Saab 96 V4 LHD


Brand
Saab
Model
96 V4 LHD
1st admission
1969
Fuel
Gasoline
Transmission
Manual (4 gears)
Driver's side
Left
Color
Sienna Brown
Bodywork
Sedan
Reference no.
0001028

This Saab 96 is an original V4 from 1969 and was delivered new in Linköping, which is in the south-east of Sweden. In 2017 the car was exported to the Netherlands and registered in 2018. A lot of work was done to the car and as a result the car looks amazing. Both mechanically and cosmetically, inside and outside the car is in great condition. The underside of the car is in immaculate condition and completely rustfree. Finished in Savannbeige with brown fabric upholstery the car has a very period correct look. In short a great Saab 96 V4 in amazing condition.

The Saab 96 was introduced in 1960 as the successor to the Saab 93. The car was fundamentally different than most cars of its era due to the round aerodynamic shape of the bodywork and (at first) a two stroke three cylinder engine with 38 BHP. The car was also larger than the old 93 with bigger windows and better usable luggage space. In 1968 the front of the car was elongated to make room for the bigger V4 engine and the front- and rear window were enlarged once more.
In 1967 the 96 was fitted with V4 engine which came from the Ford Taunus. The V-shaped engine could fit in a smaller space and still have the same amount of power as a regular four cylinder engine. The transition from a two stroke to a four stroke engine wasn’t as easy. Before 1967 Saab only offered two stroke engines in their cars. The drawback of a two stroke is that it needs a constant supply of oil and has a limited amount of power. According to Saab’s head of engineering Rolf Mellde, the time had come to switch to four stroke engines. They were more powerful, more efficient and had less emissions. Between 1962 and 1964 several tests were conducted with four cylinder four stroke engines, but Saab CEO Tryggve Holm didn’t see the point of switching away from the two stroke. Rolf Mellde then decided to go behind the back of the CEO and convinced Marc Wallenberg, son of main shareholder Marcus Wallenberg, to get behind the four stroke project and as such new tests with four stroke engines began.
Ford’s V4 engine wasn’t the most reliable engine they tested, but it was more than satisfactory and was easier to fit into the 96. The testing began in utmost secrecy. 5 months before production was due to start only 7 people knew about the project. Only 4 weeks before the start of production the employees were told about the project. The V4 engine had 65 BHP and a 0-100 time of 16,5 seconds. This was mated to first a three- and later a four speed column mounted gear shifter.
The 96 also had very advanced suspension which at the front used double wishbones and coil springs, while the rear suspension was a trailing U-beam axle with coil springs. Telescopic dampers were used for all four wheels. Up to model year 1967 models had drum brakes all around. Starting 1967, with the coming of the V4 engine, models were fitted with front disc brakes.
Safety has always been one of Saab’s main focus points and the 96 was no different. The 96’s were often used for rally’s and these mandated a roll cage. The story goes that although the rollcage was mandated, it wasn’t necessary. The 96’s roofpillars were so strong that a roll cage wasn’t necessary. This rigidity made the 96 very successful in rallying with wins in the 1960, 1961 and 1962 RAC Rally’s and especially the 1962 and 1963 Monte Carlo rally.



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Renald van Dijke

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+31 (0)411 60 50 00
sales@classicpark.nl

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