V4 Saab 96/95 - anyone know anything about these?

[shoestring7]

I'm looking around for a 'interesting', usable and affordable pre-74 classic that a young driver can get insurance on and these have appeared on my radar.

Column gear change aside, unlike a lot of 60's British stuff they appear to be well engineered and strong, and a decent steer - although I don't think I've ever driven one.

Does anyone know about parts, club/forum and specialist support?

thanks


Charles

[Nige]

I think there might be a few Saab'ers on here. If not PM Dr Rock (Fraser) on Impact Bumpers as he's a Saab man.

I've had a few newer Saabs in the past and this forum has always been helpful and active
http://www.uksaabs.co.uk/UKS/ucp.php?mode=register

[haasad]

I learn't to drive in my dads, lime green one, freewheel and column change...excellent combination, ....I did put it through a garden fence in our village within 3 days of passing my test but that was my inexperience not the car. Seriously the freewheel does take some getting used to since there is zero engine braking but as I remember it can be disabled with a lever in the cabin. Column change isn't usual nowadays but is surprisingly handy with the freewheel in there's no need to use the clutch on downshifts either (?). A very solid car I would imagine they are pretty safe too velour trim with heated seats can only be a bonus. The engine is like a ford taunus but I think rotates anticlockwise.

I'd have one on minilites with a bank of cibies a cage and get all swedish about left foot braking and scandinavian flicks

[DanG]

Google for a chap called Nick Pinkett - what he doesn't know about 2 stroke Saabs etc etc

Should bring back a few forums including articles on the RAC rally he did last year.

[Tosh]

No idea how active this board still is but...

http://www.saab-v4.co.uk/

[Nick Moss]

There is a 2 stroke Saab 96 that races at Classic Le Mans, it is the noisiest racing saloon I have ever heard

[Gary71]

I think it only 'races' with itself though. Never has volume been so disproportionate to speed!

[shoestring7]

Google for a chap called Nick Pinkett - what he doesn't know about 2 stroke Saabs etc etc

Should bring back a few forums including articles on the RAC rally he did last year.

Thanks. As far as I know the V4 is a 1500/1700cc 4 stroke.

C>

[DanG]

Ah well.

He's got two rallying V4s too.

[Jonny Hart]

I have had two of these, both 95's (the estate) which have a rear facing dickie seat that folds up out of the floor. Briliant!

I had mine as a Cal Looker when Vdubs ruled the roost - it always caused much head scratching as it was quite unusual. You can lower them by shortening the springs and the ride is still excellent ( despite a six inch drop in my case ).

The handling and cornering are excellent, even in the estate (which was used on the Monte Carlo as it was the first model to get a 4 speed gearbox at the time). You pre select a low gear, drift into a corner and boot it on the exit. There is a pull lever under the dash to return the flywheel to normal but you will get hooked on using it. Just make sure the engine doesn't stall. My first drive on collection had the engine stall on Handcross Hill (M23), no engine braking and no servo either!

Pre 75 ish models have the pretty chrome trim (actually stainless steel) and later have the fugly bumpers. Nice colours, I had a primrose yellow with green interior and a caramel one with tan. I later resprayed the yellow one purple as was the 90s...

From the early 70s, the 1500 Taunus V4 was fitted to the 4 speed column change gearbox. It ISN'T a Transit engine although everyone will tell you it is. The timing gears are fibre and rumble, before failing. The gear change is via a rubber UJ that wears out but is a ten minute job to fix (and not expensive). As all Saabs of the period, into reverse to take the key out of the ignition.

Dream on if you want aftermarket wheels, the PCD is a huge 5 stud and you'd have to find wheels off an early 99 or Sonnet to upgrade. There is a minilite style wheel that was fitted to a special edition 95 but rare as. The PCD is almost Range Rover, I tried to run the RR three spokes on wobble bolts but the offset is all wrong.

I'll dig some pics out...

[haasad]

I also remembered the handbrake works on the front wheels......nuts

[Mitch]

There is a 2 stroke Saab 96 that races at Classic Le Mans, it is the noisiest racing saloon I have ever heard

I think it only 'races' with itself though. Never has volume been so disproportionate to speed!

True. And here it is....but the sign says it's a 3 cyl 93.

[Mitch]

This popped up today.... still a 2 stroke but looks nice.

Good luck with the search.

http://www.petrolicious.com/polish-enth ... saab-alive

[Dingbat]

Hi
I had an ex German fire service Ford Transit with the seventeen hundred Cologne V4 in it, and whilst it was not the fastest thing in the world the engine was rather a good thing and would sing whilst haring along the motorway, the little German V4's are much a different design to the Essex motor and work well and I would rather like a little 95 myself but maybe not with the big clumpy bumpers the late ones got.

[classicgarage]

There is a 2 stroke Saab 96 that races at Classic Le Mans, it is the noisiest racing saloon I have ever heard

I think it only 'races' with itself though. Never has volume been so disproportionate to speed!

True. And here it is....but the sign says it's a 3 cyl 93.

hi guys , Chris Nutt , brother of Dessie Nutt rally swb 911 , regards mervyn