It’s still hard to believe that Saab is gone, or at least the Saab that a lot of us knew and loved. Other companies made quirky and fun cars but it doesn’t get much more quirky and fun than this 1971 Saab Sonett III. This orange project is on Craigslist in Newark, Delaware and the seller is asking $2,000. Thanks to B. Walters for sending in this Sonett tip!
This is more than a couple of weekends worth of work. I’m not sure if a tv reality show could restore this one in the typical three-day-deadline (insert 1,200 bleeps and other lame production values here). It needs a full restoration and that won’t be inexpensive. Starting at $2,000, given the fact that Hagerty lists a #3 good condition car as being worth $5,900, there isn’t a lot of room there. I would want it to be at least a #2 excellent car which is valued at $9,000. If a person did most of the work him/herself that’s doable.
The Sonett III came out in 1970 and it was based on the Sonett II, at least as far as using the same floorpan goes. It was lengthened and luxury’d up a bit and they even made the rear hatch glass operable! What a concept.
The interior looks pretty complete but it’ll “need restored”, as they say in Newark, Delaware.. The famous adjustable lumbar support back pillows are there which is cool. There are no engine photos which is strange given that the seller has included 17 photos, but it’s a Ford Taunus 1.7L V4 which would have had 65 hp. The seller says that the “engine runs, but needs fuel pump and tank cleaned. Brakes and clutch hydraulics need to be thoroughly gone over.”
The biggest task will be to try to tackle the rust which won’t be easy. There’s a fair amount of it, unfortunately. Parts of the underside look pretty good, but then there are parts with gaping holes. Do you think this Sonett can be saved?
I own a ’73 and let me tell you that getting parts is not easy and nearly everything is a DIY deal. This car could be saved but $2000 is a lot of money for a car in that condition. They didn’t even include pictures under the hood. With that kind of rust and needing all of the hydraulics redone (no small feat because good luck finding a master cylinder) I would be hard pressed to give him half of that.
A Sonett with with rust issues??
Great cars, like these pre-safety bumper ones best.
I am no expert, looks like this one will head to the Parts Bin.
This Sonett II V4 looks much better. I had one of these and am tempted…
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F263778515776
I drove my 1968 from Chicago to DC and Back in 1978. 70-80mph, got over 50mpg and lots of curiosity. Great car.
Wish I had those seats😎
Too bad Saab shot themselves in the foot when GM tried to save them. This looks like a parts car to me, if someone that had a couple of these, and I am sure someone must have a dozen or more sitting around, this would be a decent addition for a couple of hundred dollars.
You mean GM raided them for their cash and left them high and dry. The only thing GM ever did for Saab was to fix the rep for bad wiring which wasn’t as bad as Jaguar.
Royal,
You are correct that GM raided SAAB, not only for the cash reserves, but also for their patent inventory, especially the Front Wheel Drive stuff. GM bled SAAB dry of all the valuable assets that weren’t fixed in Sweden, then walked away.
This is not as bad as one thinks and the price reflects it needs everything. However, the one who saves this 97 will need to have metal working experience in order to do so or know someone who does. You would think someone would come out with replacement floor pans for this and their 95 & 96 counterparts.
To do the metal work properly, the entire fiberglass shell has to be removed. Unlike most other fiberglass cars, the Sonett had a steel chassis, firewall, & floor pan, with the outer shell of fiberglass.
That’s a very optimistic price. It does have a lot of decent parts but that rust is troublesome. And these are tiny cars…like a Europa in traffic, you’ll feel very very insignificant surrounded by lifted trucks and SUV’s, especially during rush hour
The GM unions were the only winner in the death of Saab Saturn Pontiac Oldsmobile and the stockholders.