Built by Trolls

[Stef]

Just delivered to me a couple of days ago, all the way from
Vigo, Spain by ship using RoRo, THIS......
1968 Saab SONETT
Made in Trollhatten, Sweden took
4-1/2 months from negotiations with delay during the previous holidays and all the red tape to arrive in my driveway. The seller is a Saab collector and had this one in his collection since 2009.
It's not that fast but it is swift and handles great, and so far is a hoot to bomb around in. I've only been on a few short drives so far and it gets alot of attention. Also it is the original paint and the car is in great condition for its age.
Should be a real Crumpet catcher
One thing to note it is powered by FORD (V4) and has a 4 speed on the column.
Some Manuel's are
'3 on the Tree' or
'4 on the Floor'
This one is 'Quad on the Rod'
Some will say
" they blame the squirrels "
As for me I blame Leno.

 

[Stef]

A few interior pics.

 

[PeteK]

I remember driving one of those. Weird cars, but fun. IIRC, the earlier models had a 2-stroke engine.

 

[Stef]

I remember driving one of those. Weird cars, but fun. IIRC, the earlier models had a 2-stroke engine.

They only made approx 50 of the first 300 Sonett 2's with the two stroke (1966 model year) flat hood and wood dash panel.
Highly sought for Saab that rarely comes up for sale.

After mid 66 to 1969 all came with the V4.

 

[GT Tech]

In the early 70s, the VW dealership I worked at took on a SAAB store. Myself and 2 other mechanics went to SAAB training school. The first SAAB I worked on was a Sonnett with a bad clutch. A helpful tip, don't disassemble the hidden head light mechanism.

 

[texas mongrel]

Had a Saab when we lived in Oslo. Funky cars with the ignition key between the seats. Great in the snow!

 

[DLM]

Wow, I truly never believed I would see a Sonett and Ford GT owner. I have a ‘69 that I restored over 3-4 years while I was still working. Looks like you have a 1.7 liter V4. Send pm if you want to compare notes.

 

[fjpikul]

Am I in the Twilight Zone?

 

[Stef]

Wow, I truly never believed I would see a Sonett and Ford GT owner. I have a ‘69 that I restored over 3-4 years while I was still working. Looks like you have a 1.7 liter V4. Send pm if you want to compare notes.

Now I'm surprised myself.
I thought I might be the only
Ford man and Ford GT guy with a soft spot for Saab's.
Your restoration looks really well done, very nice!
Mine actually has the 1.5 liter that it came with.
It's an all matching numbers survivor
Sonett 2 V4. I got lucky getting this one.
I definitely will PM. Thanks.

 

[Sinovac]

Am I in the Twilight Zone?

 

[Stef]

Am I in the Twilight Zone?

At least it's the fastest color.
You know thats what they say about the Red ones

 

[Stef]

In the early 70s, the VW dealership I worked at took on a SAAB store. Myself and 2 other mechanics went to SAAB training school. The first SAAB I worked on was a Sonnett with a bad clutch. A helpful tip, don't disassemble the hidden head light mechanism.

Wow, that's cool and good to know.
I wonder how many more
Ford GT/Saab owners there would be on the forum had we known we had a Saab tech in the house?

Maybe even Dr. Frank

 

[GT Tech]

Wow, that's cool and good to know.
I wonder how many more
Ford GT/Saab owners there would be on the forum had we known we had a Saab tech in the house?

Maybe even Dr. Frank

Your car should have a lever or knob that will let the car free wheel when you lift off the gas. I rebuilt the motor on a SAAB 92. It had the 750 cc. "Monte Carlo" motor. 3 cyl, 2 stroke. As the head was cast with the block, to rebuild the bottom end you removed the oil pan, undid the main caps, and lift the whole crank, rods, and pistons as a unit, out from the bottom. The cylinder bores were tapered at the bottom to facilitate dropping the new assembly in. Fun cars to work on, but VERY weird. The V-4 in your car started out as a Ford of Germany industrial irrigation pump motor. Look at a picture of 80s Ford Ranger/Bronco V-6. Same basic motor just with an extra 2 cylinders. 2600 cc to 2900 cc Used in English Capri and countless Ford vehicles around the world. Somewhat under powered, but almost unbreakable. Don't forget to adjust the valves as it will have solid lifters.

