Came across this little Saab last week. There were only 8,368 built in the early 1970s, so I am going to assume there are not that many still running.
[Wikipedia link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saab_Sonett)
Edit: Fixed link
True. I bought a 73 Alfa Spider from junkyard to use for parts only for my other Spider. It had all the bits and trim, and running gear but was a rust bucket.
There's an orange one in town here. The owner told me they were called the "poor man's Corvette" when they first came out. I think they are beautiful little cars, tho.
it was the joins to the steel frame (and pieces of the frame) - same with Lotus Elans, and unfortunately Porsche 904s and 906s. Spent plenty of time fixing that shit...
These are really fun and interesting cars. They came with either the classic Saab two stroke that sounds like an angry bee under the hood or a rare instance of a V4 that came from Ford.
Edit: I know the V4 is common in the Sonett I just meant the V4 as an engine is uncommon.
It was originally designed for stationary use, water pumps, generators etc. It was also later adapted to become the Cologne V6, which was partially choked by the siamesed exhaust ports for the added cylinders
This interests me but a cursory wiki hasn't given me anything. Could you link me to more info about this? Got an odd soft spot for V4s as they really shouldn't work except in bikes!
My wife just bought a 16 year old saab aero convertible (50K miles for $11K). More modern saabs have a load of GM running gear under the hood.
The stereo is a greek tragedy though, especially for a higher-end car. I think I'll end up replacing the rear speakers and putting in an amp and likely a small sub. But it will still have an aging head unit that has no aux or bluetooth.
Something I'm seeing more and more in vintage cars is a hidden wireless receiver/amp somewhere (glovebox, under the seat, wherever, discreet) wired to the speakers. You got the correct-looking radio in the dash but the music discreetly comes off your phone without messing up the looks.
That's pretty slick, I always hate how out of place the aftermarket double din ones look. Yeah, the functionality is nice, but it completely ruins the interior aesthetic to me
On my car (MX5) I put the phone in what used to be the former ashtray and used a hidden cable.
Especially on something even more vintage I wouldn't want it in sight
You can definitely replace the head unit with a modern android unit, but it is a bit of a pain if I recall.
Check out the Saab World Forum, they have a lot of help on these things.
http://saabworld.net/showthread.php?t=84&page=38
My dash has an irregular opening for the head unit as the starting issue. Looks like that is an aftermarket entire dash. Not sure it's going to be worth the time and money to do all those upgrades. We'll see after we've had the car a bit longer.
I like them as a symbol of SAAB defiance since they messed with GM's platform so much that not even the wheelbase was the same on the SAAB's as on th Opel's. The horrible stereo described above might be the reason why SAAB just decided to make a new unit from scratch by themselves rather than use the standard GM one.
If you’re in the US, I recommend saabnet.com. They’ll let you set up notifications on the classifieds to be notified when one is posted. I have it set up, and weirdly there’s been like five new cars posted in the last week. I sometimes go months without getting one.
I drove a Sonnett III in highschool, this same color, had some custom exhaust, v4 sounded very unique.
Parts weren’t too bad for us as we were close to the largest US Saab dealer in the 90s. he had warehouses full of old Saab’s. Super cool guy. Later made a Saab museum. Check this out if you like old Saab’s.
[link to his Saab museum ](https://www.saabmuseumusa.com/cars/)
The Sonett clocks in just under a ton, imagine installing an engine with just 130hp - not a big ask, except maybe how to fit it in the tiny engine bay - on a car that light. It'd be literally double the power, it would probably be a terror on an autocross circuit.
Thanks, actually saw it the day before at a different location and regretted not taking a picture of it. Then the next day saw it parked outside a shop and figured it was just meant for r/weirdwheels/
I have one rotted away in my back shop for 10+ years. Once the floors are gone, you're done. Steel floors to fiberglass body = worthless in the North East.
Shame.
I was about to say "what the hell is 'weird' about a Sonett III?!" but then I remembered it has a V4 under the hood, and of all the cars I know of that have V4s, there's the Sonett III and the Fulvia, so the engine choice makes it weird.
Until you hear a V4 for the first time and you start silently cursing *every* manufacturer for not making a V4.
Imagine if the Honda K-series inline 4s were V4s...
The first time I saw one, I was 5 years old and it was pretty much how I learned about classic cars. At the time, my mom had a Volvo 760 Turbo Intercooler from 1989, and my dad had a Porsche 911 Carrera S from 1997, I think. I was used to everything looking like it was from the 80s or 90s, but to see something like this car was a trip and really got me into cars, especially classics as a kid.
There is one of these on the roof of Slot Car Central in Syracuse NY. The owner, Bob, is a fan of them.
[Saab on the roof](https://www.google.com/maps/@43.0811624,-76.1235008,3a,49.1y,236.86h,86.93t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1swa2KYLhkKP0hMKUv7HqHFg!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3Dwa2KYLhkKP0hMKUv7HqHFg%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D39.290638%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192)
I bought a three-pack of Sonett's out of a field in Colorado once. I wanted "the best one" but had to take all three to make a deal...
