Jeff’s Great Passion for Saab’s
Meet Jeff Gorenflo, one of Orio North America’s employee’s and true Saab enthusiast. In this blog post we get to know Jeff a bit and all of his Saab cars.
Jeff Gorenflo is a long-time automotive enthusiast, collector and college football fan. His Saab story began in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA, with TRA Imports as an Associate Technician in 1986. He bought a slate-blue metallic 1982 900 Turbo, and that’s where the love affair with Saab began. Since that time, he has raced 900 Turbos in Sports Car Club of America (SCCA), owned a shop and continued to grow his personal collection of Saabs. He has been the Saab Technical Assistance Center Manager since 2004 when General Motors moved Saab to Detroit.
Some quick questions with Jeff
How many models do you own?
8 or 9 (23+ in my lifetime).
How long you’ve been a Saab owner?
31 years.
The best thing about driving your Saab?
They have the best ergonomics in the industry. A Saab drives like a much larger vehicle, yet have very nimble handling. It’s like driving a tank that handles like a sports car.
Favorite place to drive?
Everywhere we go! Road trips or trips to the corner store, it doesn’t matter we love to drive them.
Why you love driving your Saab in that location?
Because I know the odds of seeing someone else in a similar car is low. Everyone appreciates Saab’s classic designs and their safety record is beyond reproach.
So that’s Jeff. Let’s take a look at his cars!
Our Family Daily Drivers
2008 9-3 Sport Sedan Black w/Taupe Leather 64,000 miles
This is Jeff’s wife’s car.
- Hirsch Stage 1 Tune, Hirsch 19” wheels
- Saab Dual Exhaust with Aero diffuser
- Genuine Saab Taliaferro Brembo Brake Kit 315mm
- Genuine Saab Taliaferro Strut Tower Brace
- HID Headlight-Fog-light Upgrade
- 2012 Griffin Edition Aero Bumper & Headlights
- Cold Air Intake
- Forge Blow Off Valve
- Saab Accessory Factory Navigation System
- Rockford-Fosgate 5 channel Amp
- Rockford-Fosgate 9 Speaker system
- 10” Polk Audio Subwoofer with MTX Thunder 500w Sub-Amp
- Saab Interior LED floor Lighting Kit
- Tinted Windows
- Saab Accessory Window Deflectors
- Saab Accessory All Weather Floor and trunk mats
2005 9-5 Wagon Nocturn Blue w/Tan Sport Tech 145,000 miles
This is Jeff’s road trip car.
- MikeD Stage 1 Tune
- Cold Air Intake
- 18” Turbine Griffin wheels
- 8” Subwoofer Upgrade
- Saab Accessory All Weather floor and trunk mats
1999 9-5 Wagon Silver w/Tan Leather 210,000 miles
This is Jeff’s daughter’s car.
- Aero ECU Upgrade
- 16” Saab Accessory BBS wheels
- Saab Accessory All Weather Floor and Trunk mats
1993 900s 4dr Scarab Green w/Tan Leather 225,000 miles
This is Jeff’s daily car.
- SPG Turbo engine conversion
- Stage 3 tune with APC delete by yours truly
- 9000 Clutch
- 9000 Front Brakes
- Saab Accessory All Weather Floor Mats
- Saab Sport and Rally 140MPH speedometer
- Alpine Deck w/XM Radio
- Memphis Audio Speakers
- Alpine 10” x2 Subwoofer
- Rockford-Fosgate 200W Amp
Coming Soon
1989 900T Convertible Black w/Tan Leather 5sp
One of the cars Jeff’s is working on.
New Factory Top & Rear Glass (2016)
Upcoming mods:
- SPG body Kit
- SPG Suspension
- 16” 1991 9000 Aero Wheels
Currently Undergoing Performance Upgrades
1991 900 SPG Beryl Green w/Grey Leather 5sp
Another of Jeff’s cars.
- Trionic 5 conversion
- eEuroparts Lightened T5 flywheel kit
- Cryo-treated gearbox, Steel Differential cover w/oil cooler and pump, Type 8 primaries
- 9000 clutch
- T04E-50 Turbonetics Turbo w/3in stainless exhaust
- Front Mount Intercooler
- 1995 9000 Aero Seats
- 9000 Aero Brakes
- 1991 9000 Aero wheels
- Saab Sport and Rally 140MPH speedometer
- Blueprinted 2.0 block
- Fully ported 2.1L head
- Custom intake
- Mega-Squirt Fuel Injection
- Full 3” exhaust
- T04E-50 Turbonetics Turbo
- Front Mount Intercooler
- 26”x9.5” ET Quick-time Drag slicks
- Upgraded BorgWarner Type 37 trans with Redline bands
- Phantom Grip Limited Slip LSD Conversion Kit
- 1997 900 Turbo Nocturn Blue
- 1996 9000 CSE Ruby
- 1995 9000 Aero Silver
- 1990 9000 CD Edwardian Grey
- 1990 900s to Turbo 3dr White
- 1990 900 Turbo Convertible Cherry Red
- 1990 900 SPG Black
- 1988 900 SPG Edwardian Grey
- 1985 900 SPG Black
- 1986 900 Turbo 3dr Silver
- 1985 900 Turbo 3dr Slate Blue Metallic
- 1978 99 Turbo
- 1972 Sonett III
2000 9-5 Aero Sedan Black w/Grey Leather
This car has forged pistons and a turbo upgrade.
Just Hanging Out
1990 900 Turbo 3dr White w/Blue Leather 5sp
Another Saab in Jeff’s collection.
1993 900s 3dr Black
This 900 is converted to a drag racing car!
Previously owned
And of course this cool 1982.5 900 Turbo 3dr Slate Blue Metallic. This was Jeff’s first Saab, purchased in June of 1987.
Special Interest Saab’s
Jeff has also been the mechanic for these two Saab cars.
1985 SPG @ 1991 Road Atlanta SCCA Showroom Stock Class A (Regional)
1988 SPG @ 1992 Road Atlanta SCCA Runoffs Showroom Stock Class A
And that’s about it! Thank you for checking out this awesome story about Jeff and his Saab cars.
Do you got an interesting story about your Saab?
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