I know Saab has been gone now for a while and I know the thought of them returning is purely a pipe dream but after seeing THIS beauty today near my spy lair I couldn't help but write this diddy.
This is a Saab that MOST people wouldn't even know was built but in my opinion next to the concept car they showed a few years ago (Saab Aero X or as we liked to call it, the Swedish corvette), nothing they ever did was as nice as this.
The model you're looking at is a 1973 Saab Sonett III and it was supposed to compete against the original Datsun 240z.
Full 1973 Saab Sonett III Gallery
Only problem was the 'Z' had more power, features, cost less and yes, even better styling.
Hence the Buh-Bye to the Sonett.
Here is a short description from Wikipedia...
"The 1970 redesign of the Sonett V4, named the Sonett III, was initially undertaken by Sergio Coggiola, but Gunnar A. Sjögren altered it to fit the existing chassis without expensive manufacturing-line changes. Hinged rear-window glass replaced the Sonett II/V4 rear compartment hatch door. With the mandate for a "bulge-less" hood, the engine compartment opening evolved into a small front popup panel, resulting in more limited access than in the Sonett V4. Extensive engine work required the removal of the entire front hood section.
To help adapt the car to U.S. market tastes, the Sonett III featured a floor-mounted shifter (instead of the Sonett V4 column-mounted shifter) and optional dealer-installed air conditioning. Like the Opel GT, the Sonett III's hidden headlamps were operated manually using a lever. US safety regulations required new bumpers after 1972, significantly detracting from its Italian-inspired design.
While the 1970 and 1971 model years initially had the same 1500 cc Ford V4 engine as the Sonett V4, emission control requirements reduced the available horsepower. The model years 1971 to 1974 of the Sonett III used the 1700 cc Ford V4, but to meet increasingly strict federal regulations, net power output remained the same as the 1500 cc engine, at 65 horsepower (48 kW).[8] Still, the Sonett III accelerated from 0–100 km/h (0–63 mph) in 13 seconds, and—due to a higher differential gear ratio (42 teeth on the ring gear and 9 teeth on the pinion gear) than the standard 95/96 transmission (39:8)—achieved a top speed of 165 km/h (103 mph), aided by a low 0.31 drag coefficient.
Disappointing sales, especially during the 1973 oil crisis, led Saab to end production in 1974. A total of 8,368 Sonett IIIs were manufactured between 1970 and 1974."
Check out the photos of this beauty with 40 year old ORIGINAL Burnt Orange paint and chime in with your thoughts...
Oh, and BTW, the COOLEST feature on the car that you will see in the photos below is tha fact that the hideaway headlights were NOT electrically powered, they had a MANUAL lever under the dash that you pulled like an emergency brake to open and close them!
Special thanks to the owner Dick Rugge for letting us shoot the car.
AutoSpies.com is the number one ranked site for auto show and car photos.
Spies discuss...
Full 1973 Saab Sonett III Gallery
Full 1973 Saab Sonett III Gallery