Saab 96 Classic Cars for Sale

The Saab 96 was a small family car manufactured by the Swedish company Saab between 1960 and 1980. During its long life, it was known for its distinctive exterior design, as well as the V4 engine used for most of its history. The Saab 96 enjoyed considerable success in rallying.

The Saab 96 is born

The Saab 96 was initially conceived to replace the Saab 93, which by the end of 1950s was becoming outdated. The new model was deliberately designed to look fairly similar to its predecessor from the front, retaining the 93's curvaceous bodywork. There were more changes at the rear of the Saab 96, most notably bigger lights and a larger glass area. On its launch in January 1960, the 96 featured a three-cylinder, 0.8-litre engine; although this pushed out a mere 38 horsepower, the car's rugged design and simple three-speed transmission made the Saab 96 popular from the start. It was produced at Saab's headquarters in Trollhättan, north of Gothenburg.

More power for the Saab 96

The most successful period of the Saab 96's life began in 1966, when its engine was upgraded to a 1.5-litre V4 unit taken from the Ford Taunus. Despite some extra weight, a power increase to 65 horsepower, along with a move to four-speed transmission, made the Saab 96 a more attractive proposition. To deal with this additional power, Saab 96s were fitted with front disc brakes from 1967 onward. Stricter emissions regulations necessitated some changes to the car for 1977, most notably a Solex carburettor, and these increased power slightly to 68 horsepower. By this time, the Saab 96 was struggling against newer rivals and, after more than 540,000 cars had been built, the model was discontinued in 1980, being replaced by the more modern Saab 99.

The Saab 96 in motorsports

A number of Swedish rally drivers enjoyed highly successful campaigns with the Saab 96. The car was particularly strong in its early years, with Erik Carlsson bringing 96s home first in every RAC Rally between 1960 and 1962, as well as winning the Monte Carlo Rally twice in the early 1960s. The Saab 96 combined toughness and reliability, which at the time were more important than outright speed in rallying. The enduring abilities of the model in this type of motorsport were underlined when it won the Swedish Rally twice, triumphing in 1973 in the hands of Stig Blomqvist and three years later with Per Eklund. The Saab 96 was less well suited to circuit racing, although cars were entered in some events such as the 1962 Brands Hatch Six Hours.

Forgot your password?

New to Classic Trader?

Save interesting vehicles to your personal watchlist.
Create and save individual searches.
No cost or obligation.

Please select from the following payment options and enter the details required.

PayPal

SEPA Direct Debit

Credit Card

You will be redirected to PayPal to complete the payment process.

Account holder

IBAN

BIC

I authorize Classic Trader GmbH, Am Borsigturm 53, 13507 Berlin, creditor identification number DE81ZZZ00001454093, to collect recurring payments from my account by direct debit. At the same time, I instruct my bank to redeem the direct debits you have made to my account. Note: Within eight weeks of the debit date, I may request reimbursement of the amount debited. The conditions agreed upon with my bank apply.

Credit Card Number

Verification code

Cardholder

Valid through (MM/YYYY)

Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at +49 30 437 75 19 20.

Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at
+49 30 437 75 19 19.

Accepted Payment Methods

Secure
Payment

What should be included in the print exposé?

Data sheet

Location

Pictures

Checklist/ Personal notes

I am a private seller

With Classic Trader your vehicle is as good as sold. We support you along the way.

I am a dealer

Post an unlimited number of vehicles. Use Classic Trader as a professional distribution channel and benefit from our services.

Advertise now as a private seller

I am a private seller

With Classic Trader your vehicle is as good as sold. We support you along the way.

I am a dealer

Post an unlimited number of vehicles. Use Classic Trader as a professional distribution channel and benefit from our services.