Saabworks.fi

It was time to took my first rally car out of Garage and show it for public. Annual Classic Motorshow and its theme of the year round Finnish rallyheroes was good motivation for that.

During weekend peopple were interested about the car and wondering ”where are the Webers ?” Nearly nobody, expect those worksteam mechanics whos visit also in our exhibition stand, havent newer heard or seen Saab V4 with fuel injected engine. Best comment was from ca 25year old guy who wondering what kind of ECU that injection have…? ”Well, in this case with Lucas Competition injection there is non computer at all”, I answered.

High light in our stand was absolutely when old Saab Works team staff made long visit and when Works driver´s Simo and Tapio made their visit. Actually Tapio Rainio visiting twice and looks happy when his old Saab is still alive. Tapio drove AEC-501 from 1974 to 1977. In that period the car was equipped with Lucas injection , and its probably the only totally original nonrenovated Works Saab left with that kind of system.

Classic Motor Show wasn´t the only happening saabworks.fi was involved in. Early saturday morning was time to annual Classic Tour for enthusiast vehicles. Start was Lahti city market place. Friend of mine, Heikki Vilkman asked if I have any original Blue&White Works Saab in driving condition. He needed it as a pre/ VIP- car to the route. I have had little bit hurry whole winter, and hadn´t time to test drive my Historic Rally Saab AYA-10. So why not, Heikki should do that ? That was brilliant Win-Win situation. Now Ex Works Leo Kinnunen 96 V4 is testdrived and we were secured that the car least hold 100km driving. Next rally with the car will be 21th may.

Here some photos. Thousand thanks for all the visitors. It was really nice to notice how many of ours respects the job I have made during the years when saving Finnish & SAAB`s rallyhistory. Even sponsors and some journalist have noticed that, thing that I really appreciate.

AYA-10 & Classic Tour Start

Heikki Vilkman and his original Racing overalls. Heikki won Finnish Rallychampionship 1976 in group 2 with Ex Works Saab 96.

One of the partisipants to the Classic Tour; Saab 99 Turbo -80. Silver 99 turbos produced only last yearfalf 1980

AEC-501; Ex Works Tapio Rainio & Stig Blomqvist on Saabworks.fi Classic Motor Show stand

Behind, on the wall photo collage about AEC-501 & Tapio Rainio`s rally history. Front photo collage during the decades; AEC rallying. Big picture; Stig Blomqvist driving to the Hankirally victory 1977.

Tommi making some shoe adjustment in his twostroker.

Tommi´s shortnose with longnose´s engine is somekind of wondering year after year.

As well as one of few survived Works rallycar from mid 70´s.

Non renovated engine room with Lucas competition fuel injection. The system has developed late 50´s and has been use thru 60`s to 70´s in various rally & Racing cars; F 1, Indy, Works rallyteams like Ford BDA/BDG, and suprising some SAAB´s like AEC-501

High point of the weekend; AEC-501 Ex Works driver Tapio Rainio visiting in our stand. Thanks ”Tapsa”. By the way; to stand cement floor hole weekend & half of the time suited with 3-layer racing overall is more hard than driving rally. It really feels like running a marathon.

No SAAB happenings without Simo who visited second day.

Some works team mechanics join also to our company.

Nice thing was also when some my competitors in Historic Rally serie visit our stand. On the left mr. Talbot/Sumbeam Petteri Sappinen. Same photo also Saab factory´s production chef Kalevi Pälve and Works Team mechanic Eino Malm on the right.