My First Saab a 1971 Saab Sonett III

Today I take a look at the 1971 Saab Sonett III that I bought a couple weeks ago. Watch the video of my time at Bonneville Salt Flats here: • Racing at the Bonnevil...
Don't forget to visit my website for more updates: www.thisweekwit...
This Week With Cars - Episode 0201
#Saab #Sonett #Junkyard

[@bobholloway7138]

Hi Steve - yes, I'd love to see the III back on the road! The V4 is a hoot and even though I think the Sonnet II has a better body style, the III is still a rare and unique car. Thanks!

[@robertcringely7348]

The Sonett was designed by Bjorn Andreasson, who once worked as an engineer for Convair in San Diego (I knew him there). Saab was an airplane company that made cars and the Sonett sure shows it. Have fun!

[@ramjam720]

Who is Bjorn Andreasson?! Nice story dude. Where did you get your facts? I think your acquaintance has fed you some fabrications.

[@paulhall170]

"Looks like there's a lot of work to be done here" said every SAAB owner ever LOLO

[@notroll1279]

I've been driving one for 9 years now and never said that.

[@larsjrgensen5975]

Never owned anything other then a Saab for 17 years, the only time I have said that, was when helping other people repair their cars.

[@awesomeguy8392]

I've been dying to see you do a detailed engine tear down and rebuild, Steve! Want to see your first Saab live again!

[@johnbeattie1225]

Unusual car.Never seen one .I think for you as well as the viewers removing the engine and getting it going will be interesting . 👍

[@paddy1437]

Hi Steve, would love to see you work on this car. Big yes from the UK.

[@someonebald2022]

I'd like to see this back on the road, if only to see how you deal with a Ford Cologne V4 ;)

[@SPACETRUCKING3]

First time Seeing this car. I’ve had a SAAB 9-5 V6 For 9 or 10 years. It’s amazing.

[@pclayton5063]

I vote to see more of the Sonett. I had a friend in Arizona who had a green one in 1971 and we tooled around Phoenix in that little car. I'm 6'6" so it was a challenge to get into but a fun ride.

[@windronner1]

When I was a kid. I thought the world of this car. And later on when I was old enough to drive I was offered one exactly like yours real cheap. I don’t know why I didn’t buy it

[@jimwiskus8862]

Hi Steve, yes, I think it is safe to say that anything that comes into your shop everyone wants to see it on the road or track again.

[@notrut]

My dealings with the Taunus V4 were in the UK Transit range, 1960/70s ... In a fleet of hundreds of vans I don't recall too much trouble, occasional head gaskets due to losing coolant from rad.

[@2LV2]

Yes please. Would love to see a sympathetic resto done on this car. Super rare.

[@titanus49]

The engine is a Ford V4 unit as used in the German Taunus cars, and also the Ford Transit delivery van. My brother had an early Ford Transit van, notorious for chewing up the pushrods in these engines.

[@entasis.fifty-four]

Please resurrect this unique and historic \automobile. There used to be one driving around in my neck of the words, but it disappeared a few years ago. The fiberglass on these was always fair to middling, but the same held true for most automobiles of this era. It was sad day when Saab ended its business.

[@TheStwat]

The rear lights are from a Triumph Dolomite.

[@jamesal0]

yep love to see the little Sonett get some loving

[@mds2465]

That’s a great car! I would definitely love to see you get this car back on the road again!

[@MrTjollen]

Living in sweden in gothenburg but not far from trollhättan where they made saab in the beguinning I rememberwhen they released this model . Being a airplane faktory from the start all saabmodels had a very low CX value since they they were tested in a windtunnel which wasnt so common in those days . If I remember correct the complete driveline came from the ford 15m , even the gearbox . It was a common car here in sweden aswell as the 12m . The whole sonett body weight is 17 kg . Here in sweden they werent so common . These fordengines werent considerred " mechanicfriendly" even put in the 95 and 96 models .

