This 1974 Saab Sonnet looks like a great starting point for a project, but its history alone makes it worthy of ongoing preservation. According to the seller, it was used as a land speed race car, the kind that charges out over the salt flats in pursuit of world records. Incredibly, there’s some precedence for this among Saab’s V4 lineup, and a quick Google will reveal cars like the Sonnet have been able to achieve some impressive results racing at Bonneville. Find the Sonnet here on eBay with bids to $3K and no reserve.
The seller claims the engine was rebuilt before coming into their possession, but the fact that the thermostat housing went missing in the process indicates (to me, at least) this Saab bounced around a shop before being sold off. It’s strange to me how an oddball like the Sonnet with some serious modifications including “worked heads” and a professional-grade racing cockpit ends up being sold by anyone other than a clearly passionate owner. Then again, I’m the guy who never sells anything, so I’m not exactly qualified to assess the hows and whys.
I suppose I look at the BMW M3 convertible I bought over the summer as a project that had apparently been abandoned in storage before ending up in the hands of a local bodyshop as a car they bought to flip. Anything can happen, especially as owners get old or the hobby becomes less interesting. Perhaps there was an outstanding invoice that needed to be paid and the Sonnet ended up as collateral. Whatever the story is, someone spent some money on this Sonnet at one point with a full cage, Momo racing bucket, and competition-grade seatbelts.
One would hope with a recently rebuilt engine that it runs like a sewing machine, although the custom heads the seller mentions aren’t installed – they’re included along with a new, spare carburetor. This is an interesting assortment of parts and a car that likely has an intriguing history. Check out this story from Saab Planet about a Sonnet II owner who hit a land speed record in his car, showing there’s certainly some precedence for a car like this to haul ass across the flats. Would you continue its legacy as a racer or restore it as a driver?
It’s spelled Sonett, not Sonnet. Swedish word meaning “so neat”, not a poem.
I remeber seeing this car at B-Ville, I think it should continue on that journey , If the salt lasts!
It’s a Sonett, not a sonnet. Shakespeare wrote sonnets. The Sonett name came from the Swedish Sa Nett, which translates they say as So Neat. As Sonetts go, this looks like a very clean one although I’m wondering what they did to the transmission in order to go for a speed record. But with a Colorado history the rockers and floors are probably very good.
Transmission: we had bought our 1969 V4 when we were living in New Hampshire. After the move to CT the transmission bearings started to go. I found a used replacement, the entire power train has 3 bolts for pulling. Of course, the used tranny started seizing up. The dealer in New Canaan was still active so I had the original one rebuilt. In ~1971. Wish I had kept it.
This is a Sonett III not a Sonett II. Look also on the dashboard.
Why would anyone want to de-modify this car, particularly if it has any kind of racing history? I hope some one with a sense of history gets this car and treats it with some sort of respect.
These have a tendency to rot out easily. Back trunk space, battery box, floors,under gas tank, etc. Had one once, love to have it again.
they have a glass body, no? A mechanic round here somewhere (Newton? Somerville? Revere?) brings’em back to life, restores, collects, sells…
I like !
I would love to have one to relive the days of ice racing in Michigan so many years ago. I know that we can’t go back, but it’d be fun to try.