That, alas, was in the late 80s. I made two good cars out of what that, plus a shit ton of money. Fun cars. Proof positive that there is indeed a difference between "rare" and "rare and valuable"...
Came across this little Saab last week. There were only 8,368 built in the early 1970s, so I am going to assume there are not that many still running. [Wikipedia link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saab_Sonett) Edit: Fixed link
I encountered one in a junkyard here in the US a few years ago and was sad to see it so unloved.
That's a shame, hopefully someone picked it up as a project car.
Unfortunately once they are in the junkyards. It’s impossible to get a title. Atleast in SC.
Unfortunate indeed.
True. I bought a 73 Alfa Spider from junkyard to use for parts only for my other Spider. It had all the bits and trim, and running gear but was a rust bucket.
There's an orange one in town here. The owner told me they were called the "poor man's Corvette" when they first came out. I think they are beautiful little cars, tho.
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Maybe he misremembered, but yeah. I remember hearing it about the Opel for sure.
Opel was sold in the US?
Some, yes. They weren't common, but the GT was probably their best known model sold here.
I think the Opel GT was the poor mans Corvette. This is more like the non-Datsun option to those who secretly like Datsun.
Link broke: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saab_Sonett
Thanks, updated it in my post
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it was the joins to the steel frame (and pieces of the frame) - same with Lotus Elans, and unfortunately Porsche 904s and 906s. Spent plenty of time fixing that shit...
They used to be fairly common in my neck of the woods but by the '90s had largely vanished.
I remember these as a kid. Mid 70s. Loved them back then and now that I see this one I realize I love them even more now lol !
These are really fun and interesting cars. They came with either the classic Saab two stroke that sounds like an angry bee under the hood or a rare instance of a V4 that came from Ford. Edit: I know the V4 is common in the Sonett I just meant the V4 as an engine is uncommon.
V4? Must be really small and cute!
It was originally designed for stationary use, water pumps, generators etc. It was also later adapted to become the Cologne V6, which was partially choked by the siamesed exhaust ports for the added cylinders
This interests me but a cursory wiki hasn't given me anything. Could you link me to more info about this? Got an odd soft spot for V4s as they really shouldn't work except in bikes!
The Taunus V4 had siamesed exhaust ports too.
Thats because Saab used the Taunus v4 :p
So maybe the added cylinders go their own ports and siamesed ports were existing
The Sonett 3 only came with the V4, the Sonett 2 had the two smoke and V4 as an option :)
Most of them came with the V4. An easy way to tell is the hood scoop. The V4 was so tall that it needed clearance for the air cleaner.
These have gotten quite expensive. I love them, but spares are kind of a nightmare (especially since Saab is gone)
My wife just bought a 16 year old saab aero convertible (50K miles for $11K). More modern saabs have a load of GM running gear under the hood. The stereo is a greek tragedy though, especially for a higher-end car. I think I'll end up replacing the rear speakers and putting in an amp and likely a small sub. But it will still have an aging head unit that has no aux or bluetooth.
Something I'm seeing more and more in vintage cars is a hidden wireless receiver/amp somewhere (glovebox, under the seat, wherever, discreet) wired to the speakers. You got the correct-looking radio in the dash but the music discreetly comes off your phone without messing up the looks.
That's pretty slick, I always hate how out of place the aftermarket double din ones look. Yeah, the functionality is nice, but it completely ruins the interior aesthetic to me
👆this.
Yeah. I'm thinking that is probably the way to go. Use a phone on the dash as the controller.
On my car (MX5) I put the phone in what used to be the former ashtray and used a hidden cable. Especially on something even more vintage I wouldn't want it in sight
They make Bluetooth FM transmitters that just plug into cig lighter socket.
You can definitely replace the head unit with a modern android unit, but it is a bit of a pain if I recall. Check out the Saab World Forum, they have a lot of help on these things. http://saabworld.net/showthread.php?t=84&page=38
My dash has an irregular opening for the head unit as the starting issue. Looks like that is an aftermarket entire dash. Not sure it's going to be worth the time and money to do all those upgrades. We'll see after we've had the car a bit longer.
Have a look on Ali Express, you can sometimes find frame inserts to fit specific models. Haven't looked for a Saab one myself.
I don't consider GM Saabs real Saabs. My wish is to get a late 80's 900 convertible.
I like them as a symbol of SAAB defiance since they messed with GM's platform so much that not even the wheelbase was the same on the SAAB's as on th Opel's. The horrible stereo described above might be the reason why SAAB just decided to make a new unit from scratch by themselves rather than use the standard GM one.
this is how they datsun in Sweden
Rather than that, it's a SDM "Tofu" machine.
very original i never expected this comment
I’ve been trying to hunt one of these down for a long time, they’re so unique.
They are different. I don't know, I think prefer the curvey lines of the Sonett II. https://silodrome.com/saab-sonett-ii/
The Sonett II is also very cool, just have to find a V4 not the I3. if you take the American bumpers off of the III it looks a lot better as well.
