I think we all know that Saab has a great history of making fun, funky cars. Usually, we tend to think of them as also being somewhat practical coupes and sedans. But did you know that Saab also produced 3 generations of a tiny sports car, named the Sonnett? This 1974 Sonnett III came from the last model year they were made, and it’s tough to decide if it’s restorable or better served as a parts car. You can find it for sale here on eBay in Bismarck, North Dakota. The “Buy It Now” price is $2,500.
The first Saab Sonnett was made between 1955 and 1957, but only 6 were made and they were used mostly for development purposes. The second generation started limited production in 1966 and 1967, but once the typical 2-stroke engine was replaced with a German-based Ford V4 engine it was renamed from Sonnett II to Sonnet V4 and produced through 1969. The Sonnett III was made from 1970 through 1974, and the year of our car had 2,483 made.
Being a fiberglass body, there is naturally no rust. However, the frame and floors on this example are definitely in rough shape. Because of this, plus the fact that there is no title for the car, the seller suggests using this Saab for parts. Apparently much of the rust is due to leaking brake fluid and clutch fluid. The trunk floor is also in poor shape and there is rust in the fender wells. It appears that it will take a lot of work to make this car whole again, which may not be worth it unless there is a way to get the car re-titled (the seller has some suggestions).
The interior is not in quite as rough condition as the body, but it does look a bit tired. There are some tears in the seats and steering wheel, the carpet looks lumpy, and there are some damaged areas of the center console. Plus, any time you see loose wires hanging from the dash, you start to wonder what the problem was initially and what other problems were caused by a DIYer.
The pic of the engine isn’t great, but the seller says the car does actually run and drive. The Ford V4 engine was 1700cc and put out approximately 75 horsepower, which was enough to propel this light little car to just over 100mph. The seller even included the wet and dry compressions numbers for the engine in the listing, which I thought was a cool touch for anyone interested in the overall health of it. It’s a hard choice to fix it up or part it out. What would you do?
It’s almost as easy to get a title as it is to not get a title. unless the car is stolen.
Depends on the state of which the vehicle is titled. In Washington it takes years to obtain a title and unless it’s something special people sell with a bill of sale for part only.
Very True. If you show up to the DMV in New York without a title or transferable registration, you have zero a chance of ever getting one, unless of course if you know the person behind the counter… I love New York.
4 years if you can’t establish a paper trail. I went through that with a home built trike back in the 90s. 4 years after the thing was first inspected, I got a new title.
Can it be titled? It depends upon where you are and who you know.
3 years for WA state. I found a licensing agent that’s willing to walk me through the process and explain everything. A unicorn in the business.
Give the guy credit for a good listing with pictures and more than a smidgeon of honesty.
Ive heard that Vermont DMV will issue a title and that you dont have to be a resident. Did a quick search and came up with the following (I have yet to validate the info on this page so please feel free to jump in with anything else you can add or deduct; this is a topic very important to many of us in this hobby)… https://cartitles.com/title-option-2/
Titling it would be problematic in most states but this is a parts car title or not. With the amount of rust – and kudos to the seller for the disclosure and details – it would take an awful lot of work to make it solid again.
That said, the bin price is a fair value for the number of good parts on this Sonett and if I had a solid one that had rough fiberglass this car would be a no brainer buy
I can tittle anything in California, except a Land Rover Defender, unless you want to pay the $15,000 for the special smog job for the diesel motor! Love these Saabs! I want it!
This is the best one I’ve seen in years!
What you see in the photos and what you see in the flesh can often be quite different but I agree, this appears to be the best one that’s been on this forum for years.
Might be better sourcing a parts car for this example rather than the other way round.
I love these and have only seen one in person and that was in a museum. It’s 1 other side of the country , 2 way beyond my mechanical ability. Sure hope some one could repair it. Seems a shame to part it , running and driving , sorta.
If you look at how the Sonett is constructed, the framework is inner fenders, floors ans sills, firewall and dash, bulkhead behind the seats and then trunk area. All of that is “below the body.” The fiberglass body has reinforcements up the a pillar and down the c but that is all separate from the under framework.
Once that under-the-body framework is rotted the car is pretty much shot without a lot of very extensive welding. Like I said, best use of this one is to find one with a solid chassis and put this bodywork on that.
We bought this car’s twin about 20 years ago. Nice car except for the floor. for some reason, the 96 bodies and the Sonnett, have a flaw at the firewall. They rot and it takes an awful lot to fix them. I have seen some 96’s with an extreme bend. Even when welded, it is a “cross your fingers” deal whether the floor will last or not. I cannot understand why Saab put a metal floor on a fibreglass body. I am not sure if our Sonnett will get restored or not. We have all the parts, another engine, extra parts up the ying yang. But the floor ! No foot no horse. No floor no car. Good luck.
No scrap price for plastic bodies. $500.00 max for everything else if your lucky.
I would not part it. Like all gens (& most other yr/model SAAB), would love to tinker w/a bent4. Never hada glass body (plenty of glass sloops, ketches’n yawls tho) either. Only thing not enjoyed is the soccer ball (merican phrase) wheels. Would search out a era correct, size/appropriate ‘muscle’ wheel (turbos? slots? turbines?).