Saab Ponies Up a Free 9-5 Aero for Owner of Million-Mile Car

MILWAUKEE — A Wisconsin man who drove a Saab for a million miles, then donated the car to a museum, is being given a free brand-new 9-5 Aero by the automaker.

Peter Gilbert's high-mileage 900SPG is going to be displayed on the Saab stand at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit next month.

Saab has extended the same new-car gift offer to all other comers who can prove they have driven a Saab a million miles from new. That offer expires at the end of 2007, however. Saab Automobile USA says it is "convinced of the jetlike performance and endurance of its products," but a spokesman told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel newspaper that so far Saab doesn't know of anyone else who might be close to taking the company up on its offer.

The 1989 900SPG, which had its mileage verified by Saab last summer, was Gilbert's work vehicle; he's a traveling insurance salesman. He drove the million miles with the car's original engine and turbocharger, Saab said. His new 9-5 Aero will be handed over at Saab's Aero Academy at the Road Atlanta racetrack in Georgia early in 2007. Gilbert described himself as "obviously thrilled" and threatened that he "might take a run at another million miles in [his] new 9-5!"

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