The Saab corporate slogan was “Born From Jets.” That was especially true of early models, which were aerodynamic and lightweight at a time when heavy American cars were about fins and chrome.
The 1963 Saab 96 recently sold on eBay is a transitional vehicle, hosting the two-stroke three-cylinder engine that would soon give way to a more conventional, four-stroke V-4 engine provided by Ford of Germany.
The 96 model, succeeding the 93, enjoyed a long life. Saab produced the 96 at the company’s factory in Trollhattan, Sweden, from 1960 to 1980. Longitudinally mounted up front, the 795-cc three-cylinder engine produced just 38 horsepower and 59 pound-feet of torque, driving the front wheels. The 1965 model, as here, had a slightly elongated front end, fitted in preparation for the V-4 that arrived in 1967.
Everything Works
For their time, the cars were very aerodynamic—a result of Saab’s aircraft lineage.
This car is best described as a solid driver. The owner admits, “The paint isn’t perfect, and there are a few small rust areas, but it’s pretty solid.” A “loud” European exhaust is mounted, and it has a new 10-gallon fuel cell.
This ready-for-the-road Saab has new tires and a spiffy-looking roof rack that’s fine around town, but better left off on long trips for both performance and fuel economy purposes. The manual transmission is a column-mounted four-speed. The top speed is around 65 mph, but a tailwind helps. The low curb weight (about 2,000 lbs.) is an asset in getting the 96 moving.
Everything works on this car except the speedometer, but a new cable should sort that out. All the signals are functional. The basic interior—featuring two-tone vinyl seats—is lived-in but tidy. A video with the listing reveals that the throaty engine starts up and runs just fine. The current owner drives it regularly, and a new custodian should as well.
The Saab 96 Is Rally Bred
The two-stroke three-cylinder engine needed oil mixed with the gas.
If you wanted more power from your two-stroke 96, you could order a Sport or Monte Carlo model with an 850-cc engine and a higher compression ratio. Output was up to 55 horsepower. These are the cars that Erik Carlsson drove to victory on many rally circuits. He was first at the RAC Rally in 1960, 1961, and 1962, and won both the 1962 and 1963 Monte Carlo rallies. Other rally winners associated with the 96 were Pat Moss, Stig Blomqvist, and Tom Trana.
Saab continually updated the 96 during its two decades in production, including the addition of front disc brakes in 1967. The relatively reliable Ford V-4 produced 65 horsepower and 84 pound-feet of torque. A three-row station wagon variant, the 95, was offered and sported stylish tailfins. An ongoing feature on the 96 was “freewheel,” which optionally disconnected the drivetrain when decelerating, leaving the engine idling to aid in engine lubrication.
The 96 was a substantial success, and 547,221 were produced for international sales. A 96 being driven by Erik Carlsson made it onto a Swedish postage stamp.
Slow and Steady
The Saab 96 was in production for 20 years.
The interior is tidy.
Old Saabs hold a peculiar allure, as The New York Times Magazine recently noted:
I like to think of my car as endangered and animate, precious not for its convenience or use-value but for the history that it carries.
The seller of this 96 agrees:
If you aren’t in a hurry to get anywhere, this is the car for you. Slow down, take your time.
After all, it takes around 24 seconds to get to 60 miles per hour.
The Saab 96 has a dedicated following. The Vintage Saab Club of North America caters to owners. Because of the high production numbers and good distribution, Saab 96 parts are readily available and prices are reasonable.
