While the Saab Sonett produced from 1970 through 1974 purports to be a Sonett “III”, it’s actually the fourth model made. The series began in 1955 with the launch of a roadster powered by a two-stroke motor, called the Super Sport. The car was destined for racing but a change in European race rules ruined its viabilty for the track after only six were made. Its genetics soon contributed to a coupe built around the same mechanicals, called the Sonett II. Retrospectively, the roadster became the Sonett I. Sonett number two had no better luck with longevity than the roadster, as two-stroke engines were sent to the woodshed by US emissions regulations after fewer than 300 copies were made. Undeterred, Saab solved the engine problem by using Ford’s Taunus V4 in roughly the same body as the II, adding a hood bulge to make space for the new mill. This iteration is known as the V4, and it sold about 1600 examples. But again in response to regulations, Saab had to redesign the Sonett to accommodate more emissions control equipment, leading to the car you see here. For sale on facebook Marketplace with an asking price of $3900, this project is located in Ontario, California.

The 1498 cc V4 engine not only eased acceptance of the quirky little Saab in the US, it also boosted performance by a few horses to 65, though zero to sixty times remained around 12.5 seconds. Later cars received a 1700 cc V4 – the larger displacement intended as an offset to power reductions resulting from ever-increasing pollution restrictions. The gearchange for the four-speed manual was moved to the floor from the column in another nod to the American market. The cars retained their front wheel drive architecture and freewheel feature, a carryover from the two-stroke cars that required it to assure consistent oiling. Resurrecting a Sonett is challenging, as parts can be difficult to source. And the Sonett III provides only a tiny panel to access the engine bay … See that radiator cap on the fill tube? Yah, servicing the radiator itself requires removing the entire front clip!

The interior offers typically ’70s decor, with plastic everywhere. The high-back vinyl buckets are accented with corduroy. The original “lumbar” cushion supplied by the factory is still present, upholstered in matching corduroy, of course. Saab had a knack for sensible gauges – they’re big and centrally located.

The fiberglass body is impervious to corrosion, but watch out for the frame – it can rust right out from underneath the body. This car was running in 2017 but has been stored since, leaving the prospective owner a long list of “to do’s”. Meanwhile, prices are all over the lot, with very nice examples selling for over $20k, drivers in the mid-teens, and project cars right around the asking price of our subject car. Have you owned a Sonett? Let us know in the comments below!