18th January 2021

Swede taste of success - An exploration of the Saab 96

Many cars are lauded for being ahead of their time or underappreciated, but the Saab 96 is surely one of the finest, most advanced trend-setters to ever be overlooked.

Fully deserving of being considered alongside the Mini, Beetle and 2CV as inspirational cars of the people, the 96 enjoyed a 20-year production run and forged a reputation for durability and class-defining success both on the road and in competition.

Launched in 1960 as a two-stroke, three-cylinder family car, the original three-pot engine evolved through various states of tune and, for limited models, even came with triple-carburettors. You wonder how much fuel an 841cc engine really required. The early cars made an immediate statement by, in the eyes of the public, over-achieving on the rally stage. The slippery shape, robust engineering and fully independent suspension were as at home marauding through forests and gliding across the roughest rally terrains as they were delivering Average Joe to the office on a Monday morning. At the hands of Erik Carlsson, the 96 came first in the 1960, ’61 and ’62 RAC Rally and also took top place on the podium in the ’62 and ’63 Monte Carlo.

Saab decided it needed more poke and a more modern powerplant, and so in 1967 it unveiled the V4 with 1498cc of four-stroke power originally of Ford design. Its compact dimensions made it the perfect fit between the swooping flanks, which on early cars contributed to a lower coefficient of drag than a Jaguar E-Type. 

All cars swapped cogs using a column shift gearchange, evolving through its lifespan from a non-synchromesh three-speed to an all-synchro four-. However, the gearbox provides the V4 with one of its most famous quirks. A freewheel-type clutch arrangement was utilised for the two-stroke cars for enhanced durability and was retained for the later V4. The design enables the clutch to spin at a higher speed than the crankshaft, a little like a detached flywheel, which has the effect of eradicating traditional engine braking. It can be an unnerving experience for the uninitiated.

Of course, the 96 wouldn’t be a Saab if it wasn’t safe and the car helped contribute to the manufacturer’s famous reputation. Seatbelts as early as ’62 and dual-circuit brakes from ’64 were joined by disc brakes in ’67 while most manufacturers, especially those of mass-produced family transport, were still reliant on drums.

The V4 carried on where its thee-cylinder sibling left off, by humbling the big names on rally stages. It was especially dominant on snowy home ground, with Stig Blomqvist winning the Swedish Rally as part of the World Rally Championship in both ’73 and ’76.

As pioneers of over-engineering go, we can’t think of many more fascinating examples than the Saab 96. Agree? We’d love to hear your memories and ownership stories in the comments below.

I used to own a red Saab 96 v4 over 35 years ago, but alas it was involved in a car accident, not of my own responsibility but resulted in the radiator being smashed backwards into the engine and the car was written off. Recently I have been pining for another Saab 96v4. I bought one recently in a classic car auction, and have had it sprayed in a Stig Blomqvist red colour. Decals have now started to come in from various websites and I hope to have the body customised as per his Swedish rally 1973 triumph. I love driving this car which g Has an engine sound of its own, and people watch it roar past them and look at it as if to say “What the hell is that” Not a car for the faint-hearted in winter with its flywheel technology, as my wife will testify, but a pure joy machine for this 63-year-old boy racer. Enjoy your dreams guys and girls. I’m living mine now. Cadfael Warrington Cheshire

Cadfael, 12/01/2023

Can anybody help. I was given a new Saab96 V4 for my 21st birthday in Jan 1971. It was in Saab red and came from Anderson Motors, Hazel Grove. I kept the car ( registered SJA426J )for about 3 years and had Anderson Motors build the car up to light rally spec. This included 28/36 Webber, rally seats, half roll bar, full safety harness, Hilda trip master, beefed-up brakes, Nav light, Rev counter, wider steel wheels, 2x Cibie super Oscars, sump guard, bonnet strap, Saab works exhaust. The car was sold by Anderson Motors (now no longer in business) on my behalf at the end of 1973. I have been looking for my old Saab for the last 30 years. I have tried the DVLA numerous times, I have tried owners/enthusiast clubs and sites where you enter the reg number. All to no avail. I appreciate that it could have been scrapped. It was put on Sorn in 2010. So if anyone has any ideas, before I give up the quest, please let me know. Thanks in anticipation Tim Brookes

Timo, 16/06/2021

I owned a 96 for many years. It was a fantastic, if quirky car that was an ugly duckling. It could cruise all day at 80mph, was very economical, smooth and relatively quiet. The folding rear seat and large opening into the luggage compartment made it almost as practical as a hatch. It was at home in the snow and rough ground, and had a wonderful exhaust warble, making a “wud-wud-wud” sound that some mistook for a V8. What I loved the most was the column change and dependability.

Tim, 28/05/2021

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