Saab Workshop in Sweden Restores Saab’s
It was a special car that I drove 5 hours to see though. A car that has previously been called the world’s most expensive Saab…
Visiting the Mannes bil Workshop
I drove south from Nyköping towards Sölvesborg to meet the team at Mannes bil. I got in touch with one of the team members there through Facebook and managed to arrange a meeting with the workshop that eats, sleeps and lives for Saab. While there, I filmed and photographed intensively while I got to know the workshop and people in it.
After more than 5 hours of driving, I turned onto Löparevägen in Sölvesborg and saw Saab’s lining the street. What a beautiful sight! From seeing newer 9-3s and 9-5s to the rare 9-4X, a Saab fan does not go bored at this workshop!
I drove 5 hours to see a very special and rare Saab car. Back in the day, it was called the world’s most expensive Saab. It’s a car that the crew at Mannes bil rebuilt into top condition. It is a 2012 9-5 Turbo 6-cylinder Sportcombi. The 9-5 Turbo 2.8-liter V6 engine boosts 330 horsepower thanks to its HIRSCH upgrade.
The car came to the workshop in May 2017 when it was stripped down to an empty shell. That was when all the fun started. They turned the 9-5 Turbo into a fully equipped super sporty Saab by installing an active chassis, TPMS sensor, blind spot warning system, parking aid, file replacement warning system, advanced headlights, rear seat TV screens and a sunroof.
The day I met the gang at the workshop, Oskar was installing the Drive Sense (the active chassis). What’s even more amazing than this rare Saab car, it only had 5,000 miles.
Once the car was assembled, it was transported to a local body shop for various paintwork and the assembly of the HIRSCH accessories. The goal is that the car should look factory new.
What makes this car unique? It was the only 9-5 with the Turbo V6 engine that left the factory. The others were crashed in testing.
A few weeks later I met the gang from Mannes bil again at the Elmia car exhibition show in Jönköping and it looked brand new. They drove it to Elmia from Sölvesborg.
The History of the Mannes bil Workshop
Mannes bil’s passion for Saab began in 1982 when they decided to sell the iconic Swedish brand. A few years later, Bilcity, a car company, moved into the building next door, and that’s when Mannes bil became a Saab workshop.
The Saab spirit remains in the building. When the last 9-3 and 9-5 cars rolled out of the factory, Mannes bil wanted to be sure to equip the cars with all the extras. In order to do that, they needed drawing and connection diagrams for the cars; they were difficult to find. Their solution…disassemble the cars and explore how they work. Genius!
With an amazing reputation and their recognition in the Swedish Saab world; customers come from near and far to service their Saab at Mannes bil. They come as far as the West Coast, Dalarna and Sundsvall. When I met them, they were working on six cars inside the workshop, and at least ten more were outside waiting for service. Saab is still well and truly alive in this workshop!
By doing regular service on your car, you ensure that it is in a reliable and safe condition, and also that its value is maintained. Maybe it’s time for an oil change? Or make an AC check for the summer? Here you can book a service directly with our various workshops.