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Re: What makes an SPG an SPG? Posted by Larry West [Email]  (#1140)  [Profile/Gallery]
(more from Larry West) on Tue, 9 Oct 2012 10:11:25
In Reply to: What makes an SPG an SPG?, Gigantor  [Profile/Gallery]
, Mon, 8 Oct 2012 05:31:16
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Unfortunately, what defines an SPG for the seven model years it was available is a moving target. Saab never fixed the spec, but continued to improve/change it.
For US market SPGs, the following is true:
The basic car was a three-door body style, with sunroof, 5-speed manual trans, in Turbo trim (meaning power just-about-everything).
In ALL years, SPGs had:
leather seating, fog lights (these first two made up most of the "EAG" package as well), three-spoke "Aero" alloy wheels, front & rear anti-roll bars, Aero side skirts/body cladding, all "900", "turbo" and "16 VALVE" badges were deleted. Only the roundels at the ends, and one "SAAB" on the hatch remained.
1985-1986 had no other "performance" mods. It was only an appearance package.
Around 1987, performance mods started to come in. Power went up slightly, a result of allowing a bit more boost from re-calibrated APC boxes, starting with 170 HP, and finishing with 175 HP (SPGs never got the 185 HP from the factory).
Also around that time, the "lowered and recalibrated" suspension came in. Thicker wire springs with fewer coils (gold/bronze paint splash on them), and a new set of shocks, basically.
In 1990, the SPG got a Mitsubishi turbo, which came to all turbos for 1991. They also got EGR about this time, mostly because the SPG was 50-state certified, while EGR was only a requirement in California. (My 49-state 1991 turbo did NOT have EGR)
Other than that, the only distinguishing element was color:
1985: Black paint, Black (early) or Anthracite panels (all to the end), Tan leather.
1986-1988: Edwardian Grey paint, Buffalo Grey leather
1989: Edwardian Grey or "Special Black" paint, Buffalo Grey leather
1990: Black or Talladega Red paint, Buffalo Grey leather
1991: Talladega Red paint with Dark grey leather or Beryl Green paint with Light grey leather
Remember:
There is no way to tell from a VIN that a car was or was not an SPG. If, from the VIN, you can determine it is a turbo, 5 speed, and falls in the right year range, then it MAY be an SPG. The only sure way to know would be to look it up in Saab's computer system, and see the proper model code there. As I have no idea who maintains that database any longer, I've no idea where to look for that.
There were a handful of 1984 "Prototype" SPGs. AFAIK, all Pearl white with red leather, red dash, and red "A" pillar covers.
Sway bars (anti-roll bars) were only special to the SPG in 1985. In 1986, ALL turbos got them, in 1987 the "S" got them, and in 1988, with the change to the 9000-style suspension components, and the phasing out of the 8v motor, all 900s got sway bars. Also, Saab only ever made ONE set of sway bars. There is nothing different about the ones on an SPG over that of any other Saab.
Springs: The only SPG springs I've seen have a bronze or gold paint splash on them. These are metallic colors, not a "flat" version with no metal flake. There is supposed to be a set with "silver" paint splashes on them. I've never seen them in the US (which doesn't mean they don't exist here), they may be spec for other markets. And again, 1985 and 1986 cars DID NOT come with them from the factory.
Shocks: The shocks that came with the "lowered and recalibrated" suspension are actually somewhat SOFTER than the stock shocks. This makes up for the stiffer springs.
In some other markets, the side skirts and wheels were marketed as the "AERO" package. This is also how the EPC and Fiche reference them.
Skirts: The three panels on the body are the same for all years (excepting the paint color on early 85s). The bumper extensions are different for the -86 bumpers vs. the 87- bumpers, and won't work right without the proper bumper. On 87- cars, the front bumper extension goes low and adds a lip spoiler to the bottom of the bumper skin. The bumper skins are otherwise identical to non-SPGs of the same year. The rear bumper extensions go lower than the standard ones to more accurately match the skirts in front of the wheel.
Convertibles: There never was an "SPG" convertible marketed by Saab Cars USA. The 1988 Springtime in Sweden was a very special model, one per dealer, and not available for ordering. The 1991 SE Convertibles (in Monte Carlo Yellow and Platana Grey), while having the "Aero" package, and badge delete, could be ordered with an automatic trans. People call them "SPG" because of the skirts and wheels. No convertible ever received the "lowered and recalibrated" suspension, and only the 1994 Commemorative got anything above the 165 HP which was stock on 16v turbos.
_______________________________________ Current: 2002 9-5 Aero Kombi Cosmic Blue 2000 9-5 SE sedan, Imola Red 1990 900S Rose Quartz, Auto Past: 1999 9-5 LPT Combi 1999 9-5 LPT sedan 2002 9-5 Arc 1990 900 5-speed 1986 900 turbo Convertible 1991 9000 turbo 1980 99 GLi 1986 900 turbo 1986 900 S 1991 900 turbo 1984 900 turbo 1976 99 GL
, Mon, 8 Oct 2012 05:31:16, Tue, 9 Oct 2012 10:11:25 <-- Viewing This Message, Tue, 9 Oct 2012 10:48:57, Tue, 9 Oct 2012 05:46:48, Tue, 9 Oct 2012 08:39:34, Tue, 9 Oct 2012 07:51:58, Mon, 8 Oct 2012 06:14:31, Mon, 8 Oct 2012 06:29:44, Mon, 8 Oct 2012 14:06:07
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