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9s 384 – Jan-Mar 2026
Contents
- 2 President’s Letter SHELLY BAXTER
- 3 Editor’s Letter GREG ABBOTT
- 4 Brighten your 9-5’s Night BY JAKE TILTON
- 6 Saved from the Crusher BY BOB RUDER
- 8 Pushing the Platform BY BRET SASSAMAN
- 10 Fabricating a Battery Tray BY BRIAN STAUSS
- 11 Delving into Saab Club History BY ED TONAT
- 12 A 1972 96 Resurrection BY SCOTT WHINNA
- 14 Saab Shots
- 16 The Overview Effect: SOC43
- 20 SOC43 Track Day 2026
- 21 SOC43 Volunteers Needed
- 22 Saving a Rusted 9-5 Aero BY ANDRE NOWROUZI
- 24 Stop Scrapping Saabs
- 25 Endless Mountains Vintage Saab Jamboree
- 26 Call for Board Nominations
- 27 Saabs Online & Board of Directors
- 28 A New Year Among Classics BY AMY REIST JACHIMSKI
- 29 Future Events
SCNA President’s Letter by Michelle Baxter
Hello Fellow SAABers!
Spring is in the air—and you know what that means! It’s time to pull your favorite Saab out of
hibernation and get it ready for the many Saab events happening all across the country.
Speaking of events, there’s a new way to get your club’s events out into the community. Head over
to saabclub.com and check out our new online calendar. Not only can you browse upcoming
gatherings, but you can also submit events or Saab meets directly through the site. This new tool
is designed to empower our community and make it easier than ever to connect, plan outings, and
share what’s happening in our Saab world. If you’re organizing something, be sure to submit it!
We’ve also updated the Service Directory on the club website. This is a living resource, and it’s
only as good as the information we all provide. Take a moment to browse through it and see if
we’ve missed someone you know. If so, there’s a simple form to submit a recommendation and
we’ll follow up. Skilled Saab technicians and shops are more valuable than ever, and having an
up-to-date directory is an essential resource—especially when you’re on the road, whether for
a short weekend drive or a cross-country adventure.
And speaking of adventures…that brings me to SOC43.
Across the Saab universe there are many great events, but one eclipses them all: SOC—the Saab
Owners Convention. This year marks the 43rd gathering of our community, and it will be the first
ever held at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Behind the scenes, the team is
working hard to make this year’s convention truly out of this world. Maybe not quite orbiting
Earth—but close! In this Saab-space you’ll be surrounded by hundreds of fellow enthusiasts
with Huntsville as an incredible backdrop: NASA history, beautiful walking trails, a fascinating
museum, and of course, our favorite car brand bringing us all together. It’s the perfect place to
get our geek on with other Saab enthusiasts and enjoy a little Space Camp spirit. Taking a break
from the things that divide us and spending time with people who share the your passion for
Saab can be incredibly refreshing.
When you see your Saab on the Showfield at SOC, surrounded by so many others, your appreciation
for these cars only grows. The steady stream of compliments, the thoughtful questions, and the
meaningful conversations with fellow enthusiasts create an experience that’s hard to describe.
It’s in that moment you realize that the love of Saabs truly knows no borders or boundaries.
Yet sometimes we’re limited by our own thinking…or by parts availability. (More on that later!)
Until then—Keep on SAABin!
Shelly Baxter