Reportedly stored for three decades and purchased at the estate sale of a car collector, this 1970 Saab 96 appears to be in nice condition inside and out. The seller has provided a nice variety of photos, including (are you sitting down?) an engine photo! They have it posted here on craigslist in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, and they’re asking $8,500. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Rocco B. for the tip!
With a trunk compartment a bit more easily accessible from the outside and a longer front end for the upcoming V4 engine, Saab’s 96 was a nicely upgraded car compared to the previous 93 model. The 96 was made from 1960 through 1980, but we received them until the end of 1973 here in the U.S., along with the 95 station wagon.
We’ve only seen four 1970 Saab 96s here on Barn Finds over the years, and two were very similar to this car, except for this example having great-looking plaid seats compared to plain brown vinyl in the other two examples. The Silver Sand (sometimes seen as Silversand) paint looks almost perfect from what I can see in the photos, but we don’t know the history of the car or whether it’s been repainted or has had any bodywork. Here’s what the trunk compartment looks like. Nice.
The seller says this is an original interior, but I don’t believe Saab offered plaid seats in the 96 in 1970. I couldn’t find any photos of one with plaid seats, at least in this pattern. In any case, this is one instance where I’ll take a non-factory feature over plain-looking vinyl seats. We get a glimpse of the back seats, and they look as nice as the front seats do. I’m not quite sure what color the seats are; they appear blue in the back seat photo and brown in the front seat photo. The only thing I see inside is some possible warping on the top of the padded dash.
The clean engine compartment looks great, and it houses what should be a Ford Taunus 1.7-liter OHV V4, which was rated at 64 net horsepower and 85 net lb-ft of torque. That power is sent through a column-shifted 4-speed manual to the front wheels, and the seller says they had to do a bit of work when they got this car out of its 30-year slumber, including rebuilding the brake system, cleaning the fuel system, replacing the clutch, and replacing the tires. It’s said to run and shift well, and it sure looks great to me. Hagerty is at $7,833 on the low end for a 1970 Saab 96, and this car looks much nicer than that. How much is this car worth?
I’d rock it. While being partial to the two-stroke three-poppers — the only early Saabs I’ve driven — this one looks very nice, and apparently has had the prep work needed to make it a useful driver.
Never seen plaid seats in one of these either, but agree with Scotty that they look “right.” I’ve always loved the exterior design, from the “92001” prototype right up to the very end of production. You can’t mistake them for anything else!
The price seems okay, too. All in all, a pretty fair deal all the way around.
Looks nice. I too have always wanted one of the two cycle free wheeling models. Jerry Seinfeld rode around Seattle with Fred Armistad in one…seemed very appropriate for that town.
My family had a ’67 Saab 96 with the free wheeling option, but it was four stroke. All five of us kids learned to drive with it. I actually failed my first driver’s test because of the free wheeling, I didn’t downshift as I came to stop signs, just used the brakes, and got an automatic failure! That was back in 1970. Didn’t seem right.
I played string bass in our orchestra, and could actually fit my bass into the car with some “fine” maneuvering. Loved that car!
To think Saab had these in the showroom and the 99 at the same time! Quirky but fun or so I’m told, they did well in rallys (Monte Carlo comes to mind, tho with a 2 stroke). Heard that they had a problem with rust however but this looks like it’s been gone over well.
Ruggedly simple and a mileage miser for its day. Be a great winter driver so long as the new owner steers clear of salty highways. Looks like a good price too.
Highly effective anti theft device: not just as a manual, but as a manual on the column and a 4 spd at that. Hide the shift pattern on the dash and you can leave the keys in the ignition LOL.
Kudos, Scotty G. and to Rocco for finding it in the 1st place.
Ha, ha! When we were looking at a 1969 Saab at the Littleton NH Chevy dealer we asked the sales guy but he didn’t know or care about shifting in to reverse so we had to RTFM.
