[NOT MINE] 1974 Saab Sonett III ($9,900.00) Old Forge, NY.

[Terry Harper]

Fascinating bit of Swedish kit with an attractive price.

 

Facebook Marketplace: https://www.facebook.com/share/fi5phMg9h4QeoWjs/

 

Sellers Description:

1974 Saab sonett iii

$9,900

 

"This 1974 Saab Sonett III is in great condition. Sonetts have become quite collectible thanks to its rarity, styling, sturdy drive train, and spritely performance. This car gets a lot of attention when brought to car shows. It is road-ready, and needs nothing for the next owner to enjoy. I have kept in a garage and the fiberglass body looks great. Price includes a heavy duty car dolly. I can possibly assist with delivery."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[alsancle]

I have always thought these were cool.  But they are tiny and I'm wondering if first time down the road I'll be disappointed.  But in the scheme of collector car pricing they are practically free.

[alsancle]

Does Facebook limit the number of pictures or are sellers just stupid?   There needs to be a bunch of the underneath.

[Leif in Calif]

23 minutes ago, alsancle said:

I have always thought these were cool.  But they are tiny and I'm wondering if first time down the road I'll be disappointed.  But in the scheme of collector car pricing they are practically free.

I don't have a lot of Sonnet experience, but based on my other vintage SAAB experiences, although they are quite small, they have plenty of room for a larger person inside. I always feel like a shrimp when I'm in Scandinavia. 

[plymouthcranbrook]

The first one I ever saw was a 1967 one with the three cylinder two stroke engine. I too think they are beautiful cars. The design still looks almost too modern today.

[Bloo]

38 minutes ago, Leif in Calif said:

I don't have a lot of Sonnet experience, but based on my other vintage SAAB experiences, although they are quite small, they have plenty of room for a larger person inside. I always feel like a shrimp when I'm in Scandinavia. 

 

I am 6'3" and I barely fit. I do fit, but it's not like a 93, 95 or 96. My hair touches the roof and my head might touch a little going over washboarded roads, etc. I test drove a few of these in the early 90s. I wanted one badly back then. They are kind of tight, but the main "fit" issue was the pedals. My size 13 feet were a bigger problem than anything else. I am able to drive one, but really the pedals are too close together. For the non-SAAB literate among us, the pedals come out of the footwell at a corner like they do on an old VW Type-1 Beetle or an early Alfa-Romeo 105 series coupe. For everyday use, they would need to change. It wouldn't take that much of a change. I suspect just bending them would be fine, although it would look a little funny. It is possible that more invasive mods would be needed but I kind of doubt it.

 

They are subject to the same problems as a 96, as the mechanical stuff is similar or the same. It is a lot harder to get the transaxle out. Look at the size of the hood opening compared to a 96 and imagine what comes next. The transaxle cannot be allowed to completely fail once it starts to make noise, or the bill is going to be eye watering. Not just everyone has the special tools needed to rebuild the transaxle. Look for a SAAB specialist shop with a bunch of 96s parked around it.

 

 

[Marty Roth]

The one I drove years ago was lots of fun, but then I had previously raced a 3-cylinder Saab sedan.

Later, our son had a Saab 900S and a 9000S as daily drivers (daughter drove a Volvo 740GL when her son was a baby). Neither could afford a Citroen DS-21 which were our daily drivers.

Safe , sporty, and comfortable, in my opinion

[Leif in Calif]

21 hours ago, Marty Roth said:

The one I drove years ago was lots of fun, but then I had previously raced a 3-cylinder Saab sedan.

 

About 20 years ago, I was at a vintage race at Sears Point. During the lunch brake they had a feature called "A Mechanical Picnic" where competitors offered rides. We had a friend from the SAAB club who was there with a Sonett, and both I and my wife got to do a few hot laps. It was great fun and it felt fast, at least until a couple of NASCAR entries joined us on the track.