For Sale
Modified 1968 Saab 96 DeLuxe
This one of a kind vintage Saab (affectionately named Ruby) started life as a red 1968 Model 96 DeLuxe. It was rescued from a barn in Massachusetts in 2002 and brought to my garage in upstate NY. Over the next 4 years she was completely dismantled, rebuilt, and modified. This project was not a strict restoration endeavor but rather an exercise in modifying both the esthetics and functionality of the classic 96. I like to think the finished product gives respect to both the racing and performance heritage of Saab as well as the under appreciated design elements of this timeless Swedish charmer. At least that was my intent. Ruby was never meant to be a show car (although she has won her fair share of awards) but rather a driver. A car that excels on the twisty country roads where I live and also looks great in the driveway. I hope that whoever decides to buy her garners as much joy from driving and caring for this unique beauty as I did making it.
This 96 earned first place in the Peoples Choice Open competition at the 2006 Saab Owners Convention as well as the Walter Kern Award for design at the same event. She has also won numerous ribbons at local and regional events.
A complete listing of renovations and modifications is too long to list here, but a brief accounting includes:
- Customized aftermarket fiberglass fenders with extra clearance for wider tires.
- Customized aftermarket front air dam/spoiler with modified mounting brackets and Dzus fasteners.
- Custom front grill with one of a kind Saab "airplane" logo cut-outs installed and modified as running/directional lights.
- "Amazon" style vents installed in hood to improve airflow through engine bay.
- Rear spoiler from early Saab 900 modified to fit on rear deck lid.
- Painted custom blended RED! using PPG Concept urethane paint and buffed using only slow speed random orbital polisher pads and increasingly finer grades of polish.
- Rare 4 bolts hubs from 1966 96 Super Sport.
- Dual piston front brake cylinders professionally rebuilt.
- Stock 1968 brake master cylinder professionally rebuilt.
- New aftermarket front brake rotors.
- High performance Hawk brake front brake pads.
- NOS rear brake shoes.
- New rear brake cylinders.
- Aftermarket stainless brake hoses to all wheels.
- Entire suspension lowered and tightened by removing one turn of the stock springs.
- Nylon bushings in upper and lower A arms of front suspension.
- Sport and Rally design modified/re-enforced front suspension upper and lower A arms.
- Bilstein shocks at all wheels.
- Buyer has choice of either silver Ronal "MiniLite" style wheels from a pre-88 Saab 900 with new Kumho ECSTA MX 205/50ZR15 tires, or gold BBS wheels with used 225/50R15 tires.
- Optima "Red" battery with custom installation and secure mounting under right rear seat.
- Custom wiring modifications include relay and wiring for electric cooling fan with manual over-ride switch adapted into stock dash switches.
- Hella H4 front head lenses with 100w/80w halogen lamps.
- Custom LED lamps mounted behind front grill behind "airplane" cut-outs as running/directional lights.
- Rear lights "smoothed" or "frenched" into rear fenders using Hella lenses and custom mounting brackets.
- All "DeLuxe" model gauges (includes Tachometer) cleaned, serviced, and rebuilt as necessary.
- New gauges include Auto Meter Sport-Comp type mechanical Oil Pressure gauge (with re-enforced copper tubing line to pressure sensor) and Volt Meter.
- Custom high powered system installed using high grade cables and switches.
- Blaupunkt Casablanca receiver mounted in glove box using correct door with CD/MP3 and Aux Input (iPod) capabilities.
- 2 - 6x9 Sony Explode speakers mounted in rear window deck.
- 2 - Alpine 6 3/4" round mid-range speakers mounted in front doors.
- 2 - Alpine directional high range speakers mounted in front doors.
- Infinity Reference 611a amplifier (456w RMS x1) installed under rear seat with 2 gauge wire and in-line fuse.
- 10" Infinity Reference 1050w bass speaker professionally installed in Bazooka tube with internal modifications to match tube space mounted behind rear seat.
- Multiple noise reducing panels mounted inside front doors, behind quarter panels, inside roof, and trunk space.
- Aftermarket dash pad in perfect condition.
- New aftermarket headliner.
- New door, window, and trunk seals.
- Custom rubber underlayment covering entire interior floor.
- New masonite floor panels and trunk floor panels.
- New custom carpets with drivers foot pad.
- New custom trunk liner made from marine grade waterproof material.
- New Corbeau A4 seats custom mounted on diamond plate steel plates.
- Vintage leather steering wheel with Mota Lita hub in excellent condition.
- Cooling system modified to accept larger post '69 Saab radiator.
- Exhaust system modified with Motor Sports Service headers with custom Ceramic Coating to reduce engine bay heat and improve airflow speed.
- 2" straight aluminized tail pipe.
- Stainless Steel SuperTrapp racing exhaust with adjustable back pressure plates to fine tune engine power band.
The sale price includes a strong stock V4 motor and gearbox. If the buyer would rather take the car without a motor (install your own modified engine) I can reduce the sale price by $500.00.
Now to preemptively answer the obvious question: if this car is so cool, why would you want to sell it? Well, I really don’t want to. I have started a new car restoration project however and know there is only so much room in my stable for super cool cars. I’d like to see Ruby find a good home where it will be appreciated and cared for as well as driven on a regular basis. I consider $10,000.00 to be a more than fair price for this car. Take it from me, if you where to try to build one like it you would spend a lot more than 10K.
Extensive photos are available by request to serious inquiries only. Shipping can be arranged by the buyer, but I strongly recommend the buyer inspect the car before purchasing. This is a one of a kind car and will require a one of a kind owner.
Price: $10,000.00 firm.
Contact: via e-mail.
