In times past the customisation of an automobile was performed by engineers and craftsmen who worked under the dignified title of ‘coachbuilders’. These were the times when the fabrication of specific parts and panels was a lengthy, difficult process. It was expensive, so it was best done in a tasteful and enduring manner in order to justify the cost.
Today, modern manufacturing and materials means that almost anyone can transform their Suzuki Swift into a bonafide Batmobile. All it takes is a bit of carbon fibre and a socket set. Some people can take the customisation of a car to rather hideous lengths, too, but we’ll leave those well enough alone for now.
This article is to show off an exquisite conversion of a Saab 96 into cabriolet form.
The basis for this car is a 1971 Saab 96 with a V4 engine, although the bullnose front of an earlier model has been grafted on to it for aesthetic reasons.
The car was built by its original owner in Sweden and has only recently been purchased by its new owner in France.
The story surrounding the acquisition is an interesting one. The new owner merely did an image search on the internet for Saab 96 Convertible and an image of this car appeared. Through the website that the image appeared on, the purchaser ws able to contact the owner and enquire as to whether or not they’d be interested in selling. The answer was “yes” and now the car is taking up its new home just outside Paris.
Many custom creations fail to do justice to the car they’re based on. This is definitely an exception. It’s class and elegant - a credit to the people who put it together.
Many thanks to Golfhunter, who photographed the car and posted the information about it on Flickr and at Trollhattan Saab.
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