I appreciate you not using AI for the voice over. I just clicked off a video that referred to Stellantis as Atlantis, so I guess he/she didn't check the 8 minute video for mistakes. There are a LOT of them popping up, by people who obviously don't care about cars.......
Thank you, I really appreciate that - I started this channel 2 years ago just cuz I was watching documentaries on old planes and was like well I can make that for quirky old cars since that's what I like. I am SO happy so many people have watched my videos and shared in the enthusiasm. The AI clone videos of mine are annoying and poorly done, I choose to believe over a long enough timeline those types of videos will never be as good as one researched, written, and spoken by a real person!
When I encounter one I stop, do a thumbs down and leave the comment robo-voice = auto thumbs down. You can also right click thumbnail and select "Do Not Recommend Channel" This is the only way to communicate with the robo-algorithm that determines the promotional position of these videos.
I feel your pain brother those AI voices are really starting to get old lol. They mispronounce all kinds of stuff it's hilarious but after you see about 20 videos in a row you get tired of it really quick
Thank you for the video! The Saab Sonett II wasn't actually a Saab project at all from the beginning. It was a study at my fathers company, Malmö Flygindustri AB, called MFI 13. MFI was located in Malmö in the south of Sweden, a General Aviation producer and composite company. The chief designer for the mechanical side of Sonett II and III was my fathers old friend Björn "Andy" Andréasson. I will stay a little on Andy. Most of the 50th he worked in the US. Mostly at Convair, later acquired by General Dynamics. He held the title of group engineer and was in charge of control systems. Examples of aircraft that he made the control systems for include Convair 880 and 990 Coronado. Not to forget the Convair F-106 Delta Dart. Björn Andréasson much later was the chief designer for the Volvo Concept car "Volvo LCP 2000". Where by the way Rolf Mellde (Saab Sonett I) was the project manager. As for the Sonett, Björn Andréasson showed me the drawings for the Saab Sonett IV. It was a mid-engine car, borrowing the engine and gearbox from Saab 99. The Saab Sonett IV was also 4 wheel drive. If I remember correctly, the date on the artist's impression is 1970. I can vividly imagine the Sonett IV with the Saab Turbo 16 engine. Best Regards from Sweden Rudolf Abelin jr PS I was also a friend of Per Gillbrand - Mr Turbo
HI FROM ATHENS !! UNFORGEYTABLE AND VERY VIVID AFTER 50 YEARS !! REMAIN [ BIORNS ADDREASSON S AIRPLANES FRAWINGS !! IN AIR MAGAZINES LIKE> AIR= PROGRESS !!!// ETC ETC!!!// REALLY VERY GLAD N LUCKIE !+> READING YOUS RECOLECTIONS!!// WARM DEGARDS
I won dozens of autocross races with the Sonnet, than any other sports car I ever raced. The 1969 model I ran, had a 4 stroke, Ford Taunus V-4. This engine was so dependable it was amazing. Plus we started pulling 90 horsepower out of that little 1,500 cc engine and 100 horsepower out of the 1,700 engine. Much more torque than other Saab engines. The 4 speed on the column was GREAT, You could shift gears with your fingers without taking your hands off the steering wheel. The console shifter was a pain. It was loose and in the wrong place. The entire Front End of the 1999 car tilted forward ie Jaguar, Spitfire. An EXCELLENT car, handled perfectly, could out corner any MGA, MGB, TR6, TR4, Austin Healy, etc. The second winning car we raced was the 1967 Triumph Spitfire - well after we replaced the floating rear end and multiple U joints with a Toyota solid rear axle. Sonnets after 1970 did not have the spark, handling or feel. And anything is better than an Alfa Romeo.
If you want to experience being barely able to fit, try driving a Mazda Miata, especially a first generation one, when you have size 14 shoes. 🙄 I had to operate the brake pedal with the right edge of the tread of my right shoe at a sort of a 45° angle. What was I thinking _even test driving_ that thing? I should have gotten in and said "Nope." and gotten out.🤦🏻♂️ The clutch was easy, but the brake and the gas pedal were tricky for size 14 shoes. I remember thinking you must have to be a little Japanese girl with bound feet to drive the thing.
In 2007-8, I was living in SoCal. On the weekends, I would meet with some fellow dirt bikers to ride the mountain trails around state route 2, northeast of L.A. early in the morning. Our meeting point was shared by a group of Sonett enthusiasts. There would be around a dozen or so of them, enjoying the twisty mountain road. I think it's great that there was (and probably still is) a community of Saab enthusiasts keeping these quirky little cars alive and driving them how they're meant to be driven. I hope they're still having fun with these little cars.
When going to USC, I would wake early on Sundays and drive the freeways! Nobody!!! Six lanes each direction and nobody! That was in my Trans Am, but dad later got a Saab 900 turbo which was a blast to drive. Handled like a go-kart!
@@garybulwinkle82 I experienced that many times in L.A. Sunday mornings are so good. Little traffic, few cops, and you can get up to speed and see how it's running. EDIT: That's our little secret. Keep it on the down low!
