Long day March 2000 to many dead-lines to many hours. This pretty much described my days for most of this year. Building a new plant, first employee, Plant Engineer. Along with the pressures of proving myself to my new employer I had the responsibilities of over seeing the construction of their new facility in North America. A German company, my colleagues in Germany would ask "why a Saab?", why not a "Good German car?" though the thought crossed my mind it wasn't the top of my list. It wasn't my first Saab, that was a 1986 900, not much of a car, it was a "gift" from a friend and my wife and I needed a second car bad. Once I got the 86 home I started to think of things to do to it, why didn't it have the headlamps like all the Saabs I've seen? was it a different model? What do I need to do to the Saab to make it look like the style of Saab that I see in the parking lots around town?

      My first Saab the 1986 was a very used car, our "friend" said it was a good car and only needed a couple of things. Ok, I said to myself "a couple of things" no problem, I would make a list, roll up my sleeves and get to work... First on the list.. some kind of manual, hey...I said to myself the 1987 models have the headlamps I like...and the little rear wing....no problem when I get the car running I'd find some parts to make my 86 look like a newer one. Well it never got that far...I made my list...Front brakes, complete...and struts, timing chain, exhaust from the cat back, rear brakes...Oh, and weld the frame all back together, I had my work cut out for me and this didn't include replacing the interior that the dog ate. While all this was taking place I had started to read, read everything, about Saabs and looking for a parts car to fix my new 86 Saab 900.

      One day about a week into the "don't worry honey, I think we can fix it up" I found a 1988 900 turbo parts car at a local Saab garage...$300.00 and I brought it home...Opps...did the guy forget to tell me that the 88 and the 86 really didn't have a hole lot in common? Still, something came over me, the shape of the car, the way the hood opened...these cars had class. Still so much to do and we needed a car bad. I kept looking, kept reading, one day and add read in the local paper- For Sale 1988 SPG - SPG? what's an SPG, ok lets go look at it...maybe between the 86, the 900 turbo and this mystery car, the SPG, I could make one good Saab out of the three. I called the guy and he told me a lot of people have been calling about it, but if I wanted to come look at it he would be home that night. Told the wife I was going to look at another parts car to fix up the 86 and believe me, that was tough enough. When I arrived at the guys house I didn't see any Saabs, ok, no problem maybe it got sold before I got there. I went to the door and told him that I was here to look at the Saab...He took me out to his garage, while we were walking I was getting the cars history, how his brother bought it new, how his brother would fix everything and how only dealerships would be the one's to fix it, hey he only wanted $4000.00 and I still had the idea of fixing up my 86 and using parts from all three cars...Until he opened the garage door...That was it...Even for all the dust on the body I could see this was my car. It was black, had really cool rims, the headlamp style I like and Hey !!! there is that "little wing". Original miles he said, needs an oil change, he said, after that I don't remember if he was talking or if I was got lost in this car...my dream car, the car that would show everyone that I had a good job, and was able to drive "A Saab".... After going through the car and smelling that leather, not the same smell as the 86 if you know what I mean. I wanted this car...Still, $4000.00? where was I going to get $4000.00? I just started a new job...He was still going on and on about the car, then out of the blue I heard, "I'd take $2700.00 if you'd buy it right now". I was prepared for $200.00 maybe even $300.00....but $2700.00? this was supposed to be another parts car...Ok, I thought fast, I had our check book, I could write him a check, $2700.00, there was about $1000.00 in the bank, but it might buy me some time...Who do I make the check out to? I got home that night, exited, nervous (I still had some explaining to do to my wife) but I just might of bought the car of my dreams...I had until the next night to pick up the car and to give him the balance of the money. I called everyone, friends, family....Mom...and by the next morning I had all the money...My wife and I went to get the car that night..She said that she has never seen me smile so much...We both knew, I had found the car of my dreams...

     Well I got the car home, sat in it most of the night....next day I started to clean her up, wash, wax leather conditioner the works...nothing was to good for my baby, every night I would be doing something to her, exploring her, learning about her, reading all the receipts from since the car was new, looking through the original Saab brochure. I was a happy man. What ever this car needed she got... I drove this car and was proud, felt safe with my children when they were sitting in the back seat or when my wife took it to the store - as long as she wasn't gone to long- Well that was the way it was for about four months, then one night driving home at around midnight on a Friday night after a 90 hour work week and half way through my hour drive home..it happened...BANG...that's all I heard, when I came to, I saw a tree about 3 inches from my face, and I was on my side, the seat belt was holding me in and I tried to reach for my cell phone, had to call some one, call my wife, call anybody....all the phone said was "no service", stupid phone...After fighting my way out of the car and walking up the bank onto the street...it hit me...Oh my god...my car...It was a country back road so I was alone... I started to walk down the street, maybe if I walked I could get this cell phone to get a signal. I was shaken up, about 20 feet down the road I decided to sit for awhile and keep trying the phone. During this time I didn't see the car stop and the driver get out, he went down to my Saab and was yelling...Is everyone all right!!!!????? Anyone hurt!!!!????? I didn't answer, I was to busy trying that stupid phone...Then I heard another car and another, I heard...look for a body...there has to be a body somewhere...they had to get thrown from the car !!!!! No one could of lived through that.....Look for bodies !!!! I walked back towards the car, before anyone could fall into that bank and get hurt, still shaking up abit I said "I'm your body", I'm the driver....He asked was there anyone else? no I said I'm it.... After about 20 minutes the police, fire department and an ambulance showed up...The fire department cut her positive cable, the Medic had me sit in the ambulance and looked me over, he said, if he didn't know any better he would of never guessed I was driving that car, he said I should be dead....my answer...it's a Saab...maybe not the most intelligent answer, but it was true... Finally the police...He asked where you drinking? some one hit you? what happened? I fell asleep, I fell asleep and wrecked my Saab, my baby, my dream car.....Unsafe movement to the right, a warning....He took me home.... The next day I went down to the towing company and asked about her, you were the driver? they asked...yes now what about my car? I went over and looked, spent an hour just looking..went home and told my wife that I couldn't bare thinking about the car sitting there and I wanted to bring her home...They towed the car to my house and we put it in the driveway... Most of that day passed and later in the evening I decided I wanted her in the garage, I didn't have to open the hood, it was hanging off the side, put an extra tire I had on her and was going to push her inside, where it was safe. She didn't roll very well because of the twisted lower control arm in fact she wasn't about to roll at all. Then I figured why not hook up the battery cable and see if she'll start? so I did and without any hesitation she started right up...I ran into the house and got my wife....The car was running in the driveway...I told her see that's way it's a Saab, show me any other car that could do this....It's a Saab... and this Saab saved my life....well it's been a year and that SPG is still hanging around, getting ready to take apart...won't be fixing up the 86 900, but I won't be taking her to a junk yard either... Still think about that night once in awhile...that car saved my life....I hope if it ever happens again that my 9000 will do the same for me, I won't be driving anything else, I've been sold for life.

Rhich Barth

When at last I had parted her, this was what remained.
I called her then my Saab wheel barrel.