Archive for September, 2013

PNW Special – How Hard Could It Be? 1980 Saab 99 GLi

September 2, 2013

Last week, we here at RustyButTrusty were up in the Pacific Northwest (which, incidentally, is getting a new nickname of Pacific Northwarm – instead of Northwet – after this summer). As usual, the scenery was inspiring, but there was a major lack of interesting old cars on the road compared to the old-car-loving San Francisco Bay area. That didn’t stop us from spotting an MGB, a Citroen DS, a BMW 2002, and the resident Alfa Milano on Airport Road in Everett. However, upon arrival back home, we were shocked and disappointed to discover that not one, but two Saab 99s had popped up on craigslist in Skagit County, home of the RustyButTrusty in-laws. Find the first of two, a Saab 99 GLi, in Bow, WA, just north of Mount Vernon, WA (where the I5 bridge collapsed).

1980 Saab 99 GLi right front

(more…)

PNW Special – 1990 Subaru Loyale 4WD Turbo Wagon plus bonus Brat

September 2, 2013

Back before Subaru broke into the mainstream in the late 1990s with its Legacy Outback, it was making something unusual that seems commonplace now – a turbocharged all-wheel-drive car. Granted, some parts of the concept had been done before by cars like the Jensen FF and Ford Mustang with Ferguson AWD, but these were very expensive, limited production, or both. Subaru brought this technology to the compact class in the early 1970s, well before the Audi Quattro or AMC Eagle. While on a recent trip to the Pacific Northwest (PNW), I was reminded of my search for one of these to use as a daily driver in the late 1990s, and decided to find one to feature here. Even back then they were hard to find, and our car today is one of the few remaining turbo Loyale wagons in Multnomah County, near Portland, OR for $1250.

1990 Subaru Loyale Turbo Wagon left side

(more…)