Classic Recollections: Swedish survivor back on the road
Beautiful scenery is what makes cruising fun. When it comes to area backdrops for a classic car show, few views can top the picturesque sights of Lake Delavan, Wisconsin.
The Cars Time Forgot show takes place right on its sparkling banks at the historic, 130-year-old Lake Lawn Resort. The annual show is organized by the Delavan-Delavan Lake Area Chamber of Commerce.
This year on July 10, more than 800 vehicles were on display. One standout was not only a car time had forgotten, but also most enthusiasts have, as well. It was a 1967 Saab Model 96 Monte Carlo, owned by John Potter of Grayslake.
As a 25-year-old, he bought the car in Mundelein from its original owner. It had been purchased new at Europa Motors in McHenry.
"Back then, I was buying any Saab I could find," John said. "Many owners were dissatisfied and selling them cheap."
Others may have been disenchanted with the polarizing cars, but John loved them. "I bought them for ice races. They were quick and handled well - the best snow goats in the world!"
Because of their front-wheel drive design and heavy steel construction, John found them perfect for blasting around frozen lakes. The enthusiast made some performance mods to this car, but never raced it - at least not on ice. Most nights back in the '70s, he and several other Saab-driving friends could be found tearing through Libertyville.
"We used CB radios to communicate and drove the cops nuts," said John, who went by the call sign White Rabbit. "Another identical white '96 and I'd run on opposite sides of town and get everyone confused."
Other lead-foot pals included the Mad Hatter and the Queen of Hearts. After two years of use, John sold the vehicle to buy a 1974 Norton Commando motorcycle. He found the owner of Europa dealership was willing to buy back the '96 Saab.
However, the Monte Carlo did not go out on the lot. It became his personal project. The owner repaired some minor rust and replaced the floor pan but never finished the repairs. The car was parked behind his barn, where it sat for the next 35 years until he passed away.
The car was gifted to one of the owner's mechanics. "I leaned on him hard for three years to sell it back to me," John recalls. "Finally, I convinced him."
John brought the car home and set to work returning it to like-new condition. Rust had ruined the front tub, so John removed all the rivets and installed a replacement nose section. That was just the tip of the iceberg. By the time the project was finished, the entire car had been gone through from top to bottom.
The three-year overhaul wrapped up last summer. Just as decades ago, it's apparent the peculiar ride has quirks. For example, the powerplant Saab used is a Ford industrial engine that was also used in heavy machinery. Another is the fan in the heater assembly - Saab sourced it from Electrolux, a company that made vacuum cleaners.
Some may scoff, but John is a certified fanatic. He's owned 13 Saab 96s and 14 other Saab models. He'll never forget the first time he saw a Saab at age 15 or his immense love for these charming Swedish machines.