[@brucebeauvais1324]

No. Only the engine was Ford Germany. The gearbox was the same as the SAAB three cylinder with a different bellhousing to match the new engine. The gear ratios may be different. The final drive was not as short so the top speed was higher.

[@MrTjollen]

@@brucebeauvais1324 ok , so I've missed that but it makes sence even though the fords were frontwheel driven aswell . Thank you for the info !

[@billcunningham8485]

Your first Sonnet? This surprises me. Its quirky and rare while being sporty - so right up your alley.

[@ThisWeekWithCars]

Looked at many just never ended up with one.

[@davehevner8219]

It be a cool video to redo. Taking Bonnet off so you can get easy access would be the first step. Nice part of your collection

[@markpirateuk]

I would love to see the Sonnet restored, the V4 is an interesting engine, it was used in several UK Ford cars & the MK1 Transit van.

[@eggy1962]

I had this engine as a 1700 cc in a 1966 ford corsair auto in 1981 the car was a complete rust bucket but the engine had been reconditioned, i had the car about a year…when i sold it i later saw it abandoned engine had gone, i heard it had found its way into a transit

[@stephenholland5930]

I had a 68 Corsair 2000E as my first car. It's engine also ended up in a Transit!

[@visionsofhere3745]

I like the way you call that Ford V4 an "industrial" engine. It's amazing that Ford considered such a rough sounding engine fit for public consumption.

[@brucebeauvais1324]

It was a passenger car engine for a number of German Ford models. It was also sold as an industrial engine notably used in Ford skid steer loaders and for water pumps. Back in the day, it was cheaper to buy engine parts from the Ford Industrial dealer. They also sold the two barrel intake manifold.

[@erikandersen2477]

Getting deeper into a v4 engine would be a treat 😀

[@carstenpedersen3200]

I would love to watch you restore this one. There aren’t too many around any more.

[@-Loki--]

Looking forward to the day(s) you do this Saab Steve.

[@davidgrubb9476]

Such an unusual car Steve. I've only ever heard about them before. It looks like a pain to work on, but I would love to see this back on the road.

[@roguedalek900]

IDK what the final drive is. Check with Saab heritage to see if they could recommend a good transmission man for consult. Chrysler swapped 3rd and 4th around on the A833 4 speed making 4th a 26% OD . If you want an OD top gear check with a Saab transmission person to see if swapping gears around is viable. Fuller did it with big truck transmissions too.

[@brucebeauvais1324]

If I remember, the V-4 equipped Sonetts used a 4:67 final drive. 95/96 V-4s were 4:88 and three cylinders were 5:13. Tom Donney would have the gearbox answers. SAAB offered a" close ratio 1" and a " close ratio 2" gear sets as Sport and Rally parts.

[@Feniantimmy]

I had 3 of them. Great cars. Ice race them. Problems? Not many. The wiper motor will fill with water, drill a small hole in the carcass to drain it. Change to electronic ignition. Xmission are weak so have an extra ready to go. There is a roll cage in the car, not just a roll bar. The engine is a Ford v-4 used in hay bailers and other farm equipment. I recall turbo efforts never met fruitition. go with an aftermarket exhaust immediately.

[@datasailor8132]

One can just double things up, but the exhaust ports were siamesed in the head and without extensive porting not much can be done.

[@alastairchestnutt6416]

I'd love to see this one on the road.

[@paulgibbons8222]

I would really enjoy seeing more on this car. One doesn't see these very often

[@gaylinlack726]

Had a '73 Sonnett III, '73(?). It had a freewheel device that would allow coasting on long descents. Got phenomenal mileage- once drove from Wichita to East Lansing, Michigan on one tank of gas. You are correct about the fiberglass- almost early 'kit car' stuff. Mechanically never a problem. I did tear the exhaust off on a railroad crossing once. Would love to see you get this one going. Do you have any experience with a Saab 96? Great channel.

