1971 Saab Sonett aerodynamic sports activities automobile from Sweden

The Choose of the Day is a uncommon Swedish sports activities automobile, a 1971 Saab Sonett III that has been totally restored with some upgrades, in line with the O’Fallon, Illinois, supplier promoting the automobile on ClassicCars.com. 

With front-wheel drive, as are all Saabs, the Sonett was a limited-production outlier for the modern model, which lists amongst its creds the primary turbocharged engine in mass-produced vehicles.  The mannequin began as an open two-seater constructed from 1955 to ’57, powered by Saab’s ubiquitous 750cc 3-cylinder, 2-stroke engine that generated 57.5 horsepower.  They’re little identified, notably since solely six of them have been ever produced.

The Sonett II returned in 1966 as a sharp-looking however diminutive coupe with a streamlined fiberglass physique and an up to date model of the 2-cycle engine.  Earlier than lengthy, that smoky little motor was changed by a 1,500cc V4 engine tailored from a Ford Taunus, at which level it was renamed the Sonett V4.  Nonetheless a limited-production automobile, the second technology nonetheless offered many tons of greater than the primary.

The Sonett III introduced right here is also powered by the compact Ford V4, now housed in a really ‘70s-style aerodynamic physique designed to suit on the prevailing V4 chassis and powered by the identical engine that produced 60 horsepower, which was satisfactory motivation for the small, light-weight coupe.

Since simply 1,265 Sonett IIIs have been produced for 1971, these cool sport coupes are hardly ever seen, particularly in such gleaming restored situation.  Simply 10,236 Sonnet II, V4 and III fashions have been produced total from 1966 till 1974.

The Saab was redone in 2013 and stays in excellent situation, “turnkey and able to be proven off,” the vendor says. 

“The engine did obtain some upgrades comparable to its Weber 34ICH carburetor, Traditional Auto Air under-dash A/C system, aluminum radiator, electrical fan, and a lot extra,” the vendor says within the advert. “The odometer reads 77,251 precise miles however the rebuilt on this drivetrain was completed solely about 500 miles in the past.

“The bathtub was sandblasted, trunk flooring changed and painted with POR-15. The entire suspension elements have been powder-coated satin black; new shocks/bushings/ball joints/ brake strains/ gas strains/ and braking elements have been changed as nicely.”

The Sonett seems terrific within the pictures with the advert, which present the intensive work completed and the preservation since.

“Painted in a pointy Ford RZ Purple Sweet metallic tri-coat paint that appears superb and flows nicely with the two-tone purple and grey leather-based inside,” the vendor provides.

This Saab Sonett III, an uncommon sports activities automobile {that a} driver could be extremely unlikely to see coming the opposite method, is priced at $22,000.

 To view this itemizing on ClassicCars.com, see Choose of the Day.