Posted on 12/07/2006 1:01:32 PM PST by Responsibility2nd
Peter Gilbert of Glendale, Wisconsin drove his 1989 Saab 900 SPG a little more than 1,001,385 miles, according to a Saab verification.
Gilbert originally purchased the Saab new in November 1989 after the divorce of his wife. He says the car survived eight collisions with deer, one claiming the radiator of his car.
Perhaps the success of Gilbert's ride can be attributed to his meticulous care regiment. For example, Gilbert only used premium synthetic oil in oil changes, and changed his tires every 45,000 miles. Not to mention, he strictly followed the maintenance schedule.
Gilbert donated his prized possession to the Wisconsin Automotive Museum. He says the transmission was rebuilt at 200,000 miles and the hood and a few other parts were replaced after the deer collisions, but otherwise the car sports its original equipment.
So, why is he retiring his ride after all the years of service?
"There was no point in driving the car any longer," he said. "Even though it might have gone another million miles."
Wisconsin's winter seasons took their toll on the Saab. Apparently, the road salt had rusted its frame. Maybe the next time he came across a deer, he might not be so lucky.
If you'd like to see Gilbert's car, you're going to have to make a little road trip of your own to the Hartford museum in Wisconsin. Before Gilbert donated his car to the Wisconsin Automotive museum, he made sure it looked as good as new. The museum houses a number of rare vehicles, including a Nash built in Kenosha in 1916.
Don't worry, Gilbert won't have to walk now that he turned in his coach. He is the proud owner of a newer Saab--with a few less miles.
Awesome.
I owned a Mazda in the 1970s with a rotary engine that lasted 1,200 miles before the engine blew up. The second engine blew after 300 miles. The third was going strong at 2,500 miles before I sold it for a good price to a collector. Never had the opportunity to change the oil. Maybe I was required to change the oil everytime I emptied the ashtray.
Oh, well.
ping
My cousin`s a rural carrier here in town,drives a Jimmy with about
105,000 on it.
He carries brake shoes in the truck with him on his unbelievably large route
and can replace them he says in 40 mins.
Rural carriers have my admiration, cars going by you with inches to spare.
The first set of pads went 10 weeks on a 25 mile town route. I replaced them with a $9.95 from Autozone that lasted 10 months!
I used to do fleet maintence for 6 P-30's like the one I purchased; I could do the front pads (both sides) in under 30 minutes (usually done twice a year/30,000 miles), while the rear shoes took 1.5 hours/side (only done yearly/80,000 miles).
>>'73 Saab that lasted 101 miles
So between your experience and the guy in the article, I could expect a Saab to last about 500,743 miles.
I can think of one 4X4 built in the past 30 years that may well have gotten them out on it's own power. A stock 1978 Chevy K-5 Blazer full time 4X4 automatic that did not have lockouts installed. They were purposely built high off the ground from the factory and IMO is the best all around stock 4X4 ever built by an American manufacture. 350 V-8 with plenty of power too.
I've owned two and nobody is getting the one I have now even though it is a straight shift 3 speed with a granny low. I've taken mine through 2 feet of snow up the side of a ridge and it didn't even put up a fuss. The newer SUV's though you're likely right. The original Blazers were one of a kind. The new ones come no where close.
anal-retentive, cheap bastard...that's probably why his wife divorced him!
Some colonel of truth here.
Some colonel of truth here.
So? It's not a major error.
Captain this photo.
Gotta love those Saabs! That is all I have driven since 1980.
Probably why he hasn't been able to afford a new car since 1989...
,,, good point!
Welcome back. Anything we should know about the next millennium?
(Besides buying Saab stock for the long term investment?)
PING
SAAB's lost their "uniqueness" when GM bought them in the 90's. This guy's 900 is an SPG for Special Performance Group, kind of a limited edition version. Note that Saabs were originally designed by aircraft engineers. The ignition switch for this car is on the floor between the two front seats, thus ergonomically grouping the things your right hand needs to get going: Key/ignition switch, handbrake, gearshift.
We owned SAAB's in our family from early 70's (including a 2-stroke 95) until the 90's. My brother in law still drives a GM SAAB.
Al Bundy would be proud.
Saab or Subaru, hard to tell from the helecopter pics. Thanks
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