[@datasailor8132]

That was the sprag unit left over from 2-stroke days. There was a lockout handle on the firewall just behind the shifter. Many automatic transmissions have them. When the output shaft wants to turn faster than the input a ring of oval bearings? release and allow free running. When the input shaft wants to go faster, the oval shaped thingies turn back and lock up the inner and outer races. The military six by sixes work this way. The gear ratio for the rear four wheels is a lower ratio(higher number) than the front axle. When the rear wheels start to slip the sprag engages the front wheels for full 6x6 action. You need them in the 2-strokes because the fuel also contains the engine lubricant. If you had a locked system and headed on a long downhill with the transmission locked up and the throttle backed off, the engine would starve from lack of oil. There was a rumor/legend that in the 2-stroke days SAAB imported an extra engine for each car they imported. The 850 Monte Carlos were pretty neat cars. Back in the day my driving heroes were Erik Carlsson and his sister Pat who was married to Sterling Moss.

[@yachtcharisma4850]

Love to see you restore the SAAB

[@MollysPa]

It's a 1698 cc Ford industrial V-4. Gardner Denver used them in commercial compressors among other applications. Interestingly the cam gear was nylon for noise reduction.

[@XFF1600racer]

As a Saab owner (C900 Turbo Cvt) interest in older Saabs is growing, please get it on the road.

[@mickspencer4171]

That's a twist from your usual cars Steve, its gonna be an interesting journey with that one, looking forward to it.

[@annikajinx]

For sure. One of the most interesting prospects! Don't shelve this one! Let's get it going!

[@automophiliac3475]

Please continue with the Saab! Got my interest piqued for sure! Such a strange little auto.

[@mummabear01]

My mother had a 72 Sonett III that I learned how to drive in. I would love to see you get it going again. I am going to subscribe to your channel to keep tabs on it.

[@van84agon]

More on this 1971 Sonet please! Cool oddball car

[@edjacobs8876]

I owned a 54 Saab 92. Without getting into details, accessibility, busted knuckles, etc. I for one say carry on!

[@thirdcargarage2951]

Sweet ride. Love to see t run

[@hannodearing1366]

Here in Austria, we used to have SAAB jet fighters, as Sweden was neutral, too 😎. The cars were pretty first choice in winter (front drive).

[@PaulinesPastimes]

Well, I'm already subscribed and I think it would be fun to see this back on the road. Something totally new. 👌

[@damolin77]

The Saab would be awesome to fix up and take it on the next salts flats race.

[@4n461]

I've always loved the Sonett. Especially the III. But for a fiberglass car, they sure have a lot of rust problems.

[@jlwilliams]

They were one of the few sports cars that worked well in snow country, so the salt ate up a lot of them. But another reason there are few survivors was that there were never many of them in the first place. Saab built them on a shortened floorpan for the Model 96 sedan, then sent them off to a Finnish company called ASJ that made the fiberglass bodies. ASJ's main business was building commuter railcars, and they did the Sonetts as a literal sideline... off to the side of the main railcar assembly line... and this imposed an absolute upper limit of 2,500 bodies per year. In practice, they never even made quite that many; I think the most popular year was 1974, when about 2,200 were produced. There were very few 1971s and a literal handful of the 1970-1/2 debut model.

[@bjornerikroth]

@@jlwilliams Actually, ASJ was in Arlöv, outside Malmö, Sweden. I think you're thinking of Valmet in Finland that also built a number of Saabs over the years.

[@Brad26843]

yes i really want to see this car redone right away

[@CharlieMetcalf]

It is a very unique car with the v4 and all fiberglass body. It looks like it was put together as a kit car, even though it wasn't. I be game to see it running and driving.

[@donpampel3332]

I would likes to see the engine removed and taken apart Thanks for sharing with us.

[@RedneckTaZ]

I like engine tear downs and rebuilds regardless if the engine ends up being usable or just scrap metal. Before you put it on the rack do an engine removal and tear down so we know if you have to get another from Sturgis for it. I vote let it roll.

[@garyanderson4374]

I'd love to see it run!

[@BJHolloway1]

Go for it - this is a very rare car

[@racketman2u]

The car oozes character, Seventies style! definitely a worthy project.

