Saab 95 – some say this car is “the most beautiful ugly car” ever. The V4, half a V8, The V4 was not a half a V8 (like having half a V8, not literally), but it was a very compact design. The third seat was standard. It was interesting when people sat back there. With the 2 rear most passengers there was a lot of weight at the very tail of the car. Can you imagine two people who weigh over 200 pounds sitting in the rear seat, the front wheels would be off the ground. Saab 95 – lightweight construction, very practical and cute, so it didn’t leave anyone indifferent.
Some liked it just the way it was, and some remade it for their different needs. One of these – “different” – was the Saab 95 Wagon, which was modified by Mike Billing for its special needs.
Styled for Hunting
It’s really no accident. This Saab 95 Station wagon was reduced in lenght by 30 inches by Mike Billing and his father Clyde Billing, who was Saab dealer in Augusta, Maine (USA), some forty years ago. Interesting, In 1967 he was the third largest SAAB sales dealership in the United States, and He was also a racing car driver.
The entire Billing family are avid hunters and want to make their way through the Maine woods in comfort. So they cut chunk out of the middle of the car, restyled the front fenders to take bigger wheels and cut the doors to fit around the rear wheels. You don’t need a lot of gear to hunt, well The second row of seats was virtually thrown out, but the third row remained, there was room to put rifles and a possible catch. A smaller wheelbase and higher ground clearance make the car much easier to navigate in rough terrain.
And, presto – a SAAB Hunting Wagon just made for Maine woods.
Seriously chopped Saab 95
While preparing this blog post we came across another fiercely modified vintage Saab 95. The photo was reportedly recorded in 1988 at one of the rallies in England. The sharply cut off shape makes them act like a Kammback tail.
Seen at a weekend show organised by Custom Car at the East of England Showground, Peterborough, April 1988.
An aerodynamically proven design. The 92-96 teardrop saloon is one aerodynamic solution but if you have to make a square rear for carrying capacity, the sharp cutoff is the way to go. Saab were aeroplane makers first, and used wind tunnels for all car designs. The 95’s shape is dictated by function. The 95 even had a self-cleaning rear window based on aerodynamics…
