craig1010cc
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,993
Club RR Member Number: 35
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Saab 96. craig1010cc
@craig1010cc
Club Retro Rides Member 35
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There is no more risk to having a smash in a classic as there was when it was new, if your wearing a seatbelt and have a crash you will be ok. Way I look at it is this, new cars have the internal safety features added eg airbag but from a construction point of view modern cars are made of a lot more plastic than a classic car. I reckon in a crash a modern car would come of worst compared to a classic. I think you are worrying too much You'd think, but have a look at a Volvo 940 V's renault modus Cracking Saab though, I would advise checking your insurance 1st before installing a cage though, and you should also really have decent buckets and harnesses to prevent you or your passenger head butting the cage in an accident
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Saab 96. Knugcab
@volvo544special65
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To be honest, I don't think that a cage would help very much in everyday situations. The Saab is of a very sturdy construction, and I would gladly roll it or collide with a moose than I would in most cars up to the 90s at least.
I see some other weak points in a Saab 96 safety-wise...
* It is lighter than most cars you'll meet on the road today. If you're driving at 30 mph, and you'll meet a heavier car driving the same speed, the Saab will take more of the energy, so for the Saab, it will be equal to driving into a brick wall at a higher speed than 30 mph, while it will be equal to driving into a brick wall at slower speed for the heavier car. A cage will not compensate much for that.
* There is not much of a crumple zone up front. I know that in the 40s when the car was originally designed, nobody thought about energy absorbing crumple zones as we do today, but regardless of that, you only have a very short bonnet in front of you, not much that will give, and the stop will be very sudden. A cage would not help there either.
* Small inside and close to hard surfaces to strike. In this case, a cage will probably be more harm than good in case you don't wear a helmet.
It will not matter at all if the passenger compartment stays intact if the g-forces still will kill you.
The Saab is probably very safe compared to Minors, 2CVs and Beetles, cars with similar size engineered in the same era. It is also much safer than a motorcycle. If you compare it to larger vehicles that were available in the 70s when the 96 was still made, like 240 Volvos, W123 or Granadas, it is probably toast, not to mention compared to about every car made today, except maybe some chinese jokes.
There is differences in safety even among retros, I have a folder from Folksam 1984, where they have collected data from real world accidents to see which cars that did fare best. The injury risk value is "100" in the average car. The best car is Mercedes W123 with a value of 30 to 40. IIRC, the Saab did fare slightly worse than the average car with a value of 140 to 150 and the worst car was the Datsun 120Y with a value of 220 to 260.
So if I was scared about driving around in a Saab 96, I would probably get another car. Not that I ever would be that, so...
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194? Willys Jeep MB 1965 Volvo 544 Special 1968 Opel Rekord 1975 Opel Kadett Estate 1985 Mercedes-Benz 230E 1985 Datsun 720 King Cab 4x4 diesel 1997 Volvo S70 2.5SE (ex. "Volvo544special65" - changed to more reader friendly username. )
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Oh I remember that 5th gear episode didn't stop me buying a Volvo 740 though. Still prefer to drive the Volvo or my Saab than a Modus. Don't really do French cars although I do have a soft spot for the original Twingo!!! Don't hate me for that. As far as a roll cage goes I've been around Motorsport enough to appreciate that harnesses, buckets and lots of padding are required. This one definitely won't be getting one as would rather start from a blank canvas if I was building a rally car. Would love to but I've neither the time, patience or facilities so it's unlikely to happen. The Saabs too nice to start messing about with. Of course modern cars are just going to demolish a classic in an accident even at a low speed. But you have to enjoy life so I will still drive my classics as and when I want to. At least with the Saab most just stop and stare as they have never seen one before so you're unlikely to be missed. Witness the article in the Classic Car Show the other week when the guy drove a Corvette Stingray and an Audi R8 (I think) around London. The Audi was invisible but everyone could see the Vette. Even van and bus drivers let it out at junctions.
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YAY!! Another classic Saab owner on here. Nice looking 96 you've got there Peter96. Wish mine was that tidy.
Bookmarked ;-)
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1964 Saab 96 two Stroke 1971 Hillman Avenger 1500 GL (Tuned 1600 fitted) 1976 Saab 99 2dr EMS (Project of very slow progress) 1978 Saab 99 2dr EMS (Awaiting reshell) 1981 Saab 99 2dr Turbo (Awaiting reshell)
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Saab 96. Knugcab
@volvo544special65
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Of course modern cars are just going to demolish a classic in an accident even at a low speed. Last summer there was a quite violent frontal crash not far from where I live between a 1963 Pontiac Bonneville and a quite modern BMW 3-series, think that it was an E46. And yup, the Pontiac looked like the BMW had plowed right through it. On the other hand, the driver in the BMW (alone in the car) was killed, as well as the driver and the passenger in the Pontiac, so in this case, the safety of the modern car really was no benefit anymore.....