[@stephenhenion8304]

Looks to me like there's, " No turning back now".. you better get this one running!🇺🇸🎩🇺🇸🎩🇺🇸

[@r1lark]

This car is so different........would love to see a series on getting this car running again Steve!

[@My_Op]

It's obvious that your viewers (me included) want to see more of this Saab: keep it up!

[@stevelamoreaux7251]

Yes please get into it. Love the Saab’s. Worked for a dealer in 1971 and 2. Remember driving them then. Will look for a project one myself. Thanks for your work

[@luisvelazquez9333]

Please continue with this vehicles restoration i just bought one

[@TheFurriestOne]

I'd love to see an engine rebuild, or at least a tear-down of the stuck engine before putting it on the shelf.

[@kingearl2596]

It is a european Ford engine, built in many examples. You can still find spare parts easily. Ask a german Ford oldtimer club.

[@rhiantaylor3446]

I used to run a Saab 95 station wagen that used the V4 1.7l Ford Taunus engine with the earlier (2 Stroke) manual gearbox with change on the steering column. The box had a freewheel due to the lubrication needs of the prior engine type. The extreme streamline shape of that car helped make up for any lack of power from the 65hp German Ford engine.

[@Christerart]

A friend and I could get the engine out, put in new bearings and have the car back on the street in 6 hours - easy to work on as the hood comes off very easily - on mine anyway - two bolts..:)

[@GalleryBones]

Please bring it back !!!!

[@jlwilliams]

I had a 1974 Sonett III for almost 20 years; finally had to sell it a few years ago because of job loss. I street-drove it, ran it in SCCA rallycross, did track days in it... slow, but a fun car and very solid. Trying to remember a few things that might be helpful: -- You'll discover there are a lot of minor differences between the 1971 and the 72/73/74 models, so don't be surprised if details on your car differ from what you see in the shop manual. The 73/74s also are a lot sturdier -- they have metal hoops bonded into the fiberglass around the windshield and the door apertures, and impact beams in the doors that run down and tie into a brace across the floorpan. -- The remote oil filter is non-original (they probably did that to make access easier; the stock location is down on the side of the block on the "crowded" side of the engine compartment) and so is the location of the A/C condenser; it's supposed to be ahead of the radiator and can be slipped out through the bottom. The Y-shaped exhaust also is non-original; the stock setup had a balance pipe running between the two cylinder banks, and then dual exhausts running backward along the outside edges of the floorpan. A lot of people went to the Y setup because it was supposed to increase power a bit. -- That right-front spark plug IS a bear to get to, but if your original toolbag is complete, it will include an odd little offset wrench specifically made to reach it. If you don't have the wrench, you'll need to slip off the alternator belt and swing the alternator all the way to the outside to get at the plug. BE SURE to disconnect the ground cable before messing around in there; the positive terminal of the alternator is right next to the plug area and it's easy to make big sparks by shorting it to the engine! -- That metal chicken-wire rectangle you found is a stock piece; it's part of the flow-through ventilation system. If still present, this consists of a vinyl-covered hardboard trim piece that runs across the top of each door aperture; there's a grill in the middle of the door and this wire mesh is supposed to be inside that. The theory is that the trim pieces duct interior air back to the area behind the rear quarter windows, where it's drawn out by the gill vents behind them. In practice I don't think it can have amounted to much ventilation! -- Tip: a lot of seemingly hard-to-reach things in the engine compartment can be accessed through the wheel wells or by reaching up from the front air intakes. If you're going to do much in there, though, it's a LOT easier just to take the nose off -- it's one piece, and just slides up and off after you've removed about six fasteners (you can do it yourself, but it's much easier with a helper.) With the nose off, you can reach everything in the engine compartment, the front suspension, the heater and wiper motor locations, etc. Have fun... would love to see how this comes together!

[@jlwilliams]

Oh, yeah, and almost all those parking-light and turn-signal lenses are straight off a Triumph Spitfire, so will be easy to get from a Brit-car catalog. The rear taillight lenses are from a Saab 99 sedan, but mounted upside-down!

