I don’t usually do wanted ads like this, but the Saab 900 Carlsson is one of my all-time favourite Saabs so I figured it was worthwhile helping a brother out.
This comes from Toby K, in the UK.
For what it’s worth, Toby, I emailed a few 900-owning mates here in Oz – all three of whom have the decor plate – and they all say the same thing: keep an eye on Ebay.
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I am after a very quick bit of help from you and the esteemed readership here at Saabs United. I need the SU eagle eyed folks out there to help me track down a very rare part.
Would anyone know where I can find a rear reflective décor panel for a Saab 900 normally found on Carlsson or Jubilee variants? It looks like a red light bar joining the rear light clusters and houses the number plate.
Photos from SaabCentral and Maptun.
Believe me when I tell you I have searched and telephoned virtually every scrapyard in the civilised world today – yes that does mean the UK/US/Netherlands and Australia, all with the same result, it’s a little depressing!!
The 900 is a classic and at over 20 years old and is facing a real scarcity of supply in a lot of parts so I figure this is normal now for a classic 900 owner. After many hours of searching I have only found 2 but those hopes were dashed…one is sold £70 [UK] and the other US seller is unresponsive.
The reason I ask is that “Scarlet” – yes that’s her name (her previous owner told me) was being restored and this process was very near completion. After a lot of paintwork she was polished then washed by hand but unfortunately during this process the pressure from the hose was too much and the body shops carwash guy was a little careless, the old brittle plastic gave way at the top right edge. Even worse we were unable to find the corner that had snapped off. The car wash guy didn’t seem upset at all about it until I said I wasn’t going to pay him! I was pretty peeved, in fact I still am…having the work done only to end up with another difficult job to complete-sort of one step forward one step back.
After today’s research I feel it is time to reach out to the Global Saab community for any advice or assistance they might offer.
It would be good to get Scarlet finished off, she had sat in a barn and a field for most of her life up in Scotland having done just over 100,000 miles in her 20 years. She was trailered down to Oxford and into Belsyre Saab where most of the moss was removed along with a sycamore sapling, some hazel nuts in the whale tale were also removed (presumably the work of a Scottish squirrel) and once the battery was connected she started first time!
Since then I have given her a newer interior, a re-spray in Talladega Red, got new decals and the correct emblems for her-it’s just a final service and THAT DÉCOR PANEL away from being finished. I have probably spent way more than she’s worth (around £6000) but original Carlssons are very rare now so I figure she’s worth it, if not now then one day.
Some folks don’t even know what it is and they literally just stop, thinking “What the…?” –This is a problem if they are crossing the road at the time-believe me it has happened they would sooner look than get out of the way, I do love people’s reactions to her – its wonderful!
So that’s the story so far on this one, but if you can help or know of someone that might be able to assist with the décor panel it would be great to hear from them.
Best Regards
Toby – another Saab nut in Oxford (UK)
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