1973 SAAB Sonett

http://i874.photobucket.com/albums/ab302/54belair/IMG_1175.jpg

http://i874.photobucket.com/albums/ab302/54belair/IMG_1176.jpg

http://i874.photobucket.com/albums/ab302/54belair/IMG_1178.jpg

Woah, as an old SAAB dude I can tell you that is quite impressive. Right down to the mudflaps.
Who makes that? Is it a recent release?
I had a '72, it didn't have those big ugly bumpers...much cleaner.
Thanks for sharing!

Woah, as an old SAAB dude I can tell you that is quite impressive. Right down to the mudflaps.
Who makes that? Is it a recent release?
I had a '72, it didn't have those big ugly bumpers...much cleaner.
Thanks for sharing!

I'm glad that you liked it. The model was made by Universal Hobbies with a production run of 1500 pieces - I don't remember the date, though it was probably in the mid-'90's. The detail on this model impressed me.

The bumpers were a 1973 production change on the 1/1 version in readiness for the US federally mandated impact bumpers (and remember seatbelt interlock?) I was a SAAB guy in the 80's and '90's and had a number of 900 and 9000 Turbos as company cars. I only had the occasion to drive a Sonett III once and it was great fun.

I've been eyeing Sonetts for my next 1:1 buy, that UH looks amazingly good for a 1:43 for the 90s. Hopefully I'll add one to the collection in more scale than one! Thanks for posting.

Me and my family have owned COUNTLESS Saabs since 1970.
3 cyl 2 stroke and Ford Taunus powered V 4 powered model 96 sedans and model 95 wagons.
Honestly, I prefered the 96 and 95 models to the model 97 Sonnetts.
My brother still owns several and drives the holy hell out of them!

Me and my family have owned COUNTLESS Saabs since 1970.
3 cyl 2 stroke and Ford Taunus powered V 4 powered model 96 sedans and model 95 wagons.
Honestly, I prefered the 96 and 95 models to the model 97 Sonnetts.
My brother still owns several and drives the holy hell out of them!

When I was a kid, my buddy's mom had a 2-stroke 93. I always thought the engine was about the same size as the one in my mother's Electrolux vacuum cleaner! The "putt-putt" took us everywhere.

The SAAB that I thought was the funkiest was a 96 V4 with free-wheeling - free-wheeling was like nothing else. The one that was the best driver was the 1995 900 V6 5-speed with the engine that Opel used in DTM racing.

I've been eyeing Sonetts for my next 1:1 buy, that UH looks amazingly good for a 1:43 for the 90s. Hopefully I'll add one to the collection in more scale than one! Thanks for posting.

Glad you liked the model - thanks for looking. Here's a link that might be of interest to you:
http://jpowell.tripod.com/saab-models-toys/#trofeu

Very nice piece. Thanks.

and even 'older' 1974 99 Combi Coupe!
http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm12/kschnelle/tekno/Inter-carsSaab99CombiCoupe.jpg
Intercars, a contemporary diecast from the 1970s.

Here's a bit of a Dink that I've had I think since I was a kid. Don't even remember how I got it:

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k158/pwschuh/DSCN9431.jpg

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k158/pwschuh/DSCN9432.jpg

That's a terrific 99 from karl s and a great 96 from PW...

Keep 'em coming, guys. Let's hear everyone's SAAB story!

1958 SAAB 93 - Tekno Denmark
http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm12/kschnelle/tekno/TeknoSaab93.jpg

When I was a kid, my buddy's mom had a 2-stroke 93. I always thought the engine was about the same size as the one in my mother's Electrolux vacuum cleaner! The "putt-putt" took us everywhere.

The SAAB that I thought was the funkiest was a 96 V4 with free-wheeling - free-wheeling was like nothing else.
Amazing and unique feature...and it wasn't just the V4 cars that had it.
The 3 cyl cars had it as well - including 93s. Your buddy's mom may have been unaware of this device. Some people that bought their cars used, where not informed. The lever that operated the free-wheeling is sorta hidden under the dash and was left undiscovered by some!

Amazing and unique feature...and it wasn't just the V4 cars that had it.
The 3 cyl cars had it as well - including 93s. Your buddy's mom may have been unaware of this device. Some people that bought their cars used, where not informed. The lever that operated the free-wheeling is sorta hidden under the dash and was left undiscovered by some!

