source: TurboNines Staff

As we approach the holiday season, TurboNines has compiled a list of twelve gifts for the Saab enthusiast. There are numerous stores out there that offer Saab-branded merchandise (linked below), so we've compiled a list of less-obvious choices - less obvious ways to show off your enthusiasm for Saab. The staff here at TurboNines hopes you enjoy perusing this varied list and, more importantly, would like to wish you and yours a happy holiday season... regardless of what holiday you celebrate.


1. 99 TurboGrunge Organic Bark Skateboard
Whether you skate or not, it’s hard not to like this deck design with its Saab 99-inspired print design that we found over at Zazzle as part of the GriffinGear collection. Of course, it being Zazzle, the print is also available on a shirt, but we much prefer the deck as either mode of transportation or as wall art. And, if the 99 TurboGrunge design doesn’t do it for you, check out the GriffinGear collection over on Zazzle for just about any other Saab-subject print delivered on T-shirts, skateboards, mousepads, mugs and the like.

More Information:
99TurboGrunge Organic Bark Skateboard
Griffin Gear Webstore



2. Michael Mauer Saab Design Book
If you’re into Saab, you’re likely also into design. Even if you’re not too sure, one can never go wrong with a good coffee table book and we’re guessing the bargain rack at Borders is light on Saab-centric tomes. Enter EWA (or Chaters for UK readers) and the ‘Car Men’ series volume on Saab designer Michael Mauer and Saab design. It’s even cooler since it’s rare – a UK market book that isn’t even listed on Amazon.com and one of the many reasons we find ourselves going back time-after-time to EWA’s online store and New Jersey showroom.

More Information:
EWA Cars (USA)
Chater's Motoring Booksellers (UK)



3. Manchester City Vintage Football (Soccer) Jersey
This is perhaps the most subtly Saab-centric item on our list. It’s a little known fact except maybe to the most Saab-rabid that Saab UK sponsored the Manchester City Football (Soccer) club in 1982 and 1983. We’ve searched and searched for a reproduction vintage jersey from those seasons, complete with Saab logo on the front, but we’ve only found real vintage ones (read: worn and used or not worn and highly collectible) on Ebay, UK and the like. This won’t stop the truly resourceful gift-giver bent on a Saab-labeled baller jersey, but we’ve found a repro 1972 jersey sans any sponsor logo whatsoever and in the light-blue hue used during the Saab sponsorship era. For us, this is the next best thing and only the truly schooled on Saab lore will even appreciate it at the next owners’ get-together you attend.

More Information:
World Soccer Shop (USA)
Manchester City Official Shop (UK)




4. 1:43 Resin Models by NEO Scale-Models
If you know much about scale model car collecting, then you probably already know that the 1:43 scale is one of the most common and easiest to collect short of a Matchbox or HotWheels. Perusing the rows of model vendors at September’s Paris Auto Show reminded us as well that few of the mainstream manufacturers make Saabs of any sort – no fun for collectors who are also into Saabs.

Given the costs to cast a body in metal, major model manufacturers haven’t made the Saab plunge. Fortunately for those of us into the more obscure or less marketable, models made from resin are a great way to make up the difference. The up side is that costs of production are much lower. The down side is that hand-made resin models are often much more expensive. At least that’s what we thought before we spotted some NEO scale models over at EWA.

The Jersey-based model car shop stocks many NEO models, though only the Saab 95 if you’re solely seeking Trollhattan offerings. For the more resourceful, you can also hit a European vendor (several listed) who carry the whole NEO lineup. Scanning the NEO website, we also found the 99, 99 Turbo, 900 Convertible and even a 900 Turbo 16S Coupe. Buyer beware though, resins are also commonly sold as kits and not pre-assembled. Make sure you’re ordering a pre-built version unless a kit is exactly what you are looking for.

More Information:
EWA Cars (USA)
NEO Scale Model Cars



5. Bottle of Griffin’s Lair Wine
Here’s something you wouldn’t initially think of for that car enthusiast on your shopping list. Paul Giamatti’s character in Sideways drove a Saab 900 convertible in his quest for good wine and our Saab-centric attention was peaked after hearing the name of the winery that makes this particular Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir.

Griffin’s Lair is a small family winery named for the couple that operate it, though the griffin theme at Saab is easily relayed – from logo in image to special editions in name. That Giamatti’s character in Sideways was on a mission of Pinot Noir tasting doesn’t hurt either. Tie-in your love for a bottle of vino with your love for Saab by pairing a bottle of Griffin’s Lair Pinot a DVD of Sideways for a package gift.