I was an Alfa Spider guy with a '72 Spica injected 2 liter, which I actually still have. Never considered the Sonett though we all knew about them. The air pollution and energy crisis spawned some painful but needed regulations that hobbled cars in the late 70's along with some absurd laws such as - you can only drive 55 mph to save fuel however you also have to haul around 300 pounds of bumper.
I thought I knew a lot about cars of the sixties and seventies, especially British and European cars of that era, as I am British. .... But I have never even _heard_ of the SAAB Sonnet!
Friend had a Saab with the V6 Ford engine and also had the two-stroke engine in his other Saab,,,His father was on the Saab road racing team north america...
I remember a few of the 2 stroke sedans driving around my small home town in New England when I was a kid. My dad called the corn popper Saabs because of the sound
I miss my Saabs. I have had 4 of them. an 88 SPG, a 91 900s, a 96 900 turbo, and a 2008 9-3 SportCombi. All except the 96 900 turbo were fun cars. that particular car tried to steer itself into the nearest curb everytime boost came on.
I hate gear shifts on the tree, always preferring 4 or 5 on the floor. I learned on a 1963 Mercury Comet with three on the column, but column shift was just not intuitive for me. I like being able to look down and see the pattern. I wish I had bought that MGB that I looked at in 1975. If my memory serves me correctly, it was a dark green (British Racing Green?) with a black convertible top. I would have also loved to have had a Triumph TR6.
I learned to drive in a Saab V4 coupe with the four speed on the column. I saw my first Sonnet in Eau Claire, Wisconsin in 1973. I have wanted one ever since. But they are sufficiently rare and impractical that I have never acquired one. Now that I live in Southwestern Texas any car without air conditioning is not an option.
Those early SAABs are called ninetytwo, ninetythree and ninetysix. Not nine two, nine three and nine six. Ninetytwo was actually the project number for the first twocylinder car. Project 91 was the SAAB Safir airplane.
Maybe a lack of a dealer network, hampered the car in the US. And it was probably not practical as an only car but as a second car. What damaged the sports cars in America, and now all cars and trucks, were the regulations. The 5mph bumper requirement also forced many sports cars to be raised, which impacted handling to meet the bumper height requirment.
SAAB used to have a racing parts division for the European market. The V4 was used in Rally cars, and speed parts are still available. As far as owning an older sportscar, I would go for a Triumph Spitfire with a turbo'd Miata engine/six speed... Or a Triumph GT-6.
I always found it odd that a car company that made a pretty good rally car couldn't seem to understand how to make a competitive sports car. I think it really could have helped them in the US.
In the original cartoon version of Inspector Gadget, some say the Gadget Mobile could have been based on a Lotus, but it really looked more like a Sonett III.
I bought my very first cat in April 1974, a brand-new MG Midget. I loved that tiny little car! About that time, I saw a Saab Sonnet for sale. I was fascinated by it, but my dad advised against me buying it.
I think I'd go the MG. This is for one reason, spare availability. MG's aren't rare. Those Sonnets are cool, but as far as cars are concerned, you don't want an orphan.
I had a 74 too but didn’t experience any electrical issues other than the high beam relay went bad. I had it replaced at a Saab dealership. It was a fun car to drive but needed more hp and a 5th gear.
Hell yeah! I had mountains of early SAAB V4s and one Sonnett. Absolutely great cars. Thanks for covering this! Sonnetts were created by taking a 96 sedan bodyshell platform & shortening it & cutting it down at the tops of the spring perches. All underpinnings shared w/the 96. And these early ones are called Ninety Six, not Nine Six. 😁
When I was in College I was roaming around the sports car dealers used car lots. My friend and I tripped over a 1967 Sonnet series II. The three cylinder two stroke engine four speed column shift. Beautifulcar.
Would I rather have a Sonett over an MG? LOL I have a prize MGB (72 BGT hatch built to 140 HP) but I've always wanted a Sonett as well! I had use of a 73 some 45 yrs ago I remember it was a fun driver
One thing to consider is that early SAABs weren't really any good for most of the U.S. However, in their proper environment, they were kings...I grew up in snow country (upstate New York), and my dad was a real 2-stroke SAAB fan-boi because of their rally history (Look up Eric "Carlsson-on-the-Roof"). My dad and one of his buddies would go out in their SAABs racing through the mountains early on Saturday mornings all winter. The SAABs with their tiny two-strokes couldn't accelerate for a damn, but with the free-wheeling you could build up hella momentum, and being front-wheel drive and weighing nothing you never slowed down for a curve... ever. Nothing out there could keep up on a snow covered road. There weren't any other FWD cars really and all the 4WD stuff handled like trucks, which they were. The cars were rugged too. My dad's friend rolled on into a snow bank one Monday morning and (since there was lots of snow in that snow bank) he was just 20 minutes late for work. The only damage to the car was that the battery acid spilled on the inside of the hood. But...now to the Sonnet. My dad test drove both a Sonnet II and later a Sonnet III, and I (little kid) got to ride along. Scary, even for my dad, he said. In the sedans you were in a rugged little roll cage of a car. In the Sonnet you were riding around naked except for the pretty but flimsy and thin fiberglass. I seem to recall CAR AND DRIVER of the day saying the body was beautiful but "don't let the cat walk on it" (cause it'll break). The Sonnet III with all that torque - would accelerate going uphill!- this was big stuff in the SAAB world! So, my dad passed (I don't think he even asked my mom). The Sonnets were faster, again in their snow-country element, but you lost that confidence that you could bomb though anything and come home alive.
