Before I really even knew what a Saab was, it was the off-beat nature of everything Saab-related that drew me in. This accessories catalogue from 1979 is a perfect example. Everyone of its 8 pages has something different, something destined to be retro-cool from that day it was made – even the ‘fashion’ page. I got this brochure on my […]
I don’t want to sound down about the future, but let’s just say the present ain’t looking all that great. BAIC bought technology from Saab just as the company was being sold by GM in 2009. It’s four years later and their vehicle based on the Saab 9-5 – called the Senova – has just been tested by Autocar magazine
Just when I’m making some real progress on my Fulvia search, along comes this Alfa Romeo 1300 GT Junior to distract me. It had a full restoration in the late 1990’s but is still looking remarkably good – and it’d want to given the $23,000 price tag. The 1300 engine has been replaced with a 2-litre Alfa engine for some
Anyone who lived in Victoria in the late 1980’s would remember the ad in the video below, from the State Bank of Victoria. The line “It’s your money, Ralph” became as common in regular conversation back then as “Not Happy, Jan!” became in offices around the country five years ago. —— The news broke last Friday (at 5pm, of course)
Given that my interest in Zagato-bodied cars is rising, the timing of this Petrolicious video couldn’t be better. It features none other than Andrea Zagato, the third generation to run the family business. He talks about Zagato’s styling and construction principles, as well as taking viewers for a ride in the absolutely beautiful Alfa Romeo 1900 SSZ. Tip – Andrea
I’m currently looking for a Lancia Fulvia. As they’re relatively rare in Australia (there’s one for sale publicly right now, detailed below) I’ve widened my search to include vehicles overseas. As I type this, I’m looking at three – maybe four – basic options. Your considered thoughts would be appreciated. But first, a look at what I consider to be
Yesterday saw another first Sunday of the month and therefore, another gathering of Classics By The Beach at Sandy Bay, Hobart. As per usual, it was a good mix of cars with a few regulars in attendance and some wonderful new additions. The undoubted highlight of the gathering was this Ford GT40 replica. It might ‘just’ be a replica, but
The alternative title for this post is “Opel prove how hard it is to build a new brand presence”. Opel preceded its arrival here in Australia (by six months!) by sponsoring one of our prominent football clubs. By the time the season finishes at the end of September, Opel’s sponsorship of the Melbourne Football Club will have lasted twice as
Here’s another quick nugget from my return trip with my Saab 9000 Aero. The Saab 900 Enduro is a bit like Bigfoot. Everyone’s heard of it, but 99.9% of the people – myself included – have never seen it. Last week, my visit to Saab Salvage in Sydney changed all that. I didn’t get to see an Enduro running, but
While bringing our Saab 9000 Aero back from Sydney, I called in on Bill and Jane P, some friends and Saab owners who live in southern New South Wales. When Bill’s Saab dealer closed a few years ago, Bill ended up as the beneficiary of a whole bunch of Saab promotional and technical material. Bill showed me through the collection
It’s the 1980s. There’s no internet so teenage petrolheads in Australia all read Wheels magazine to get their automotive kicks. There are all manner of car stories, interesting or otherwise, but as interesting as the stories might be, they are matched or sometimes outdone by the advertisements slotted in between them. There were few ads more exotic than those for
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