 

[Stef]

Your car should have a lever or knob that will let the car free wheel when you lift off the gas. I rebuilt the motor on a SAAB 92. It had the 750 cc. "Monte Carlo" motor. 3 cyl, 2 stroke. As the head was cast with the block, to rebuild the bottom end you removed the oil pan, undid the main caps, and lift the whole crank, rods, and pistons as a unit, out from the bottom. The cylinder bores were tapered at the bottom to facilitate dropping the new assembly in. Fun cars to work on, but VERY weird. The V-4 in your car started out as a Ford of Germany industrial irrigation pump motor. Look at a picture of 80s Ford Ranger/Bronco V-6. Same basic motor just with an extra 2 cylinders. 2600 cc to 2900 cc Used in English Capri and countless Ford vehicles around the world. Somewhat under powered, but almost unbreakable. Don't forget to adjust the valves as it will have solid lifters.

Interesting.
Yes, I checked the freewheel, working okay.
Didn't know the commonality with the latter Bronco/Ranger engines.
Still learning everything I can on the V4s.
I also have a 1966 Mod 96 Monte Carlo 850CC. All the Saab two strokes I have ever seen or worked on the Cylinder heads are bolt on and use a head gasket.
I rebuild this one pictured here.

 

[GT Tech]

Interesting.
Yes, I checked the freewheel, working okay.
Didn't know the commonality with the latter Bronco/Ranger engines.
Still learning everything I can on the V4s.
I also have a 1966 Mod 96 Monte Carlo 850CC. All the Saab two strokes I have ever seen or worked on the Cylinder heads are bolt on and use a head gasket.
I rebuild this one pictured here.

You might be right on the head, but I do remember lifting the crank, rods and pistons out as a unit. If memory serves, the 750 had 3 solex carbs It's been 50 years ago, and memory is a bit fuzzy. I mistyped the cc of the other V6s. They started with a 1600 cc initially. Have fun with your Sonette. At the SAAB training school I went to in Chicago, they showed a very early TV commercial from Sweden showing a group of engineers strapping a test pilot in a 92 and barrel rolling it down a ski slope. At the bottom, the carried the the unlucky "passenger" out, another jumped in, started it up and drove it away.

 

[DLM]

More pics of the Monte Carlo??

 

[Stef]

You might be right on the head, but I do remember lifting the crank, rods and pistons out as a unit. If memory serves, the 750 had 3 solex carbs It's been 50 years ago, and memory is a bit fuzzy. I mistyped the cc of the other V6s. They started with a 1600 cc initially. Have fun with your Sonette. At the SAAB training school I went to in Chicago, they showed a very early TV commercial from Sweden showing a group of engineers strapping a test pilot in a 92 and barrel rolling it down a ski slope. At the bottom, the carried the the unlucky "passenger" out, another jumped in, started it up and drove it away.

With the three cylinder 2 stroker they made a 750CC and an 850CC Monte Carlo in tribute to their Racing and rallying history.
Also you are correct about the engine assembly. After a block has any machining or prep done the entire rotating assembly, crank. con rods, pistons and bearings is put together and assembled as one unit into the block and cylinder bores.
Really a unusual design when you consider, Saab translates to
(Swedish Aeroplane Co Corp) built planes and latter supersonic jets that are in some cases even more sophisticated than our own.
Note the Solex carbs and 12 head bolts.

 

[Stef]

More pics of the Monte Carlo??

You got it, see attached.

 

[fjpikul]

That really looks pristine. No radar detector?

 

[DLM]

Outstanding, looks really nice. Trade for my Ford? My Dad had this 1964 GT850 below back in the day. No I couldn’t afford color film.