Grandma Margit Loves Speed and Her 1965 Saab 96

RINGKØBINGLØBET is Denmark’s oldest, largest and most prestigious meeting for classic cars and motorcycles – run every year without interruption since 1968 – and always on the last weekend in July with the participation of up to 150 vehicles.

This year’s “Ringkøbingløbet 2022” meeting was held like every year on the last weekend of July, and this year for the 54th time. And at the meeting, among other numerous car enthusiasts, 83-year-old grandmother Margit Andersen took part with her favorite Saab 96 car, and that was her 26th participation.

As always, for the needs of this year’s gathering, 83-year-old Margit Andersen has, according to tradition, made the journey from Herning to Ringkøbing in her red Saab 96. On this occasion, this lively grandmother revealed to the local media that even though she is over 80 years old, she still adores the feeling of speed: – I like to drive fast, but I also like to keep the speed, says the Hernings native, who is dressed as Laura from Matador to complete the story of the aging classic car.

Little Red Lively Saab 96

Margit Andersen and her husband bought the red, Swedish car in 1965, which has now been a permanent exhibit at the Ringkøbing race for 26 years: – “It can easily drive 120 km/h in places where I have to, Margit Andersen notes.” Back in 1965, this Danish couple was looking for a Ford or Saab when it became clear that they could afford a car that could take the weight off their tiny NSU Prinz car.

Nevertheless, they decided on the Saab 96 at the time, and they did not repent. Over the years, the couple have celebrated both silver and gold weddings in the red “Swede”. With an engine volume of just under one liter and 44 horsepower, they have traveled nearly half a million kilometers with this two-stroke Saab so far. Or, more precisely, The 57-year-old Saab car has now driven almost 450,000 kilometers.

To all this, Margit adds: – My husband was really happy with it and was a Saab fan until the end, she says. Margit Andersen and her Saab are often on the road – and apart from the mandatory oil changes and service, the car has driven flawlessly.

Three years ago, Margit Andersen lost her husband, Svend Aage Andersen, but that doesn’t stop her from showing off the Saab to other car enthusiasts. – My husband probably spent more on it than on me, she says with a smile and adds: – We agreed on that. The car first, then something else happened to me.

On Saturday, around 100 vintage and classic cars were displayed by their costumed owners in period clothing at Hotel Fjordgården. Margit Andersen says that she always likes to do something. She has a lot of old clothes from 1965 in her closets, for which she says the apron and headdress belonged to her great-grandmother. Margit Andersen says that she has no problems driving from Herning to Ringkøbing (44 min – 46.2 km) and back again. In fact, she has slept in the home in Herning the three days that she and the Saab have been to the Ringkøbing race.

Nevertheless, Margit Andersen agreed with her husband that the couple’s red Saab will go to a museum on the day she can no longer sit behind the wheel: – I don’t dare think about that day at all, but I can (drive) yet, she says with a smile.