There really was room for a V6. I drove a friend's Sonnet that had a swapped in 2.6L Ford V6. The biggest issue was weight distribution, as the heavier engine hung further out ahead of the front axle. FUN!
I've owned 4 different SAABs over the years though not a Sonett but have ridden in one. Hopefully I'll have a chance to drive one someday before they all disappear.
My brother had a plum colored (1972?) 4 stroke Sonnet III. He could pick up the back end and swing it to the side to get out of a tight spot. A friend had a 2 stroke which was several years older. They were fun cars.
Great vid, I never knew about these cars, the roadster and series three are my favorites. Keep the cool videos coming bro and thanks for not using AI narration.👌👍🔥🔥
The Sonnet 1 was built for a specific class in racing. By the time the car was built, the regulations had changed, moving the car into a larger engine class. The decision was made to discontinue the Sonnet 1 model.
Good video, Thanks. The roadster, 2-seater 94 looks so much like the UK's Berkley, along with having a 3 cyl. 2-stroke, that I first thought you'd had some kinda mixup! A friend did a clutch in a Sonett 50 some years ago and he wasn't very happy about it, he liked working on rare stuff, but dealing with the cars AND the owners too was TOO much. No one else wanted to touch them.
A lot of car youtubers are saying that the only reason all modern cars look the same is because that's what the consumer wants. I disagree. Anyone can save enough money for a BRZ, but the common man cannot keep up with the insurance payments. Insurance companies know which cars are worth driving and so charge a small fortune for them, essentially discouraging the common man from wanting to own one. Cars like these are still wanted. Certain people don't want the common man to have anything good and so they priced us out of it. Remember when Lobsters were once considered commoner food? This is just like that.
One of my all-time favorite cars! Probably gotta win the lottery to own one though! How can anyone not love a V4 powered car? Really I want two. One that's stock, but with some easy to reverse suspension mods to make it handle better...and one that would get a Hayabusa engine in it (turbo charged of course!) and a fully adjustable racing spec suspension setup with maaaaad chassis bracing and subtle aero mods. A stock-ish original, and a full-blown pocket rocket! The track day special for daily use would be setup for pure acceleration and would top out at 120-140mph max! Also, I would alter the daily track weapon to be either RWD or AWD with a torque sensing variable center differential that can turn of the front wheel drive completely with the twist of a knob. Body would also basically stay the same, just a good tucked chin spoiler, a duck tail spoiler, and a tucked diffuser with a flat bottom/streamlined undercarriage. I've been thinking about this for a looooonnnnng time. Just gotta get that scrilllla first
I owned a TR3 and later a '74 Sonnett. I found the TR to be a bit quicker and more fun with the rwd. The Sonnett also had very firm unforgiving seats and was more of a choir to get in and out of.
I'd love to find an old Saab Sonett 3 and replace the Ford V4 for an American V4 made by MOTUS. The Motus engine is 1650cc yet puts out 160-180hp and 120ft lbs of torque. Mated to a 5 speed from Tremec or the original Saab 4spd and you'd have a smart little car capable of keeping up with traffic and supplying the power this car needs without adding extra weight. I've even seen the Motus V4 supercharged and churning out well over 200hp! Imagine pulling up beside some funny looking Saab in your Porsche Boxster only to have it kick your butt with ease!! Now that, would be a fun time!!
The v4 did make it state side just not in the automotive market, If memory is right the bobcat skid steer used them as well as some other industrial applications.
That SAAB 94 was gorgeous! First time I saw a Sonnet3 in person I was shocked at how small it was 😮. I certainly appreciate the have fun but not get in trouble” ethos 😊, and sorry, but the Alpha would be my first pick😢. Nice video!
I went with the Alfa and still have it but the 60's and 70's had so many cool cars to pick from. Of course we're all nostalgic now and not going to actually give up our twenty-first century car for a smokey, cantankerous contraption from fifty years ago but yea, they looked good!
Many commenters commenting that they'd love to have one of these without an awareness of 0 to 60 in 15 seconds and zero crash protection in a 1500 lb car along with being a two-stroke with unobtainium parts. A clever company ought to take the four-cylinder turbos which are ubiquitous in junk yards and build a high-end honorary speedster tribute, those little lowriders were nifty
With that sturdy V4 it is a rugged car. It is very safe. You can roll that puppy and live. It was designed that way. It was a good car. But Saab was unknown here.
