Caroftheday.com is a new website that can best be described a competitor to bring-a-trailer. The site features a different car, or two, each day. They feature the typical weird, rare, interesting, and obscure cars that we all love. Today COTD featured this [sc name=”ebay” itemid=”131893112587″ linktext=”Saab 9-3″ ] that was converted into a six-wheel flatbed car hauler.
When we think of converting a car into flatbed hauler we can’t think of a better vehicle than the [sc name=”ebay” itemid=”131893112587″ linktext=”Saab 9-3″ ], because Saab is the answer to everything. Unfortunately this ad omits several key features of the vehicle, such as everything. Seriously, this is the worst eBay ad ever. There only this one picture and no description. Too bad, because we have so many questions.
Truck Thursday: Saab 9-3 Flatbed Car Hauler
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For starters, it’s a 9-5, not a 9-3.
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They listed the exterior color as black.
Curiously enough, putting the listed VIN into the googs turns up a black Saab in Houston, TX
https://www.carstory.com/detail/2007-saab-9_3-houston_tx-YS3FH46U371112941
I’m filing this under fishy. -
That 9-3 did look fishy to me. In the end I wasn’t sure which one it was.
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The seller is hoping for a ten thousand dollar opening bid? I can make someone a slightly better deal than that for a SAAB-based auto transport system, and I’ll even throw in the whole car, not just the front half.
https://c8.staticflickr.com/3/2861/13450695943_3ccef07c0d.jpg-
Holy hot damn I want that so bad. I hope you’re not in the northeastern US because I could make some very bad decisions if you are.
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Fortunately for at least one of us, I am instead in Seattle.
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Not sure who the more fortunate one is…
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Oh, I have my theories.
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Kamil–thanks for the shout-out! Yes, I’m the Large Editor At Large at Car Of The Day, and we’d love for anyone to come check us out. Pay special attention to the WTF tag, which certainly describes this Saab, and other odd cars of particular Hoon interest.
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Here is a similar one based on a Dodge Caravan : http://www.netbug.net/blogmichael/?p=21
I think I’d be happier with that rather than a conventional car-based one, even if only for the smaller bumper to back of cab dimension. I would wonder if there is much benefit over a VW Transporter cab-chassis based version though, other than a fancier dashboard.-
That’s an insanely nice build.
The advantage over the VW-based one is that this is not.-
I should clarify I was referring to a newer fwd Transporter, ie T4/T5/T6 generation, not the old rear-engined one which clearly would inhibit this layout! A Fiat Ducato (Ram van of some name) would be similar, they are popular for motor homes.
There is a company out here that cut off the rear chassis rails and install their own body that is basically 2 spars that contain the rear suspension and wheel, with a setup that allows you to hydraulically lower the tray to the ground. They don’t have enough width to fit a car though, unless it was one of mdharrell’s little machines…-
Mine was a dig at the T4, et al. That’s not a transmission I’d want to use for anything more than the Transporter itself.
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Ok I understand. I don’t have any familiarity with their problems
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Lucky guy.
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Years ago a guy that lived not too far from me made a similar contraption with a early 70’s Eldo and a double axle car race car trailer. He of course used it as he had the trailer as a race car hauler.
In a similar vein around the same time frame there was a company making low boy flat bed tow trucks by taking a 4wd Chevy 3500 whacking the frame off behind the cab and locking the transfer case in 4wd. It did make for a load deck that was only 8-10″ off the ground. I can’t imagine that the transfer case and front axles really liked that or lasted all that long.
“When we think of converting a car into flatbed hauler”
I confess I have never in my life thought of such a thing.
I will endeavor to do better in future.
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Keep in mind that ramp decks are also acceptable.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_i_AovfzNXgQ/TBUPI0nc_8I/AAAAAAABNNQ/eliDXU09Mbw/s1600/AMC+Pacer+car+hauler.jpg-
Wow, one has to wonder what kind of drugs were involved when they thought up using the back half of a Pacer as a truck cab. I do have to give the builder some props for the integration of the aero headlights as they seem to blend in pretty well with the *front* fender.
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In light of the comment from the designer’s brother that it was sketched “on a bar napkin” I’m guessing alcohol:
http://hooniverse.info/2010/06/12/hooniverse-weekend-edition-ultra-cool-vintage-car-transporters/
It’s called Recap, in that it’s a backwards Pacer.
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Really more like a SAAB 9-1.5, isn’t it?
I’m more partial to the various Citroëns modified by Tissier.
Citroen does it better, the hydropneumatic suspension can be used to adjust loading height
http://xm.ms-kl.de/images/aagarage800.jpg
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