UKSaabs

C900 Ruby project.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/203802271170 ... Swsolh7c98

Considering the condition I am surprised at the actual bid of 4 grand.

3 hours to go and it’s already over 5k.
For future reference to price and condition, here is the description of the car:

Welcome to this auction for my rare SAAB Classic 900 'Ruby', No.106 of 150 imported to the UK, and of that 150 I think this may possibly the be rarest of the 900 Turbo family, with less than 23 survivors going by the figures on UKSaabs over a year ago, and I'm sure if you're reading this then you are already very familiar with exactly what the 'Ruby' actually is.
I bought this one in 2011 from an older chap who had bought it from Western Saab, Balcarres St, Edinburgh (also the original supplier from new) and they had also serviced it religiously throughout his ownership, reporting at its last visit, that it would need welding at it's next Mot. The chap decided at that point that he would just buy a 9.3 Aero saloon and the 'Ruby' was left at the roadside looking rather sad. It wasn't far from Western and I passed it often and noticed it had not moved in a good while and it was at risk of being grabbed as the tax had expired some time ago, so I set about tracking down the owner before the car was snatched by the glorified scrappies that patrol the streets with Hiab equipped flat-bed trucks. He came and met me, talked fondly about his car, and explained he'd bought a new Saab but wasn't sure how to dispose of this one, and was almost in disbelief that I actually was offering a good amount of cash for it. He knew it was a Ruby, but I don't think he considered it to be anything special or sought after, it was simply an old car and he now had a 'new' one. (I wonder if he ever looked back and compared the build quality of the 9.3 to the Ruby?) Stop laughing at the back! Sadly I never did get the promised history file, but it drives like no other 900 I've ever owned, and its quite possible he has passed on now, but I've no reason to doubt a word of anything he told me.
So it's now mine, and my 1st drive sticks in my mind. It's quieter, and more plush than any of my previous 900's, not a squeak or rattle, or knock. It goes where you point it, and considerably more rapidly than any of my previous and that's when I found the brakes were non-existent, the accumulator had failed and the pedal was solid. Never mind, panic over, and now time to examine it, and ask Martin Brown of Central Saab if he knew it. Martin knew it from Western days but had never worked on it at Buttlerfield, although he remembered supplying parts for it. So I set off gathering the parts list we reckoned it needed. I actually bought a complete 900 LPT in exactly the same colour for panels as the engine was wrecked, but it was so incredibly clean underneath that I fitted another engine/box and had it lightly restored, and still have it today (that's another story you'll read elsewhere) so I collected many good body panels and parts (incl the accumulator in 2014) with the honest intention of restoring it but, like many so folk, 'life' got in the way, other cars came and went while the 'Ruby' sat in dry storage waiting patiently. Guilty as charged your honour, now the years have passed, my age has increased, my health in the last 2yrs has done the opposite and I am left to come to terms with the fact I simply won't get round to restoring it to it's former glory, but also I wont get to enjoy the best 900 Saab had to offer, if only we could go back in time.

Not many can still be as complete, and original, but don't think you will jump in and drive it away, certainly it drives, and it will easily drive onto a trailer, or recovery truck (I am able to put you onto a very reliable chap should you wish) but it is indeed in need of restoration in all the common places. The O/S/F chassis leg, the bonnet in the normal place, both lower corners of the screen (I've seen much worse still in use) the seam across the boot floor viewed from beneath was looking flaky, the inside of the boot wasn't holed back then and I doubt it has decomposed whilst in dry storage this past 10yrs+. The drivers door has accident damage after someone reversed into it at the old lads workplace, The interior is very clean, and original, a Sony head unit has been fitted too.The Ruby directional wheels complete with the centre caps are present and correct, as is the little plastic air deflector on the top of the intercooler to force the air through it from behind the N/S/F headlight, I've never seen one on any of my previous Turbo's. Most of the paint polishes up to a lovely shine, but right now it's wearing a thick layer of stoor that you could write your name on any part of it, and looking very much like a real 'Barn find'

On New Years Day 2022 I decided to have a shufty around it, and it is looking properly sorry for itself, I sat myself inside, looked around, and wondered what the chances were of it starting??? In the garage I had an old battery from a 9.5 lying there so fitted that on, I checked all the levels, and with the aid of jump leads from my 9.3 it started first attempt !!! I could not believe it, thank god I videoed it all. I then ran through all the switches, and even more shocking they all worked, bar the passenger side window,(you can hear the window motor clunking but no movement) I wasn't going to force it, there is no point in deliberately damaging anything. The head cloth has come down in genuine 900 time honoured fashion, but it is complete without tears or rips or fag burns and could also be saved if you didn't want to replace with a modern equivalent from Mr Lewis. The drivers seat insert has wear on the woolen part from the prev owner who used to wear overalls with a belt buckle at the back, that apart the leather is lovely as are the carpets, and all the Ruby specific interior panels that set it apart from other 900 Turbo's in the day. So as it sat idling quietly I plugged in the electric tyre pump and smiled as it slowly climbed back to its proper height, and levelled itself up, all the while listening to that off-beat burble that is so recognisable as only a 900 Turbo can sound. It is louder than I remember a standard one to be, so the exhaust wil most likely be exhausted and needing replaced like many of the commonly replaced parts do. Also the brake pedal is hard, and the brakes don't do much, but it was like that when I bought it and simply needs the accumulator replaced, which I bought back in 2014 and is still sitting in the centre cubby hole today. So, would it go into gear, would it move . . . of course it did!!! No noise, no seized brakes, no clutch plate stuck to the fly wheel, just a Saab doing what you asked it to do. It drove out, blinked at the daylight, and reversed back in, just like you'd expect it to, a bitter sweet moment indeed as I wished I could turn back the clock. I have read adverts before saying 'reluctant sale' etc, but never did I guess this would be so bloody hard to go through with, and this is only the first of many I have to part with.

You are most welcome to view the car in Edinburgh (by appointment only) prior to auction end, and the 3 video's I recorded on New Years Day can be shared via Facebook Messenger as it appears they're too large a file to Email, but, you will still be bidding to win the auction, as its the only fair way for everyone.
I will NOT pull the car for any offer! You want it, you bid on it, End Of.
Note: Msg's such as 'How much for cash today'? will be ignored.
Should the car appear on another internet auction shortly after auction end, and at a higher price, I suggest you ignore it as it will likely be someone trying to make a fast buck at the expense of you, me, and the Ruby.

Here are my terms to avoid confusion: The winning bidder must make contact within 24hrs, and, place a £100 non-returnable deposit via PayPal within 48hrs (unless prev agreed otherwise) The car must be collected within 7 days and will remain my property along with the keys/V5 until fully cleared funds are in my hand, only then will the car be released. I will also help you load the car onto whatever transport you are using, but don't expect me to look happy as you leave.

Good Luck Bidding

Finished on £5,629