Once upon a time, we prepared a 1977 Saab 99 for rally dirtiness.
Race cars rarely stay together for long periods of time, and once again our Saab’s engine needed to be pulled.
After we prepared our Saab 99 in only 90 days, it was time to take it to two more rally events—even if they were only two weeks apart.
Sure, our 1977 Saab 99 finished the rally in one piece, but it wasn’t exactly setting any speed records.
Before our Saab could participate in its first event, there were a few final preparations to make it truly rally-ready.
Safety preparation is a major undertaking in a rally car. While car-on-car violence very rarely happens in stage rally competition, there is precious little runoff room on those special stages.
Our Saab needed some suspension R&R before we could take it rallying.
When our Saab 99 came into our lives, it looked pretty decent with just a little bit of rust. Repairing those spots, however, left us with bare sheet metal that …
A historic class Saab 99 seemed like the perfect mix of the fun, the wacky and the inexpensive. Back in the day, this was the chassis of choice for many …
Our Saab will be leaving our showroom soon!
Our Saab is done--and for sale.
Our Saab gets a new engine--again.
Our first DNF at a Rally.
Getting our 1977 Saab 99 ready for a tarmac rally next weekend.
Entry sent in for next rally!
Our Saab 99 gets cleaned up for some time in the new office showroom.
Upgrading to Saab 900 Turbo brakes
Our rally Saab gets a new front engine mount.
A selection of photos from Lorne Trezise and some in-car video from STPR
We successfully finished our first Rally America event at STPR in Wellsboro, PA
We finished our Saab project car's second rally with no major issues.
Reengineering the Saab's warm-up regulator gives us control over the air/fuel ratio.
Our new engine is running strong.
We may be outgunned, but never out-funned.
We balance size and weight vs. durability when choosing a new battery for our Saab rally car.
We're working through our latest Saab checklist, and post some video from the Sandblast Rally.
We look over what we've done since the Sandblast Rally, and figure out what we need to do next.
We love our readers. Sometimes they really go above and beyond....
We make a big push to get our little rally Swede's drivetrain back together and in the car.
After 11 months of ownership, Per contemplates how far he's come, and how far can too far go. Meanwhile, the engine build begins.
We pull the Saab's engine and make a few discoveries
Fitting a limited-slip differential to our Saab 99.
We get boxes of parts and a nicely ported head for our upcoming Saab engine build.
We get order some hotter engine parts, and dig up some suspension goodies, too.
Taking it apart is half the fun.
So how much did we break?
Our Saab rocked at the Sandblast Rally.
Sandblast, here we come.
With a new exhaust system, we're ready.
We're looking for power... Still looking.
And an autocross to try it out.
The Saab shakedown continues.
We're off to a good start.
We're almost there.
We must have gained five horsepower, right?
Details, details.
New seats are on the way.
Our latest Saab shenanigans.
Keeping track?
A high-tech bit of rally equipment for our vintage Saab.
Dashboards are helpful.
We make a list, and check it twice.
How to flock at home.
Painting a cage isn't easy.
We make our Saab's roll cage even stronger.
Counting down to our first rally in the Saab.
Our Saab gets gusseted up.
Reinforcing our Saab.
Our Saab roll cage is in.
Our Saab is a stripper.
It's done, and in the Saab.
We begin building our custom skidplates.
Tweaking our skidplate.
Our Saab skidplate is almost ready to go in.
It's all coming together.
We make a lot of headway on the Saab's suspension.
We get some new wheels for our on-road adventures.
Good to go... and stop.
We re-route all the Saab's brake lines.
Dry ice -- sound deadening's worst enemy.
We “yump” ahead.
We rework the Saab's suspension and take care of a few other issues.
Rally tires on Shelby wheels look tough.
Our ATL fuel cell goes in.
Saab goodies arrive right as we leave.
We're going with a fuel cell.
Our fuel tank gives us a scare.
Our little Saab starts to look the rally car part.
We put the bumpers – and a few additions – on the Saab.
We love it when it all comes together.
Followed by wet sanding.
We strip our Saab.
We source 11 Shelby wheels.
We're almost ready to spray.
Our hoses sucked.
Saab bodywork continues.
Work on the Saab has been slow lately, so watch the tube...
Getting back in shape.
Now if we can just find three more.
The bodywork continues
Gary and Tim bring back goodies from Carlisle.
Pertronix rocks.
Before there is dirt, there will be mud.
Thank you, dead Saab 900.
We love Lamin-X.
Our plug wires were shockingly bad.
We hit the show circuit and discover the Saab may be more at home in the dirt.
The last battle in the bodywork war.
What, you don't reinstall windows for the drive to work?
Bondo: a bad sign.
New steel. Now with less holes.
We'd almost forgotten how much fun points can be.
We put in a new radiator and make the wheels look nice.
Fitting a tach to our Saab.
We're legal.
And still more bodywork.
Taking a break, and taking stock.
There's no substitute for steel.
We get to work on our classic Swede.
Getting up to speed on vintage Saabs.
When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.
Now to get everything else ready.