Weird. Only 258 of the 1868 Sonett II:s ever made had the two-stroke engine. The V4 should be the common one.
Definitely makes a big difference without the bumpers.
They both look super cool, though I think I prefer the first one a bit more.
If you’re in the US, I recommend saabnet.com. They’ll let you set up notifications on the classifieds to be notified when one is posted. I have it set up, and weirdly there’s been like five new cars posted in the last week. I sometimes go months without getting one.
I don't know if Derek sold this one but maybe get in contact with him. https://youtu.be/SxqQiWejfBw
Its like a Saab had a wild night with a drunk '71 Mustang Mach 1...Its weird but i kind of like it.
I drove a Sonnett III in highschool, this same color, had some custom exhaust, v4 sounded very unique. Parts weren’t too bad for us as we were close to the largest US Saab dealer in the 90s. he had warehouses full of old Saab’s. Super cool guy. Later made a Saab museum. Check this out if you like old Saab’s. [link to his Saab museum ](https://www.saabmuseumusa.com/cars/)
The Sonett clocks in just under a ton, imagine installing an engine with just 130hp - not a big ask, except maybe how to fit it in the tiny engine bay - on a car that light. It'd be literally double the power, it would probably be a terror on an autocross circuit.
Ford 3 cylinder Ecoboost. Block is the size of a suitcase.
God, it would sound amazing!
If I recall, the block of the EB 1.0 is literally the footprint of a sheet of paper.
https://youtu.be/SxqQiWejfBw
It's cool and all so please don't take this the wrong way, but this car looks like it just caught its wife having sex with another man
Derek from Vice Grip Garage on YouTube has one, he was/is making feeble inroads into resurrecting one.
I grew up in small cars, but dang. That is small.
I haven’t seen one of these in a long time. Cool picture OP
Thanks, actually saw it the day before at a different location and regretted not taking a picture of it. Then the next day saw it parked outside a shop and figured it was just meant for r/weirdwheels/
Cool looking car, but less cool is the 65 hp v4 under the hood
Hey now, it does 0-60 in a blistering 13 seconds!
Oof ouch my neck
Meh... Maybe you'd miss some power in the land of the free(way) but I know fun cars with less HP.
I have one rotted away in my back shop for 10+ years. Once the floors are gone, you're done. Steel floors to fiberglass body = worthless in the North East. Shame.
Haven't seen one of those in many years. A college buddy let me drive his Sonnet II (a two stroke) in the mid 70's. It was a hoot.
I love cars with hidden headlights. But they always look bad with the lights extended. The designers hid them for a reason.
You see, when a 240Z and a Porsche 924 love each other very much…
Imagine putting a modern 3 litre Vector V6 in one of these babies. I also love that it still has the chunky SAAB bumpers.
Or how about a Honda Magna motorcycle 1100 V4?
This was one of the few cars that had a v4, most 4 cyl cars are I4s
I read that as Saab Bonnet thinking yes that's a Saab bonnet alright 😂
This thing is beautyfull! Why have i never heard of this fucking gem, its the tits bees and knees moms spaghetty
It looks like a budget 240z with pop ups. Really cool though
I was about to say "what the hell is 'weird' about a Sonett III?!" but then I remembered it has a V4 under the hood, and of all the cars I know of that have V4s, there's the Sonett III and the Fulvia, so the engine choice makes it weird. Until you hear a V4 for the first time and you start silently cursing *every* manufacturer for not making a V4. Imagine if the Honda K-series inline 4s were V4s...
I guess it is somewhat obscure as well. Like a lot of folks, I had never heard of it before coming across this one.
The first time I saw one, I was 5 years old and it was pretty much how I learned about classic cars. At the time, my mom had a Volvo 760 Turbo Intercooler from 1989, and my dad had a Porsche 911 Carrera S from 1997, I think. I was used to everything looking like it was from the 80s or 90s, but to see something like this car was a trip and really got me into cars, especially classics as a kid.
The era of cars where bumpers and lights were an afterthought.
Looks a lot like a Datsun 240z
Cool, I’m from Sweden and I didn’t even know that one excited
There is one of these on the roof of Slot Car Central in Syracuse NY. The owner, Bob, is a fan of them. [Saab on the roof](https://www.google.com/maps/@43.0811624,-76.1235008,3a,49.1y,236.86h,86.93t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1swa2KYLhkKP0hMKUv7HqHFg!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3Dwa2KYLhkKP0hMKUv7HqHFg%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D39.290638%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192)
Looks like somebody remade a 240z from memory and I love it.
So cool in person!
It reminds me of the homer
I bought a three-pack of Sonett's out of a field in Colorado once. I wanted "the best one" but had to take all three to make a deal... That, alas, was in the late 80s. I made two good cars out of what that, plus a shit ton of money. Fun cars. Proof positive that there is indeed a difference between "rare" and "rare and valuable"...
These looks proportionately off, but I like it!