Saabs Vintage Sports Car, The Sonett!!!

Almost every car manufacturer has that one quirky odd ball design vehicle. This is one of Saabs. The body is not what you would think it is. The engine is not what you would think it is. The driving experience... well, it is better than I thought it was!
Special thanks to Joe Clift for allowing me to drive his masterpiece. If anyone would like to get in touch with Joe about anything particular pertaining to the car such as information or recommendations, you may email him at [e-mail] and he is located in San Dimas California.
Be sure to check out our Facebook group Saabs Of America!!! See you there!!!
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[@motoflyte]

"Next time I see one...." ??? I'm 50 years old. I've NEVER seen one, in person. But I just bought two of them in oklahoma and will be picking them up during the holidays.

[@Texmotodad]

Makes me miss our old 73 S3. Orange!

[@cycle47hall20]

This car is a SAAB 97 Sonett III, i've owned 4 and am on # 5 , a yellow 1972, I love it and am glad to have a good one, I sold my #4 to Amsie, and now its in Holland, and so it goes.

[@MassiveTrackHunter]

Yes!! Another guy who's first car was a gremlin! Mine was too! No complaints except for the rust that took it away...

[@louisjames1062]

40 years owned... bet he knows every square inch of that car.. respect ✊

[@MMSaabChannel]

Wow so many rare Saabs 😍😍😍 Great video thx for posting.

[@paddy1437]

Loved that dood. Awesome

[@markmaz56]

I had a purple 1974 in the late 70's and I like the big bumpers. I think the Sonett looks strange without them. It is such a fun car and I miss it. It was a blast to drive on mountain roads. At 6'5" it probably was a little too small for me but I was young and didn't care! ;-)

[@josephclift5202]

Thanks for the great video, Craig! Regarding your last thought: Sonetts were Model 97, with the exception of the 1956 Sonett I, which was known as the 94.

[@MassiveTrackHunter]

Love this video. Best one about this car so far, with a really prime Sonett.

[@saabsofamerica5328]

That means a lot thank you!!!

[@xavierb.m.6423]

i like. Xavi from Barcelona (Catalonia)

[@wowtheo1099]

Another amazing video..Never seen one driving before actually never seen one ever at least not in my country.. And thanks for new video I'm always waiting and wanting more....SAAB forever

[@saabsofamerica5328]

Hey thanks! I really appreciate it! Yeah it's crazy this car is all fiberglass!

[@korbynharrison5899]

I know it is kinda off topic but do anyone know of a good site to watch new movies online ?

[@izaiahjericho4530]

@Korbyn Harrison i would suggest flixzone. You can find it on google :)

[@maximilianoerik4283]

@Izaiah Jericho Yea, have been watching on Flixzone for since march myself =)

[@korbynharrison5899]

@Izaiah Jericho Thank you, I signed up and it seems like they got a lot of movies there :D I appreciate it !

[@PeterChomanic]

In Europe, those V4 and Sonett 3 had only 1.5 liter Ford engine, compared to the US version 1.7L, but so many of US ones were brought to the Europe, that you can easily find some 1.7L for sale in EU.

[@dmgrant85]

The 1970 Sonett III had a Ford 1.5L 1500cc V-4. From 1971-74 they had the Ford 1.7L Ford 1700cc V-4. Same engine block and everything except with different pistons and crankshaft.

[@howardschaefer1445]

So good to see this car. I owned the exact one for 10 months. Everyone was amazed (That's a SAAB???) at its appearance. My problem (s) was the car should have been painted lemon yellow. The exhaust system, true dual pipes, would break on alternate sides at the welded on resonater at regular intervals. The dealer had a garage full of Sonett exhaust parts. The clutch started slipping at 900 miles and after many repairs a new slave cylinder was issued by the factory as a fix. That lasted for a couple months. It seemed that the car had gained horsepower when it was initially installed. Various knobs and pulls (rear hatch and hood) would pull off when used and various other problems. When it was running well I took it to a Porsche dealer and traded it for a very basic 914. I paid $3500.00 for the SAAB and was given $2500.00 for it in trade for the Porsche, more than half the price of the new car. Wish I still had it though.

[@erikjohnson3434]

My dad had one what a fun car to drive

[@do.u.groove5112]

I got two of these.

[@BruceLee-xn3nn]

Im looking at a fixer upper, complete car but i wonder if i can find parts for it.

[@MassiveTrackHunter]

Someone needs to take one with a blown or missing motor and do an electric-drive conversion. With that light weight and cool body, it might be amazing with a couple hundred electric horses driving the wheels?

[@josephclift5202]

Bud Clark of J&B Imports converted a '72 Sonett to electric in the late 90's. He later made another one for Walter Kern of MIT (Walter designed the Quantum sports car for SAAB in 1963 - the first car ever designed on a CAD system). Both cars used 36 volt golf cart motors. The rear floor was cut and lowered 4" to accommodate the height of six deep-cycle batteries. The original SAAB transaxle and alternator were used, and a spare 12V battery ran the headlights, gauges, and heater controls. Heat came from a small 12V blower. Walter Kern's car belongs to someone in Massachusetts. The '72 was at Pasadena City College until 2014. It had been disassembled and left to rot, unfortunately.

[@do.u.groove5112]

should i turbo one of the engines?

[@annihilus23464]

One small point. The owner said the '73 Sonett came with the soccer ball wheels painted. I don't think that's true. At least mine didn't. Many Sonett owners end up painting the silver stock wheels to look like soccer balls. I did that, and I'll also add I bought mine from the original owner, back in '78. It had the same silver wheels this gentleman in the video has. Miss that car very much, and major respect to the folks that keep the Sonetts alive!

[@josephclift10]

Hi there! Your car's serial number was probably before 97735000501 - that's when the “1973” features of painted wheels, federal bumpers, reinforced doors, rocker-switch dash, and the “FASTEN SEATBELT” light appeared.

[@juanm2188]

If you check the original Sonett Sales Brochures, you see that in the 1972 and 1973 models did NOT have painted soccer ball wheels. If you check the 1974 brochure, that year model is shown with painted soccer ball wheels. So the factory did supply them in at least one year. The 1971 brochure did not show any soccer ball wheels but ones that are usually referred to as Cromodora wheels

[@miguela.alvarez7284]

I've never seen one before but I know where there is one of these right now I got pictures and know the place..

[@miguela.alvarez7284]

The one I know of has black stripes same color and it says Saab on the side..

[@edanradetsky9716]

I’m new to looking at SAAB how is reliablility with these cars or this one in particular

[@ifitsfreeitsforme1852]

The biggest problem with these cars is rust.

[@wowtheo1099]

Still wanted to ask you how is your non viggen Saab doing. I'm busy trying to source myself the se kit for mine.

[@saabsofamerica5328]

It's sitting on the side of the road waiting for me to unleash her in all its glory lol.

[@martinda7446]

Cars without number naming - flippin' thousands. I will not bother naming any because it would take too long. I bet you wished you hadn't said that without thinking for five seconds first.😸