More Information:
WineChateau.com
Griffin's Lair Information



6. Autonet In-Car Mobile Wireless Network
Maybe you’ve heard the news. Chrysler’s Mopar unit has been marketing a car-based wi-fi setup. We’d heard about it and were curious… not enough to go out and buy a 300C or anything, but curious enough to dig a bit deeper.

It turns out Chrysler is sourcing the mobile router from a company named AutoNet and it is not a proprietary Mopar piece. What this means for you is that the hardware can be installed in your Saab with relative ease by your dealership, a garage who knows their way around electronics or a stereo shop, which will then bestow you with a mobile wi-fi hotspot over the mobile phone 3G network with no special software to install or external antenna to mount. The router measures 7x7 inches, weighs 12 ounces and, we’re told, is most easily mounted in the trunk.

AutoNet is currently offering a promo - $399 for the unit and three months of service. After that, it’s $29 a month – salty… but also quite convenient. Of course, you can pick the router up at a Mopar dealer, but AutoNet reps also suggest you contact them via their website for a listing of the company’s dealers near you.

More Information:
AutoNet Mobile



7. Phantom Alert GPS Speed Trap Database
If you’ve got a portable navigation unit, a pass to the Phantom Alert GPS Speed Trap Database is the perfect addition to a Valentine 1 in a quest to stay free and clear of speeding tickets.

On a photo shoot of a BullRun road rally car, we couldn’t help but notice multiple Garmin Nuvi units mounted… even in addition to the car’s OE system. One reason – portable devices like the Nuvi are more easily compatible with point-of-interest importation and updating than OE systems like the one that might already be in your Saab.

For $9.99 a month, you get a subscription to the Phantom Alert database with over 20,000 ‘verified’ speed traps. Phantom Alert also allows you to submit your own known speed trap locations in case you care to pay it forward.

More Information:
Phantom Alert



8. Parc.de Posters
Parc.de is one of our favorite online shops. This Germany-based vendor has what we believe to be one of the most thorough offerings of automotive posters and prints in the world… at least for European cars.

Don’t believe us? Click the link and do a search for Saab posters. The mix has a decidedly vintage focus. Still, we’re guessing there’s plenty here you’ve never seen before and, amongst the most intense Saab enthusiasts, that’s not an easy feat.

More Information:
Parc.de



9. Playsam Saab Keychain
Consider this the stocking stuffer on our list. At $13.50, it won’t break the bank and a keychain won’t take up too much space under the tree either. In case you haven’t heard of them, PlaySam is known for making toys that are as much art as they are plaything. That they’re Swedish and have a Saab fetish doesn’t hurt either. As you can imagine, PlaySam makes several larger and more expensive Saab-inspired items, but the Saab keychain – a bug-eyed take on the Sixten Sason-designed urSaab 92 is an easy and stylish way to get started with your likely-to-grow PlaySam collection.

More Information:
Kids Scandinavian Shop
PlaySam



10. Pop Icon Griffin T-shirt
As you may have noticed in the rest of our gift guide, we like to keep our Saab-interest on the subtle side. If, like us, the art is in not seeing the art as they say, then this Pop Icon Griffin T-shirt from Buckle.com should grab your attention. The griffin print, red on a blue shirt, also happens to use Saab colors – red and blue. That he’s in a fighting stance like our own TurboNines logo seals the deal in our eyes. Yes he wears no crown, but no obvious Saab text either means you can wear it without looking car-preachy amongst your Camry-driving friends.

More Information:
Buckle.com



11. Salomon X Aero Shoes
The Salomon tie-in with Saab doesn’t just end at skis. Check out these hiking shoes from Salomon as well. Like the skis, the shoes feature the Aero X name. The design, for us, could be a bit more consistently Saab but we’d take a pair just the same.

More Information:
REI.com
Salomon Sports



12. Randolph Aviator Sunglasses
Ahhh the ‘80s. If you drove your original 900 to a showing of ‘Top Gun’, you probably already had an appreciation for Aviator sunglasses. In case you’ve been living under a rock, this classic sunglass design has had a comeback over the last year or two as well.

When most think Aviators they think Ray-Ban, but we’ve found something different. Randolph Engineering supplies shades to the U.S. military and also offers a host of options so that you can tailor them to your own tastes. Being able to choose arm style, frame finish, lens hue and frame size makes for a seriously wide selection of variations on the common Aviator theme to suit your needs – try matte black frames and grey lenses to look at home in your Turbo X. We went for the bayonet arms and a satin chrome frame that’s quite close to the satin aluminum trim of a 9-3 Aero - a modern take on a sunglass classic. Even better than tailored choices, Randolphs are also quite affordable at $99.

More Information:
Randolph Engineering


Other Webstores You Should Consider:
Saab Expressions - Official Saab Online Store
ElkParts
State of Nine