SAAB 96 DE LUXE (1964)
CHASSIS N. 227020
ENGINE: 3 CYLINDER, 2 STROKE
DISPLACEMENT: 841 CC
POWER: 46 BHP
BODY STYLE: SALOON
AN UNCONVENTIONAL SPORT SALOON
Svenska Aeroplan Aktie Bolaget: the acronym SAAB leaves no doubt about the vocation of the company that, before IKEA, taught us how to appreciate the pragmatic creativity of the Swedes.
The Swedish engineers wisely focused on a simple, light, affordable and reliable product: a small vehicle that used a light weight and aerodynamics to make up for the lack of horsepower, built on a simple chassis frame with a two door body style in which anything superfluous has been eliminated.
‘Lateral thinking’ was also applied to the engine: given that the best car engine is a six cylinder with medium-high displacement, but considering that the SAAB would not have been able to cope with the bulk, weight and cost, the engineers decided to install a two stroke three cylinder engine! The greater simplicity and absence of vibration, with the high specific power, made it a perfect alternative for anyone ready to look beyond the conventional. These characteristics also made it possible to use the 96 in competitions and, above all, in rallies, a specialty long dominated by Scandinavian drivers: the most famous SAAB driver was possibly Erik Carlsson.
In this way, over the years SAAB built up a very faithful clientele of people who were used to challenging the obvious, to living in an alternative and creative way.
Today you have an opportunity to purchase a very rare SAAB 96 with a two stroke engine, the vehicle on which the legend of this Scandinavian brand was founded. Launched in 1960 to replace the 93, re-motorized with a four stroke V4 Ford in 1967, it left the stage in 1980.
Purchased in Sweden around ten years ago by the current owner, a Swedish lady who moved to Italy, the 96 has been used little and carefully maintained. A copy of the official SAAB Certificate of Origin comes with the car.
This represents an almost unique opportunity in Italy to obtain a vehicle that is different from all the others, that is fun and particularly suitable for historic reenactments of competitions and rallies in the 1950s and 1960s.
The vehicle is in excellent mechanical condition but for safety reasons, we advise the purchaser to have it checked over and to replace the fluids, filters and perishable elements.