The rare time a two stroke was used in a car, its a shame it was always a motorcycle displacement. A 1.7L inline 6 two stroke would have been interesting...
I test drive a Sonnett 3 back in 74, and was throughly unimpressed it. While the shape was intriguing, the pow to weight ratio of the car was terrible when compared to an MG or anything else British being sold in America at that time.
Love the whole ethos of saab not to follow the crowd light weight sports cars simply don't need massive powerfull engines they make up for there lake of power with the whole handling performance you are able to use all the hourse power and have a real hoot at the same time with out having to worry about speed limits .I have a mg tf not the most powerfull car but a real joy to drive on country roads😊😊😊
Charming little car. Just not a very good little car. My friend and I had identical orange 1974 Sonett III’s. Quite insubstantial vehicles. When you would go to buy a parts car, the parts car would always have a parts car and the guy would make you buy both. So you’d stop by a dumpster with a Saws-all and chop up one of the parts cars. If you call pulled the T-handle for the lights on the highway, the wind would catch them open and nearly break your wrist😢. Car driver magazine described driving the car as riding on a skateboard down the highway with a mop bucket over your head for $3400. And they were so f’in tiny my boss bought mine because he was afraid I was gonna get killed in it
Choosing a compact four cylinder death trap was the dumbest decision made by morons of the era.!! 😡 When those tiny death traps were involved in an accident with a much larger vehicle, they cracked up into a thousand pieces as did the passengers inside‼️🤔☠️😱😩🤷🏽♂️ Large but quick and agile American Muscle has always been the intelligent persons choice.!!😘
I appreciate you not using AI for the voice over. I just clicked off a video that referred to Stellantis as Atlantis, so I guess he/she didn't check the 8 minute video for mistakes. There are a LOT of them popping up, by people who obviously don't care about cars.......
To be fair, both Atlantis and Stellantis were destroyed by their hubris
Those A.I. voices are hella annoying, fr, fr, on god, no cap. (As the juvenile delinquents will say)
Thank you, I really appreciate that - I started this channel 2 years ago just cuz I was watching documentaries on old planes and was like well I can make that for quirky old cars since that's what I like. I am SO happy so many people have watched my videos and shared in the enthusiasm. The AI clone videos of mine are annoying and poorly done, I choose to believe over a long enough timeline those types of videos will never be as good as one researched, written, and spoken by a real person!
When I encounter one I stop, do a thumbs down and leave the comment robo-voice = auto thumbs down. You can also right click thumbnail and select "Do Not Recommend Channel"
This is the only way to communicate with the robo-algorithm that determines the promotional position of these videos.
I feel your pain brother those AI voices are really starting to get old lol. They mispronounce all kinds of stuff it's hilarious but after you see about 20 videos in a row you get tired of it really quick
Thank you for the video!
The Saab Sonett II wasn't actually a Saab project at all from the beginning. It was a study at my fathers company, Malmö Flygindustri AB, called MFI 13. MFI was located in Malmö in the south of Sweden, a General Aviation producer and composite company.
The chief designer for the mechanical side of Sonett II and III was my fathers old friend Björn "Andy" Andréasson. I will stay a little on Andy. Most of the 50th he worked in the US. Mostly at Convair, later acquired by General Dynamics. He held the title of group engineer and was in charge of control systems. Examples of aircraft that he made the control systems for include Convair 880 and 990 Coronado. Not to forget the Convair F-106 Delta Dart.
Björn Andréasson much later was the chief designer for the Volvo Concept car "Volvo LCP 2000". Where by the way Rolf Mellde (Saab Sonett I) was the project manager.
As for the Sonett, Björn Andréasson showed me the drawings for the Saab Sonett IV. It was a mid-engine car, borrowing the engine and gearbox from Saab 99. The Saab Sonett IV was also 4 wheel drive. If I remember correctly, the date on the artist's impression is 1970.
I can vividly imagine the Sonett IV with the Saab Turbo 16 engine.
Best Regards from Sweden
Rudolf Abelin jr
PS I was also a friend of Per Gillbrand - Mr Turbo
HI FROM ATHENS !! UNFORGEYTABLE AND VERY VIVID AFTER 50 YEARS !! REMAIN [ BIORNS ADDREASSON S AIRPLANES FRAWINGS !! IN AIR MAGAZINES LIKE> AIR= PROGRESS !!!// ETC ETC!!!// REALLY VERY GLAD N LUCKIE !+> READING YOUS RECOLECTIONS!!// WARM DEGARDS
I won dozens of autocross races with the Sonnet, than any other sports car I ever raced. The 1969 model I ran, had a 4 stroke, Ford Taunus V-4. This engine was so dependable it was amazing. Plus we started pulling 90 horsepower out of that little 1,500 cc engine and 100 horsepower out of the 1,700 engine. Much more torque than other Saab engines.
The 4 speed on the column was GREAT, You could shift gears with your fingers without taking your hands off the steering wheel. The console shifter was a pain. It was loose and in the wrong place.
