9-5 Griffin Estate

We have fully reworked this 2001 9-5 Griffin 3.0 V6 Automatic Petrol Turbo Estate in 279 Steel Grey, arguably our favourite colour for an early 9-5. These are very rare nowadays and more so in estate format; we cannot recall the last time we had a petrol V6 Griffin estate pass through our workshops, it’s been that long!

This Griffin started its life as intended covering 100,000 motorway miles in its first 3 years and has had a relatively easy life thereafter, only adding a further 70k miles in the following 17 years. It has 18 service stamps backing up its well looked after life; 9 at original supplying dealer Squire Furneaux and 9 subsequent ones at specialists R&F Motor-Tech.

The car was purchased from a serial Saab owner who was reluctant to part with the keys despite assurances that our aim was not to dismantle such a rare example; once the car was fully inspected, the decision to fully restore it back to its former glory was made easier due to its high originality.

All the desirable features are present; heated and cooled electric leather seats in the front, heated in the rear, electric tilt/slide sunroof, half leather half wood steering wheel, wood dash, upgraded Saab stereo with subwoofer in OSR corner.

We compiled a list of items needing attending to on the vehicle, mechanical and structural, ensuring everything works and functions as it should; we are supplying the vehicle with 12 month warranty to the next fortunate owner.

The work we have carried out includes, though not exclusively:

Full service; all filters, plugs and oils including replacing cambelt and water-pump installed using correct cam shaft setting tools.

Replaced all vacuum lines in and around the engine bay.

Fitted fully reconditioned turbocharger as original had worn seals and lots of play.

Fitted reconditioned water and oil pipes.

Replaced front and rear discs and pads, including handbrake springs

Fit genuine Saab lower front suspension wish bones arms inc. bushes and ball joints (early lower arms for phase 1 cars)

Replaced all 4 rose bushes on the rear suspension with OE equipment; this greatly improves handling.

Replace rear trailing arm bushes with Powerflex bushes; these are polyurethane improving the cars ride comfort and will last far longer than the originals.

Four-wheel alignment carried out adjusting the camber, caster, tracking and KPi to ensure the Griffin handles precisely after carrying out all the suspension modifications.

Replace the gearbox stabiliser bush with Powerflex bush; this helps to make the automatic gear change smooth as the engine and gear box are held positively in place.

Replace entire exhaust system; downpipe and catalytic convertor, centre section and a twin outlet rear exhaust box as per the original car

Replace the power steering cooling pipe as the original had started to corrode. Flushed power steering fluid.

Replace the airbox mounts these are in the inner wing; broken mounts cause the air box to rattle and can lead to a fracture in the inlet pipe.

Replace mirror switch

Replace both front fog lights

Replace front undertray

Fit reconditioned ACC panel; these have new screens fitted.

Fixed headlamp wash wipe and headlamp levelling

Fixed screen washers front and rear; washers blocked and pump shad failed.

Fixed rear park assist systems; replaced sensors

Replace shark fin aerial on roof.

Recondition original alloy wheels

Deep clean and condition leather seats front and rear, carpets and steering wheel  inc. replacing rear carpet as original had a tear under the seat.

Removed all dents from the car; bonnet, all 4 doors, rear tailgate and NSR quarter.

Full machine polish of the cars exterior paint work.

Removed corrosion from rear arches, OSR chassis rail, boot floor and underbody treated and re painted; all common areas, this car was actually fairly solid under the rear arches compared to some examples we’ve had through the workshop.

Remove surface corrosion from all suspension components and front subframe and paint.

Treated complete underbody including suspension components with Gravitex.

Full wax-oil underneath and box sections to preserve the car in its current condition.

The end result is a real practical classic that will give its new owner many years of driving pleasure, whether on longer journeys eating up motorway miles or pottering around their local town and lanes – easily fit for service for another 20 years!

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