Description

1962 Saab 96

Zingy 2-stroke; a very presentable example; ex-Dutch museum; recent recommissioning and freshly serviced; running like a 'top'; ideal historic rally car

Saab of Sweden is one of those truly innovative and original manufacturers whose products have always appealed to a more cerebral class of motorist who value form and function above the superficiality of fashion – much like Bristol in England and Citroen in France.

Car production began with the Saab 92 of 1949, a ground-breaking design built on aircraft principles with an aerodynamic monocoque structure stamped out of a single piece of sheet metal and powered by a two-cylinder two-stroke engine.

However it was the third iteration of the 92 platform that really catapulted Saab to international attention, the Saab 96 that was unveiled in 1960. The first Saab officially imported to the UK, it was powered by a 38bhp 750cc three-cylinder two-stroke engine mounted longitudinally ahead of the front axle, but this was upgraded to a 40bhp 841cc unit in 1964.

For competition use a 57bhp version was available in the Sport and Monte Carlo models and it was in motorsport that the 96 really excelled, winning the RAC Rally three times on the trot from 1960 to 1962 and winning the Monte Carlo Rally in 1962 and 1963.

This sharp-looking Deluxe dates from 1962 and comes with the larger 841cc triple two-stoke. Turbine smooth, it has just had the once over by Graham Macdonald, local Saab guru who was impressed with the car, his only comment being that the handbrake was binding slightly. We are also advised that it has had a fresh startermotor and a new coil...

Imported into the UK by the vendor in 2021 and subsequently UK registered 770 XVT, it had spent time previously living in Holland.

Presenting very nicely, this pretty two-stroke holds lots of appeal, either as a quirky classic or classic rally car for which it would clearly be eminently suitable and a great basis to work from.

There are a few papers from Holland and a Swedish instruction manual included.

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