parts purchases.
What to look for if you do happen to find a 99. In my opinion a good interior is a must, though there are some good upholstery shops that can make new seat covers. I saw a perfect example of this at SOC03 on a 78 Turbo. The couple paid $2500 to have the seats re-done, and it was perfect, but that is one expense I could do without.....and rust...I'd stay away from a badly rusted body. Common places it can be found - door bottoms, wheel lips, rear shock towers, lower trunk wells, inner wheel wells where the mudflaps collect dirt, rocker panels. All rust can be repaired, the more rust, the more money it takes.
A good running engine is a plus, but almost everything needed to make it run like a top is still available through the site sponsors here. Another thing to watch for is a smooth shifting transmission, as parts to re-build a 4spd are getting extremely hard to find, if they even exist anymore. I'd stay away from automatic transmission too.
I have a few thousand pictures linked below....feel free to browse at your leisure.
posted by 68.68.16...
, Thu, 4 Dec 2003 12:21:56 <-- Viewing This Message
No Site Registration is Required to Post - Site Membership is optional (Member Features List), but helps to keep the site online
for all Saabers. If the site helps you, please consider helping the site by becoming a member.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