I think I’ve learned way more about these Saabs on Barnfinds than anywhere else. I like the plaid seats too they just fit very nicely. I’ve been wanting to drive one of these with the 4 speed stick on the column. I completely agree with Nevadahalfrack, leave the key in it, take the shift patern off, step back and get a good laugh out of someone trying to take it.
Same for me, learned a lot about these cool old SAABs here on BF.
Not knowing much I just Googled the cars and their drivetrain – what a cool idea using the flywheel and an almost clutch-less manual trans. I can now totally understand why someone would want one of these – I’d love to have one myself and this one appears to be really nice. :)
A few quick comments: Also the Saab 93 has the exterior trunk access, it was only the first 92 that did without. And the early 96 has the same short nose as the 93, I think it was 1965 that the 96 got the long nose.
About the comment about free wheel, also the V4 has that. While the 4-Stroke didn’t need it, Saab didn’t dare to do away with it with all old owners being used to the feature. As a side note even the earliest Saab 99 had it but then it was a disaster, it could not cope with the power and weight of the 99 and quickly grenaded. Even in the 96 V4 you will want to treat the free wheel gently. It’s however very convenient, once you have got rolling you never need to use the clutch for shifting.
I saw a comment about the rally success, I found it impressive that drivers like Stig Blomqvist and Per Eklund had a lot of success well up into the mid 1970’s with the 96. That a design this old could compete against Ford Escorts, Opel Asconas, Lancia Fulvias and other rally cars was pretty impressive.
no underbelly pics, would be nice
Lovely looking car. I had a neighbour when I was a boy who had a Saab. At the time I didn’t find the car very attractive, at least not when compared to Toyota and Datsun of the same vintage.
Looks to be a nice clean example… reasonable ask… simple nut-and-bolt refurb projects to give some new owner accomplishments… What’s not to like.
Another unique looking car.
I’d love to have this. My dad bought a new 96 back in ’71 from Gaston Andrey Imports in Framingham MA. Have a lot of great memories growing up in it as a kid. This one looks in really nice shape.
I’ve had three Saabs and I loved them all and I’d really like to have this one. I drove a two stroke back in the day but I couldn’t wrap my head around the engine at the time so I passed on it, but this is a different story. It looks like it’s been very well kept and it’s even nicer than the one I drove, and if it wasn’t clear across the country I’d take it for a spin and possibly make it my 4th.
For those who want to see the factory correct seats in a 1970 Saab 96 brochure, check out eBay by typing auction number 377141633257 into the search box. Picture #4. Disclaimer: I’m not the seller of said brochure.
I like the plaid seat covers.
Saabs rule.
What is just below the ashtray? Is that AC?
I bought my 1972 96 new for $2595 with a three-year loan at $79 a month. Just before the last payment was due the freewheel mechanism blew. Rented an engine hoist and did the replacement in my driveway. Had to use a piston ring compressor around the freewheel so that the roller bearings did not fall out. Truly a “mars car”!
Martin’s comment brought back a memory. Our Dad was a tractor mechanic, but also worked on all our cars. Between Dad, my brother and me, we were able to lift the engine out of our Saab whenever Dad wanted to work on it!
My mother used to make fun of the name Saab. She would act like she’s crying. She’d call the car a “S-s-s-aaaab!”
A friend with a Saab repair shop in Michigan had one set up with a Ford 2.6L V6 in place of the original V4. Was used for ice racing, when frozen lakes seemed more numerous in winters a couple of decades ago. I drove it once, and yes, it was FAST. 4-speed column shift. So much fun….
Agree with Beyfon. I have owned 5 or 6 SAAB 93 and 96, the earliest being a 1956. All except the last 96 were the wonderful 2-strokes. All had had outside opening trunks. You had to be aware of rust issues, on the bottoms of the doors and IN PARTICULAR in the rear shock towers and the rear suspension mounts. I’d buy an early 750cc (factory) Monte Carlo today, wife permitting. Also, I’ve seen (but never liked) the plaid interiors before.
Sold, sold, sold!