[@mythrusthelema]

Do the Saab I had never seen one before. It's a sweet looking ride.

[@daveshongkongchinachannel]

I've been enjoying watching the progress of the MGA and in fact all of your ongoing projects are interesting. However, this car is pretty unique and it would be a pity to just put it up on the shelf and forget about it. Perhaps you could draw up a shortlist of the ten cars you are most keen to work on and let the viewers vote on it.

[@dchamp1337]

They are a weird car for sure. Sam and Greg Sharnberg from DMVR used to autocross a Sonnet, I never saw it run but had a look at it in Greg's garage. Have also seen an orange Sonnet at RPM, it was pretty slow around the track. :) The V4 in those is related to the Ford V6 Cologne, not sure how many parts (if any) are interchangeable.

[@micheltebraake7915]

Saab has used the Ford V4 as a replacement for the 2-stroke engine. The V4 was available as 1.2, 1.3, 1.5, 1.7 and 2.0, which in turn was distributed among Essex and Colonge engines used in the Taunus and Transit. For smooth running, there was a balance shaft in the engine. Matra has also used the 1.7 V4 in the Matra 530.

[@davidashleigh3231]

Cool odd car. Go for it. Love your calm knowledgeable, no bull approach

[@robinvandijk6405]

Yes please. These were and are very rare Saab cars. It would be really interesting to see what it takes to get it ready to run again.

[@mikethejrrk]

I'd like to see you get this running

[@BenPortmanlewes]

Love to see that running, cool car. Had that engine in my 96 still one of my favourite cars, on a par with my old r4f6!

[@brucebeauvais1324]

Early V-4s- 1968/1969 used a Solex carburetor. 1970 used Fomoco carbs. The remote oil filter was to make room for the A/C compressor. There were optional "fog" lights that fit where the blanking plates are. Lighting was a mix of Lucas and Hella- mostly Lucas. The front turn signals were Lucas -used as rear turn signals on some Triumph GT6 . Same side markers as Spitfire/GT6. The optional fog lights were 5 3/4" (small round) sealed beam lamps. High beams for most quad round lamps systems. The "fog" lamp housings were Lucas buckets also used as high beams for early US market Mercury (Ford) Capris. Rear Taillights were the same as SAAB 99 up to 1976. I think the license plate lights were Lucas.

[@jeroensmit2520]

Yes I would to see a complete series on this car! This is something completely different that makes me curious. Anyway, keep going strong into the New Year!

[@datasailor8132]

I had a new 1967 SAAB 96 V4 with that 1500cc engine. On the 96 the engine was easy to pull out. Just the two motor mounts and the transmission rear mount accessible from the cabin. These had a habit of rusting up so I would loosen the bolt then tap it out with an air hammer. If I didn’t have the air hammer available I’d cut the rubber out with a knife and replace it. SAAB had an interest in rallying at the time and had a special version of the 96 called the T-car. It had double shocks and the body panel spot welds were double the normal number. The engine was the stock engine because of emissions, but SAAB offered hop-up parts to take from stock with 75 hp up to Stage III with 120 hp. These included a nice 2-bbl manifold and a Weber 32/36 progressive carb which alone got you to 95 hp. I had one on my 96, and it chewed up the clutch in 5000 miles. I was unable to get the competition clutch from SAAB, but I was able to have the clutch beefed up by a clutch shop. The driven disk had the lining short of the rim by a good 1/4 inch. The replacement went all the way to the edge. The guy couldn’t find heavier springs so he put a 60 thou. shim under each one.

[@SquirminHermanthe1eyedGerman]

I was born in Germany in the mid '60s & my uncle had a red '71 Sonnet that I thought was a really cool car but his had the column mounted shifter & 3 front seats {Euro car}! He also had a '67 BMW 2002 & a '59 BMW Isetta! I came to America in 1975 & have been hooked on muscle cars ever since - PEACE LOVE n HIPPYNESS ✌☮

[@brucebeauvais1324]

Sorry, Beaver. You memory fails you. The Sonnet II and V-4s did retain the column shift of the 95/96 cars. These cars are so narrow there is no way to fit a third seat in. Even for skinny Europeans. The was a Matra that used the Ford V-4 and had three seats. Perhaps that's what you're thinking of.

