The following story is not Saab related but it arrived in my in box and I wanted to share it with you and then ask,,, What’s the longest you have owned a Saab? Me, well we have had our black 9-5 Aero Estate for 11 years, so far.
Allen Swift owned and drove the same car for eighty-two years.
Allen, of Springfield, Massachusetts received this 1928 Rolls-Royce Piccadilly-P1 Roadster from his father, brand new —– as a graduation gift in 1928.
He drove it until his death last year…..at the age of 102 !He was the oldest living owner of a car that was purchased new.
It was donated to a Springfield museum after his death.
It has 170,000 miles on it, still runs like a Swiss watch, dead silent at any speed, and is in perfect cosmetic condition.
That’s British engineering of a by-gone era.
There is a special partnership between a man and his rumbling toy every now and then. I will certainly not beat Allen, however me and my 99T have been partners for last 17 years. A long time ago, I said, I would donate it to a museum when the time comes (if they want it) 🙂 .
I would be so envious except for the fact that he’s dead.
Anyway, all articles I find say 170,000 miles, not the 1,070,000. According to truthorfiction, the million miles was part of an email eRumor. Still, 77 years (1928-2005), that’s some love affair.
thank you for the mileage correction, I will amend the post. The story, for me, was the time it was owned and not the distance it had travelled. A great fondness for one car. RobinM
From further reading, I learned that Rolls had an assembly plant in Springfield at that time. I never knew that, and I wonder if this Rolls was built there.
It looks like the Roadster model built in Springfield Massachusetts at the time.
My 12 years partnership with my 900T16 (and 30 000km’s) is nothing compare to this… :p
This is a mostly true story here are some links to get the real deal.
http://www.springfieldmuseums.org/news/view/51-new_springfield_history_museum_made_possible_by_connecticut_entrepreneur
and
http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/s/Allan-Swift-Rolls-050613.htm#.U0RfmMbZdgg
In years Mr. A. Smit get the record for longest time driving the same car, but driving 3.000.000 miles in the same car, that is about 4.800.000km, from 1966 up to 2014 is something else and that is what mr. Gordon have done in a (sorry for all SAABlovers) Volvo P1800. http://www.google.nl/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=5&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CDoQFjAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.today.com%2Fnews%2Fman-drives-record-3-million-miles-same-1966-volvo-8C11307586&ei=aWJEU6esKobSObPegIgK&usg=AFQjCNE4z2Eno2OwNEJRzOnTVOAoSVrveg&bvm=bv.64367178,d.ZWU .
I own a SAAB 900 Classic i’ve bought in 2001 and which has drove ±535.000 km when it was stored in 2009.
He certainly kept his carbon footprint low! Longest ownership of any car is my 99 turbo combi. 20 years this year.
🙂
My Saab 96 MonteCarlo V4 -1966 came in my possession in 1986 (adds up to some 24 years).
I’ve had my ’02 9-3 for 3 years this summer, but I honestly plan on keeping it as a daily driver forever. I’m quite mechanically inclined, and the motor was new when I got it, it’s had about 9,000 miles put on it (my work was only 3 miles from my home). I anticipate the parts for this will run out long before I’m ready to get rid of her. I also have an ’86 SPG I plan on restoring to good condition, I adore how the old 900s feel. Since the SPG is literally my dream car I’d probably keep that one if I could only have one, but I honestly don’t intend on having another. Besides, the Mrs. will always need a car, so if I feel the need to experiment and stray from Saab I can always get her something else. Of course she has a Saab, too, a convertible. 😛
I am still driving my 2000 9-3 (purchased new) as my daily driver for 14 years. It was my first Saab, and until it becomes unreliable or more expensive to repair than new car payments, I cannot see parting with it. 🙂
I have long way to go to compete with Allan Swift. I still have my 900 Cab -97. I bought it new and have had it for 17 years in june.
hm….how long have i owned my car..i think the cars i owned the longest were a brand new 2003 Renault Clio 1600 (4yrs/65000km) after i lost my trust in the (then) all new Mégane II. my 9000 CD Griffin (got it in 2009 and drove 20k with it, till last January), and my 9000CC (bought it in 2009 for €125. @138.000km) and is now @ 151.750km…next in line will be the RHD MY98 9000 CSE Anniversary (200k mi/320k km) i drive now.
Only 5 years. SAAB 900i -85 four doors sedan, white. Lovely car.
I bought my Sonett III in 1981, 33 years ago, and I still have it. I wish I will live as long as Mr. Swift, and be able to drive my 9-3 Convertible Independence Edition till the end, that will be 39 years.
Bought my ’73 99 LE on Halloween Night of ’78. That makes 36 years of me! A fine motor car, although slow. Had a very nice 500-mile drive going to and from Swedish Car Day last year in Boston. Nice photos were taken of it by Hemmings and Autoweek. (thank you) They both made it look MUCH better than it really is! (thank you!!) It has not been very far west of here, but has been from southern Florida, to the far tip of Nova Scotia. And here in upstate New York, our 2014 driving season will start soon. Yippee!!!!!
Bought my 99T 2 door back in 1981 and still have it.