The entire Front End of the 1999 car tilted forward ie Jaguar, Spitfire. An EXCELLENT car, handled perfectly, could out corner any MGA, MGB, TR6, TR4, Austin Healy, etc. The second winning car we raced was the 1967 Triumph Spitfire - well after we replaced the floating rear end and multiple U joints with a Toyota solid rear axle.
Sonnets after 1970 did not have the spark, handling or feel. And anything is better than an Alfa Romeo.
finally! my first car was a '76 sonnet III. I'm 6'4" and fit perfectly....I did have to literally roll out of the car, tho. I will own one again.
They stopped making the Sonnet in 1974
@@ejford5083 Sonett
If you want to experience being barely able to fit, try driving a Mazda Miata, especially a first generation one, when you have size 14 shoes. 🙄
I had to operate the brake pedal with the right edge of the tread of my right shoe at a sort of a 45° angle. What was I thinking _even test driving_ that thing? I should have gotten in and said "Nope." and gotten out.🤦🏻♂️
The clutch was easy, but the brake and the gas pedal were tricky for size 14 shoes.
I remember thinking you must have to be a little Japanese girl with bound feet to drive the thing.
SAAB Sonnett is one of my alltime favorite sportscars. A teacher in my high school ( early 1970s) had one.
Had a basketball coach owned one in 72, loved it.
In 2007-8, I was living in SoCal. On the weekends, I would meet with some fellow dirt bikers to ride the mountain trails around state route 2, northeast of L.A. early in the morning. Our meeting point was shared by a group of Sonett enthusiasts. There would be around a dozen or so of them, enjoying the twisty mountain road.
I think it's great that there was (and probably still is) a community of Saab enthusiasts keeping these quirky little cars alive and driving them how they're meant to be driven. I hope they're still having fun with these little cars.
When going to USC, I would wake early on Sundays and drive the freeways! Nobody!!! Six lanes each direction and nobody! That was in my Trans Am, but dad later got a Saab 900 turbo which was a blast to drive. Handled like a go-kart!
@@garybulwinkle82 I experienced that many times in L.A. Sunday mornings are so good. Little traffic, few cops, and you can get up to speed and see how it's running.
EDIT: That's our little secret. Keep it on the down low!
That Ford V4 is a great mill, very unique and exotic indeed, once had the joy of experiencing one powering a german-market spec Ford Capri.
The V4 was no good in the Transit, ours got swapped out for a Perkins diesel.
Troublesome in the Transit but more powerful at 2 litres. For about half again price you could buy an E Type.
I studied in Sweden 🇸🇪 for a few years. I absolutely *lusted* after the Sonett III ❗
(And I still do, actually).
Cheers from Iceland 🇮🇸,
-K.
Saab cars are just brilliant. I don't think I would want an old 2 stroke car. But I would definitely drive a V4 Sonnet
If I would take the Sonett over an MG just for the sake of that sweet V4 sound? DEFINITELY!
Maybe. But I think I'd take a Triumph TR-4 over a Sonett.
I worked at a Saab dealership in high school and drove a few of these. Sorry, now that I didn’t appreciate it back then.
I remember when the Saab was released. I was a kid then and i thought they were so cool.
I was an Alfa Spider guy with a '72 Spica injected 2 liter, which I actually still have. Never considered the Sonett though we all knew about them. The air pollution and energy crisis spawned some painful but needed regulations that hobbled cars in the late 70's along with some absurd laws such as - you can only drive 55 mph to save fuel however you also have to haul around 300 pounds of bumper.
I worked at a car dealership that carried Saabs in the 1990s. They were quirky cars that had their fans.
I had a 71 with the small bumpers in purple. Cool car!
I knew a guy in high school who had one in purple! Awesome ride.
A 4 on the tree? That's wild...
I had one in my '70 Saab 95. It was fine.
Benz had column 4 speeds for a lota years
I thought I knew a lot about cars of the sixties and seventies, especially British and European cars of that era, as I am British. .... But I have never even _heard_ of the SAAB Sonnet!
There is a place near me that has one cut in half that they use for a sign on their building
lol
Any Sonett is a fun driver, and will attract a lot of attention at cruise night.
Friend had a Saab with the V6 Ford engine and also had the two-stroke engine in his other Saab,,,His father was on the Saab road racing team north america...
V4
I learned to drive a manual transmission by test driving a SAAB Sonnet III, a Opel GT, and a Subaru Brat.
Of course my dentist had one along with the 900 Turbo.
I remember a few of the 2 stroke sedans driving around my small home town in New England when I was a kid. My dad called the corn popper Saabs because of the sound
Miss my ‘78 99 Turbo and my ‘82 900 Turbo. Wish I had a Sonnet III.
I miss my Saabs. I have had 4 of them. an 88 SPG, a 91 900s, a 96 900 turbo, and a 2008 9-3 SportCombi. All except the 96 900 turbo were fun cars. that particular car tried to steer itself into the nearest curb everytime boost came on.
We had a Transit camper with the 1.7 V4. Even in that van it was a sweet little engine.
