Truck Thursday: Saab 9-3 Flatbed Car Hauler

saab tow truck flat bed
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.

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  1. Borkwagen Avatar
    Borkwagen

    For starters, it’s a 9-5, not a 9-3.

    1. Batshitbox Avatar
      Batshitbox

      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.

    2. Kamil K Avatar

      That 9-3 did look fishy to me. In the end I wasn’t sure which one it was.

  2. mdharrell Avatar

    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

    1. Borkwagen Avatar
      Borkwagen

      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.

      1. mdharrell Avatar

        Fortunately for at least one of us, I am instead in Seattle.

        1. Kamil K Avatar

          Not sure who the more fortunate one is…

          1. mdharrell Avatar

            Oh, I have my theories.

  3. Chris Tonn Avatar

    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.

  4. outback_ute Avatar
    outback_ute

    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.

    1. dead_elvis, inc. Avatar
      dead_elvis, inc.

      That’s an insanely nice build.
      The advantage over the VW-based one is that this is not.

      1. outback_ute Avatar
        outback_ute

        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…

        1. dead_elvis, inc. Avatar
          dead_elvis, inc.

          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.

          1. outback_ute Avatar
            outback_ute

            Ok I understand. I don’t have any familiarity with their problems

          2. dead_elvis, inc. Avatar
            dead_elvis, inc.

            Lucky guy.

  5. Scoutdude Avatar
    Scoutdude

    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.

  6. kogashiwa Avatar
    kogashiwa

    “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.

      1. Scoutdude Avatar
        Scoutdude

        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.

        1. mdharrell Avatar

          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.

  7. Van_Sarockin Avatar
    Van_Sarockin

    Really more like a SAAB 9-1.5, isn’t it?

  8. Inliner Avatar
    Inliner

    I’m more partial to the various Citroëns modified by Tissier.

  9. SlowJoeCrow Avatar
    SlowJoeCrow

    Citroen does it better, the hydropneumatic suspension can be used to adjust loading height
    http://xm.ms-kl.de/images/aagarage800.jpg

    1. SlowJoeCrow Avatar
      SlowJoeCrow

      image embed failed