[@jimferro4054]

Yes, it would be interesting to see you work on this Saab.

[@MrAdrianoandrade]

Hi Steve! If you make those videos returning this car to its former glory I promess to watch’em all and give a 👍 on all of them!!

[@markfisher8206]

Yes ! I never heard of this car before so would be unique for sure!

[@peterrushton4106]

Yes please, what a great car you have to get it running

[@oldcarnut1]

A/C is very rare on any Saab of this vintage. I own 2 Saabs of this vintage. The Saab guys will tell you about parts. To get to the spark plugs you need the wrench that in the tool kit. Tom is great with these cars

[@brucebeauvais1324]

The wrench was only neccesary for #1-located behind the alternator.

[@petergoyer1606]

Yes, would love to see more on the Saab

[@AudiophileStooge]

I'd love to see more of this car!

[@batterymakermarkii2654]

I got to see one of those at a Saab dealership's bodyshop back in the late nineties. Nice item.

[@TimWinker]

The Sonett was derived from the Saab 96 chassis, but with lighter gauge steel. Extra reinforcement was not treated against rust, so the Sonetts began to rust immediately. Most of the mechanical parts are the same, though some are becoming difficult to locate. A few Sonetts have passed through my hands, but I now have a keeper, a 1969 Sonett V4 that was turned into an ice racer by a friend. It is being returned to racing condition for vintage races.

[@georgestewart1325]

Continue it’ll be a great project.

[@QBRX]

This would be very interesting to see taken apart and built.

[@dcallan812]

yes the two holes up front are for day running lights. Sweet litle cars, the indicator lens look like an old Mini. I think the cross brase between the strut towers is a funny quirk being a coolant reservoir. 2x👍

[@shaunmaddock5275]

Hi Steve, love to see the MGA finished before Sonnet.

[@ticktown2783]

I would love to see you continue with this one. I'm chasing a Saab 96 myself, I think the owner is getting ready to sell it to me..... Of course I enjoy all your projects, so whatever content you enjoy making most. That way, we all win!

[@graemelliott4215]

Yes work on the Saab, I’m a big Saab Fan,

[@johnbostrom9165]

15 year old me wanted to by a Sonnet, but the guy sold it out from under me so I bought a TR7 instead.

[@ThisWeekWithCars]

Its not very often that you can say the TR7 was a better car.

[@William-13]

@@ThisWeekWithCars Berry man B12 fuel system cleaner in the gas tank will work wonders on that Saab's carbeurator. An interesting car. Good luck. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fpDIi5memdyZmaM

[@tiporari]

Pretty unique and with a V4? Yeah, we want to see this one come back to life.

[@Dancing_Alone_wRentals]

The Yellow color is ready for 2022

[@dennymanamps]

Owned one back in the late ‘70s a very fun car. The engine/drive train is much easier to work on once you remove the front nose. There is an expert Saab Mechanic in Tucson who has fixed many of these, Valet Auto. Would love to see another back on the road.

[@farmallpaul4518]

I'd love to see you move this one to the top of the list!!

[@ztifbob]

Do it. I always wanted one of those, especially a purple one.

[@alterra9774]

Id love to see this one, Ive always had a soft spot for those cars

[@Serge9595]

Would love to see you fix this Sonett up and get it on the road! Good luck with it…you’ll find an extraordinary community of car geeks dedicated to the brand.

[@matthewwhite7663]

Do It, The Saab looks so different

[@dmgrant85]

Hi Steve. I’ve owned 4 of the Saab Sonett III cars. I currently own a Saab Sonett V4 car. Sonett V4 was built before Sonett III. I have connections with many people with spare parts and many people have high knowledge about the cars. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.