I hate gear shifts on the tree, always preferring 4 or 5 on the floor. I learned on a 1963 Mercury Comet with three on the column, but column shift was just not intuitive for me. I like being able to look down and see the pattern.
I wish I had bought that MGB that I looked at in 1975. If my memory serves me correctly, it was a dark green (British Racing Green?) with a black convertible top. I would have also loved to have had a Triumph TR6.
Years ago, in Minnesota, I saw a couple Sonnett ice racers with Mazda rotary engines. They screamed and won.
I learned to drive in a Saab V4 coupe with the four speed on the column. I saw my first Sonnet in Eau Claire, Wisconsin in 1973. I have wanted one ever since. But they are sufficiently rare and impractical that I have never acquired one. Now that I live in Southwestern Texas any car without air conditioning is not an option.
Those early SAABs are called ninetytwo, ninetythree and ninetysix. Not nine two, nine three and nine six.
Ninetytwo was actually the project number for the first twocylinder car. Project 91 was the SAAB Safir airplane.
Maybe a lack of a dealer network, hampered the car in the US. And it was probably not practical as an only car but as a second car.
What damaged the sports cars in America, and now all cars and trucks, were the regulations. The 5mph bumper requirement also forced many sports cars to be raised, which impacted handling to meet the bumper height requirment.
Actually, they were raised because of the headlight height requirement.
@ramblerdave1339 Yes, though bumper height may have also been an issue.
SAAB used to have a racing parts division for the European market. The V4 was used in Rally cars, and speed parts are still available. As far as owning an older sportscar, I would go for a Triumph Spitfire with a turbo'd Miata engine/six speed... Or a Triumph GT-6.
I always found it odd that a car company that made a pretty good rally car couldn't seem to understand how to make a competitive sports car. I think it really could have helped them in the US.
Love the real human narration
In the original cartoon version of Inspector Gadget, some say the Gadget Mobile could have been based on a Lotus, but it really looked more like a Sonett III.
I had a new ‘85 Saab Turbo. It had 175 HP on 2,880 lbs. it was very fast and handled like it was on rails.
I love the forgotten little gems in automotive history
I remember seeing a few of these on the roads in the '70s and early '80s. I didn't know they were front wheel drive.
I was fortunate enough to have owned an alfasud 15ti when I was a youngster,it went like stink and i used to absolutely lovit!!! 💖💯💖💯
Love a Sonett, although I'm unlikely to ever see one in person. Thanks for featuring such a cool car!
It was the Ford Taunus engine. Pronounced “ tawnus “ , not tanis .
If I could imagine a car into reality. I would imagine a Triumph Spitfire with
an 1800cc Honda Goldwing engine. And it would be built by Toyota.
Fiat 124 (new generation) with an LS swap
Fiat 124 (new generation) with an LS swap
I bought my very first cat in April 1974, a brand-new MG Midget. I loved that tiny little car! About that time, I saw a Saab Sonnet for sale. I was fascinated by it, but my dad advised against me buying it.
I think I'd go the MG. This is for one reason, spare availability. MG's aren't rare. Those Sonnets are cool, but as far as cars are concerned, you don't want an orphan.
Orphans need love, too. What would happen to orphan car shows, if everybody felt that way? 😢
I had a '74 sonett. Had electrical issues. Ran just fine until it didn't. No one could fix it
I had a Toyota like that but when we say "no one" it's like two or three other people right? Probably the fourth guy would have fixed it.
I had a 74 too but didn’t experience any electrical issues other than the high beam relay went bad. I had it replaced at a Saab dealership. It was a fun car to drive but needed more hp and a 5th gear.
Hell yeah! I had mountains of early SAAB V4s and one Sonnett.
Absolutely great cars. Thanks for covering this!
Sonnetts were created by taking a 96 sedan bodyshell platform & shortening it & cutting it down at the tops of the spring perches. All underpinnings shared w/the 96.
And these early ones are called Ninety Six, not Nine Six. 😁
When I was in College I was roaming around the sports car dealers used car lots. My friend and I tripped over a 1967 Sonnet series II. The three cylinder two stroke engine four speed column shift. Beautifulcar.
I almost bought one in 1981. A very sharp-looking but unusual car.
Would I rather have a Sonett over an MG? LOL I have a prize MGB (72 BGT hatch built to 140 HP) but I've always wanted a Sonett as well! I had use of a 73 some 45 yrs ago I remember it was a fun driver
One thing to consider is that early SAABs weren't really any good for most of the U.S. However, in their proper environment, they were kings...I grew up in snow country (upstate New York), and my dad was a real 2-stroke SAAB fan-boi because of their rally history (Look up Eric "Carlsson-on-the-Roof"). My dad and one of his buddies would go out in their SAABs racing through the mountains early on Saturday mornings all winter. The SAABs with their tiny two-strokes couldn't accelerate for a damn, but with the free-wheeling you could build up hella momentum, and being front-wheel drive and weighing nothing you never slowed down for a curve... ever. Nothing out there could keep up on a snow covered road. There weren't any other FWD cars really and all the 4WD stuff handled like trucks, which they were. The cars were rugged too. My dad's friend rolled on into a snow bank one Monday morning and (since there was lots of snow in that snow bank) he was just 20 minutes late for work. The only damage to the car was that the battery acid spilled on the inside of the hood.