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194? Willys Jeep MB 1965 Volvo 544 Special 1968 Opel Rekord 1975 Opel Kadett Estate 1985 Mercedes-Benz 230E 1985 Datsun 720 King Cab 4x4 diesel 1997 Volvo S70 2.5SE (ex. "Volvo544special65" - changed to more reader friendly username. )
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Cheers guys. What about that 96 of yours madwelshman have you made any progress with it.
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s24.photobucket.com/user/peterhwilson/media/imagejpg6_zpsed5ef58a.jpg.html] [/URL]
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s24.photobucket.com/user/peterhwilson/media/imagejpg2_zps4127bb1c.jpg.html] [/URL]
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s24.photobucket.com/user/peterhwilson/media/imagejpg1_zps0dc6abdd.jpg.html] [/URL]
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There is no more risk to having a smash in a classic as there was when it was new, if your wearing a seatbelt and have a crash you will be ok. Way I look at it is this, new cars have the internal safety features added eg airbag but from a construction point of view modern cars are made of a lot more plastic than a classic car. I reckon in a crash a modern car would come of worst compared to a classic. I think you are worrying too much You'd think, but have a look at a Volvo 940 V's renault modus Cracking Saab though, I would advise checking your insurance 1st before installing a cage though, and you should also really have decent buckets and harnesses to prevent you or your passenger head butting the cage in an accident Naa, Saabs are solid, so are the Volvos but the majority of manufacturers had a pretty cavalier attitude towards safe construction of bodyshells in the 60s / 70s / 80s. If you think about the two possible approaches they are very different. First way, how most cars were built, the car has to stand on four wheels without folding in the middle, hold an engine and transmission and that's about it. The second way, the car must have a passenger safety cell, must be able to withstand a roll, must have crumple zones which can dissipate impact force - it's a wholly different philosophy. Even supposedly quality cars weren't all built with a nod towards safe construction.
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Cheers guys. What about that 96 of yours madwelshman have you made any progress with it. My 96, progress, mmmm, not much at all. I lost my job at the end of September last year and although am working again now, bank balance, time, etc haven't allowed me to do much with the car for a loooong time. When I got it, it had been in a garage (dry garage thankfully) since the 80's. All electrics work, the engine cranks over, but I haven't had it running as yet. Here's the thread I started months ago (embarrassingly). retrorides.proboards.com/thread/161013/1973-saab-96-latest-saveAltogether, I've got 5x Saab 99's and 1x 96 V4. I have a Silver 1974 Saab 99 EMS that is much closer to the road and will hopefully be road legal before the end of this year. Once that's done, I'll make a start on the 96. Your 96 looks REALLY nice. So good to see them on the road and being used. Will
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1964 Saab 96 two Stroke 1971 Hillman Avenger 1500 GL (Tuned 1600 fitted) 1976 Saab 99 2dr EMS (Project of very slow progress) 1978 Saab 99 2dr EMS (Awaiting reshell) 1981 Saab 99 2dr Turbo (Awaiting reshell)
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That's some collection of classic Saabs you have there. It'll be good to see photos of the 99 EMS. I'm trying hard not to go and look at a couple of 900s that are for sale here at the moment. Its maybe a good thing I was out if action this weekend as dosed with the cold. Didn't fancy crawling around under ageing Swedes'.
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Mar 14, 2015 18:14:56 GMT
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After lying idle for about six weeks dragged the Saab out of the lockup to see if it would start. Checked the levels, as I have a slight drip from the engine, and turned it over for a bit with no choke. Pulled choke out and fired first time. Tyre pressures were a bit low so took it to the local filling station and topped up the pressures. As the local MG Car Club were running an autotest today at Delamont Counrty Park I decided to drive down in the Saab and watch what was going on for an hour. Delamont is about 25 miles away from me and unfortunately I had to cross Belfast to get there. Thankfully the car performed faultlessly in the heavy traffic. It's a nice drive once out of the city over Co Downs drumlins. There was a fairly good entry of mainly Midgets an MX 5s. Some of the driving skills are amazing especially James Wilsons black and white Mini. Had to leave after an hour and it looked like the V8 BGT had succumbed to a mechanical problem as was being winched onto a trailer as I was leaving. In fact coming home through Killyleagh Mike Adams' old hillclimb/sprint 1500 Midget was parked at the side of the road. I was tempted to look at it when it came up for sale last year but I've only room for one classic. Hope you enjoy the photos.
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Mar 14, 2015 18:17:37 GMT
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Saab parked up overlooking the pits
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Mar 14, 2015 18:21:14 GMT
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James Wilson's very rapid Mini. The speed this car can change direction is amazing.
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Mar 14, 2015 18:23:27 GMT
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Some of the competing Midgets.
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Mar 14, 2015 18:27:28 GMT
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s24.photobucket.com/user/peterhwilson/media/image.jpg8_zpsoisa9cmp.jpg.html] [/URL]
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Mar 14, 2015 18:29:42 GMT
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s24.photobucket.com/user/peterhwilson/media/image.jpg7_zpsxek9hspq.jpg.html] [/URL]
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Mar 14, 2015 18:31:10 GMT
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s24.photobucket.com/user/peterhwilson/media/image.jpg7_zpsxek9hspq.jpg.html] [/URL]
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