As we all know too well on these pages, I love rescuing rare or obsolete vehicles from the junkyard. In many cases, that’s the only place you’re going to find a project-grade version of a special car that was produced in limited quantities. That’s certainly the case with this 1965 Saab 96 Monte Carlo 850 here on eBay, which is supposedly one of less than 1,000 made. It came with a bump in power, unique seats, Nardi steering wheel, and more, but this one is missing most of those. Check out the picture below of it sitting in a sun-baked junkyard before it was rescued.

I wish the seller included more photos of its “as-found” condition, but this is how it looked before getting some steel wheels from the scrap pile to roll around on. The seller is located in Illinois but the old-school license plates indicate this Saab resided in Oklahoma before calling the junkyard home. This, to me, is one of the most exciting feelings out there, of realizing you’ve found a car that many would otherwise consider extinct, and it’s not past the point of revival given it’s largely rust-free condition and no evidence of accident damage. Note the twin chrome strips at the bottom of the doors – those were a distinguishing feature of the Monte Carlo editions.

In the close-up photos on eBay, you can see where the rare Monte Carlo badge left its outline on the trunk lid beneath the corporate logo. These cars were built in commemoration of Erik Carlsson’s success in rallying behind the wheel of a 96 in the ’62 and ’63 Monte Carlo rallies. The special model received a 55 b.h.p. version of the familiar two-stroke, along with front disc brakes, reclining bucket seats, a tachometer, a clock, and the aforementioned Nardi wheel. Despite being a very cool package, it didn’t do much to help with sales and was discontinued a short time later. Surprisingly, the chrome bumpers appear to be in good shape.

Of course, with anything that spends time in the junkyard, the elements and individuals are the primary threats to a car’s existence. If it’s a yard that’s open to the public, parts seekers tend to treat the cars like garage; and if it’s been relegated to a junkyard, most owners assume its driving days are done and the car may be used for occasional target practice. Fortunately, no such damage appears to have befallen this 96, but it will still need a complete restoration – starting with sourcing an engine and the necessary replacement badges. Would you restore this rare Saab 96 or put it back out to pasture?