But...now to the Sonnet. My dad test drove both a Sonnet II and later a Sonnet III, and I (little kid) got to ride along. Scary, even for my dad, he said. In the sedans you were in a rugged little roll cage of a car. In the Sonnet you were riding around naked except for the pretty but flimsy and thin fiberglass.
I seem to recall CAR AND DRIVER of the day saying the body was beautiful but "don't let the cat walk on it" (cause it'll break). The Sonnet III with all that torque - would accelerate going uphill!- this was big stuff in the SAAB world! So, my dad passed (I don't think he even asked my mom). The Sonnets were faster, again in their snow-country element, but you lost that confidence that you could bomb though anything and come home alive.
Great content my brother!!~
There really was room for a V6. I drove a friend's Sonnet that had a swapped in 2.6L Ford V6. The biggest issue was weight distribution, as the heavier engine hung further out ahead of the front axle. FUN!
Satch Carlson ( 60s 70s auto writer) used to write often about his Saab adventures. Still used to see a few of these in the 70s.
I've owned 4 different SAABs over the years though not a Sonett but have ridden in one. Hopefully I'll have a chance to drive one someday before they all disappear.
I learnt to drive in my Mums 1972 Saab 96. That had the 1500cc V4 with column change.
What a glorious little car ,,,, great video too , nice to see a video done as they should be .
This was very interesting, I’d only ever seen the Matchbox and Yatming toy versions and always assumed it was a concept car. Great video 👍
A friend of mine in high school had an orange Opel GT in the late 80s. This would be a good comparison. Cool car.
Great video! Back in the day I did see one or two Sonnets on UK roads. A very cool little sports car!
My brother had a plum colored (1972?) 4 stroke Sonnet III. He could pick up the back end and swing it to the side to get out of a tight spot. A friend had a 2 stroke which was several years older. They were fun cars.
Great vid, I never knew about these cars, the roadster and series three are my favorites.
Keep the cool videos coming bro and thanks for not using AI narration.👌👍🔥🔥
The Sonnet 1 was built for a specific class in racing. By the time the car was built, the regulations had changed, moving the car into a larger engine class. The decision was made to discontinue the Sonnet 1 model.
Really enjoyed this video. Awesome 😎
Thank you for the amount of research and time you put into this 🤘
That -- was fun.
Good video, Thanks. The roadster, 2-seater 94 looks so much like the UK's Berkley, along with having a 3 cyl. 2-stroke, that I first thought you'd had some kinda mixup! A friend did a clutch in a Sonett 50 some years ago and he wasn't very happy about it, he liked working on rare stuff, but dealing with the cars AND the owners too was TOO much. No one else wanted to touch them.
Be advised: At no point does the narrator shut his mouth long enough for you to hear said insane engine.
Sad really
🚫🤡
3:22
Not much but don't lie
I would be confident in speculating that you have Jimmy crack corn for content of this level on your Channel
thanks man im closing this video now then
type "saab sonett engine sound" into your browser and spend the next month watching them.
@@Toxic2T
Probably the same criteria you use to absorb news and current events.
The early Sonnet looks very much like AC Ace, which turned into the Shelby AC Cobra. But all these Sonnets were decades ahead on styling.
A lot of car youtubers are saying that the only reason all modern cars look the same is because that's what the consumer wants. I disagree.
Anyone can save enough money for a BRZ, but the common man cannot keep up with the insurance payments. Insurance companies know which cars are worth driving and so charge a small fortune for them, essentially discouraging the common man from wanting to own one.
Cars like these are still wanted. Certain people don't want the common man to have anything good and so they priced us out of it. Remember when Lobsters were once considered commoner food? This is just like that.
One of my all-time favorite cars! Probably gotta win the lottery to own one though! How can anyone not love a V4 powered car? Really I want two. One that's stock, but with some easy to reverse suspension mods to make it handle better...and one that would get a Hayabusa engine in it (turbo charged of course!) and a fully adjustable racing spec suspension setup with maaaaad chassis bracing and subtle aero mods. A stock-ish original, and a full-blown pocket rocket! The track day special for daily use would be setup for pure acceleration and would top out at 120-140mph max! Also, I would alter the daily track weapon to be either RWD or AWD with a torque sensing variable center differential that can turn of the front wheel drive completely with the twist of a knob. Body would also basically stay the same, just a good tucked chin spoiler, a duck tail spoiler, and a tucked diffuser with a flat bottom/streamlined undercarriage. I've been thinking about this for a looooonnnnng time. Just gotta get that scrilllla first
When you put two adults in it you make it look like a child's pedal car.
Never seen a Saab Sonett in France, but whe had at this time the Matra 530 with the same V4 Ford engine, but in central rear position...
I wanted one badly. and searched in the early seventies but could not find one so I settled for a tr3. the sonnet was the one that got away.
