Istorie
Not many cars get a 20-year span of production, and fewer make it through those years with only one major change. The SAAB 96 is one of those cars. Often referred to as a “turtleback” design, the SAAB 96 won many rallies and other races with its excellent handling and tough, dependable mechanicals.
Full description
Not many cars get a 20-year span of production, and fewer make it through those years with only one major change. The SAAB 96 is one of those cars, and it may look like a curiosity to modern eyes but the car survived and prospered.
The original SAAB 96 was introduced in 1960 as a 1961 model year car. The 96 succeeded the older SAAB 92 and 93 models, and was co-produced with the similar SAAB 95 station wagon through 1978. The 96 was part of the SAAB design tradition: a two-door coupe with front wheel drive and an aerodynamic body. That’s no accident; SAAB is an acronym for Svenska Aeroplan AB – the Swedish Airplane Corporation. Much of the badging and grille design reflects that heritage, and SAAB was also engaged in airplane design and production throughout the 96 era.
The first six years’ production of SAAB 96 were delivered with the traditional inline three-cylinder, two-stroke engine. The engine displaced 841 cc and produced 38 horsepower. That engine stayed the same through 1967, with minor adjustments to increase the horsepower to 46. A special Monte Carlo version delivered 60 horsepower. Transmission options included a three-speed or four-speed manual. Buyers could also order the Saxomat automatic centrifugal clutch through the 1965 model year.
In 1966 a secret project by SAAB’s head of engine development, Rolf Mellde, resulted in a palace coup at the automaker. The 1967-68 models could be ordered with the traditional two-stroke (now known as a “Shrike”), or for the 1967-71 models, a new Ford V-4 engine that displaced 1498 cc and produced 64 horsepower.
To meet the emissions requirements of the American market in 1971, the 96 was given a larger 1698-cc version of the same V-4 engine. For 1973, the SAAB 96 was carried over with no changes, and this was the last year the car was formally imported into the US, although production continued in Europe through January of 1980. Saab has built 547,221 units.
Often referred to as a “turtleback” design, the SAAB 96 won many rallies and other races with its excellent handling and tough, dependable mechanicals. Driver Erik Carlsson won the 1960, 1961 and 1962 RAC Rally and the 1962 and 1963 Monte Carlo Rally with a SAAB 96. In 1973 si 1976, Stig Blomqvist and Per Eklund won the WRC Rally Sweden driving a SAAB 96. Also, in 2011, a 1966 SAAB 96 set a new land speed record for 750 cc, stock body, and production cars at 110.113 mph.
This car has traveled 11,130 km.