I owned a TR3 and later a '74 Sonnett. I found the TR to be a bit quicker and more fun with the rwd. The Sonnett also had very firm unforgiving seats and was more of a choir to get in and out of.
I'd love to find an old Saab Sonett 3 and replace the Ford V4 for an American V4 made by MOTUS. The Motus engine is 1650cc yet puts out 160-180hp and 120ft lbs of torque. Mated to a 5 speed from Tremec or the original Saab 4spd and you'd have a smart little car capable of keeping up with traffic and supplying the power this car needs without adding extra weight. I've even seen the Motus V4 supercharged and churning out well over 200hp! Imagine pulling up beside some funny looking Saab in your Porsche Boxster only to have it kick your butt with ease!! Now that, would be a fun time!!
Seeing how it's either got a dramatic 2 stroke or a rare V4 I would.
The v4 did make it state side just not in the automotive market, If memory is right the bobcat skid steer used them as well as some other industrial applications.
The completion isnt the mg or the triumph, its the opal gt and the Volvo 1900
Great video. My first car was a blue Sonet Three.
That SAAB 94 was gorgeous! First time I saw a Sonnet3 in person I was shocked at how small it was 😮. I certainly appreciate the have fun but not get in trouble” ethos 😊, and sorry, but the Alpha would be my first pick😢. Nice video!
I went with the Alfa and still have it but the 60's and 70's had so many cool cars to pick from. Of course we're all nostalgic now and not going to actually give up our twenty-first century car for a smokey, cantankerous contraption from fifty years ago but yea, they looked good!
That's great seeing Bruce turks rally car make an appearance
...Or a Datsun 240Z
You can drop a V8 into one of those. They used to sell kits for it.
They were pretty cool little cars!
Many commenters commenting that they'd love to have one of these without an awareness of 0 to 60 in 15 seconds and zero crash protection in a 1500 lb car along with being a two-stroke with unobtainium parts. A clever company ought to take the four-cylinder turbos which are ubiquitous in junk yards and build a high-end honorary speedster tribute, those little lowriders were nifty
Yeah, they were slow and not very safe in an accident. They used the V4 because there wasn't space for a straight 4 or a V6.
Looks like the Faithorpe electron minor I had. Only in its first iteration.
Sabb build quality was allways a strong point, built like an aircraft.... Or so the saying went
With that sturdy V4 it is a rugged car. It is very safe. You can roll that puppy and live. It was designed that way. It was a good car. But Saab was unknown here.
I remember them well. As a Kid, I thought they were weird
That prototype looks like a miniature BMW 507
The rare time a two stroke was used in a car, its a shame it was always a motorcycle displacement. A 1.7L inline 6 two stroke would have been interesting...
An inline six ahead of the front axle? Seems problematic.
I test drive a Sonnett 3 back in 74, and was throughly unimpressed it. While the shape was intriguing, the pow to weight ratio of the car was terrible when compared to an MG or anything else British being sold in America at that time.
The MGB is fine, except for the down draft Weber carbs which needed constant attention. Where to find parts for the Sonett? Good luck.
The 2 liter ford V4 made in the UK might have been a tad sportier rather than the smaller german unit.
If it could fit.
Note on pronunciation. It's Son-NET, emphasis on the second syllable.
But in America the president of China is Ex Eye Gin Ping and we say Rush-ah not Roo-see-ah (just kidding, thanks for the tip)
It would be an interesting home for a snowmobile 3 cylinder 2-stroke swap.
A v4 is only a step away from becoming a proper boxer 4 ;)
Not sure about An INSANE Engine but very cool car !
Love the whole ethos of saab not to follow the crowd light weight sports cars simply don't need massive powerfull engines they make up for there lake of power with the whole handling performance you are able to use all the hourse power and have a real hoot at the same time with out having to worry about speed limits .I have a mg tf not the most powerfull car but a real joy to drive on country roads😊😊😊
Charming little car. Just not a very good little car. My friend and I had identical orange 1974 Sonett III’s. Quite insubstantial vehicles. When you would go to buy a parts car, the parts car would always have a parts car and the guy would make you buy both. So you’d stop by a dumpster with a Saws-all and chop up one of the parts cars. If you call pulled the T-handle for the lights on the highway, the wind would catch them open and nearly break your wrist😢. Car driver magazine described driving the car as riding on a skateboard down the highway with a mop bucket over your head for $3400. And they were so f’in tiny my boss bought mine because he was afraid I was gonna get killed in it
The mk2 looks a lot like a tvr.
I loved my Saab9000 cde fast.
Choosing a compact four cylinder death trap was the dumbest decision made by morons of the era.!! 😡 When those tiny death traps were involved in an accident with a much larger vehicle, they cracked up into a thousand pieces as did the passengers inside‼️🤔☠️😱😩🤷🏽♂️ Large but quick and agile American Muscle has always been the intelligent persons choice.!!😘
Thank you for your opinion. By the way, I think you may have wandered into the wrong place.