Yes - I drove the others, but I never had the occasion to drive a three cylinder SAAB. Did you ever have a Turbo with a noisy hooter valve?

My one and only post 96 model SAAB was a '78 turbo.
I don't think I even regestered it before I sold it ...and the turbo was busted anyway.
What's a noisey hooter valve sound like?

P.S. The 3cyl. cars are fun to drive because the tiney alluminium engine is much lighter than the V4s so they handle curves and off-road stuff better.

[QUOTE=Lummox;3059681]My one and only post 96 model SAAB was a '78 turbo.
What's a noisey hooter valve sound like?


Sounds like you have an owl in the engine compartment every time the boost pressure drops on decel.

You mean the compressor bypass valve. Unless it was vented to the atmosphere (in which case it was actually a blow-off valve) it shouldn't have been that noisy. A defective CBV which is leaking can make some noises.

You mean the compressor bypass valve. Unless it was vented to the atmosphere (in which case it was actually a blow-off valve) it shouldn't have been that noisy. A defective CBV which is leaking can make some noises.

You are exactly right. Because of the type noise that the defective blow off valve made, it was referred to as a hooter valve. Google it and see!

If you ever pass through Nashville, TN, (Music City) USA, stop and see the 130 European cars at the Lane (http://www.lanemotormuseum.org/)! :cool:

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm12/kschnelle/Lane_Motor_Museum/1967SAAB95.jpg
http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm12/kschnelle/Lane_Motor_Museum/SAAB.jpg

Lane is a very cool place. Lots of neat Citroens there too (like that highly modified orange DS racer behind the Saab in the second picture).

Lane is a very cool place. Lots of neat Citroens there too (like that highly modified orange DS racer behind the Saab in the second picture).

Karl, hose SAABs are beautiful. That's my kind of car museum - odd cars. The former Gast Auto Museum in Strasburg, PA was full of unusual cars like those, but both foreign and domestic.

That Citroën must have been for mudding - look at the air intake snout...

That Citroën must have been for mudding - look at the air intake snout...

It's an ice racer - I've never seen an ice racer with a snorkel...

It's an ice racer - I've never seen an ice racer with a snorkel...

It's an ice racer which I believe was formerly raced by Dave Burnham out of NY. He now has a new machine based on the Citroen SM but much more highly modified. There is a lot of water and slush that can get thrown around in ice racing. Snorkel helps with that. Originally snorkel was used on DS's that were in Safari and Morocco rallies, where there were deep water crossings. This set-up is hold-over from that era.

It's an ice racer which I believe was formerly raced by Dave Burnham out of NY. He now has a new machine based on the Citroen SM but much more highly modified. There is a lot of water and slush that can get thrown around in ice racing. Snorkel helps with that. Originally snorkel was used on DS's that were in Safari and Morocco rallies, where there were deep water crossings. This set-up is hold-over from that era.

PW-
I've only seen ice racing here in New England a couple of times many years ago and don't recall seeing snorkels on any of the cars, hence my surprise. "Mudding" is pretty popular in this area and it's not unusual to see Jeeps and 4X4's with air intake snorkels. I learn something new on a regular basis on HT. Thanks for the information on the car and its driver.

-John :wave:

Awesome pic, looks like an amazing museum.
I'm more inclined to believe the snorkle is for safari racing.
No need for such a device on the ice.
SAABs rule on the ice! As a SAAB family, we grew up watching the SAABS take all at the lake 2miles from our house.

Awesome pic, looks like an amazing museum.
I'm more inclined to believe the snorkle is for safari racing.
No need for such a device on the ice.
SAABs rule on the ice! As a SAAB family, we grew up watching the SAABS take all at the lake 2miles from our house.

I saw them on Lake Winnipesaukee in NH and the SAABs were always the victors. I found some more pictures of this Citroën and maybe it's not a snorkel at all, but rather an exhaust - that would make more sense. Here's the link - see what you think it is: http://lanemotormuseum.org/collection/228-citroen-ds-ice-racer-1966

Wow, that thing is so cool!!!
Yeah, it's deffinately an ice racer 'cause of the screw-studs in the tires,
and that IS the exhaust header poking outta the hood - strange though, I wonder why they did that.

If it's an exhaust, that does make more sense. Stock DS exhaust is a rather restrictive affair so I can see why he'd want something shorter and larger, but not sure why it needs to go to the roof.

Wow, that thing is so cool!!!
Yeah, it's deffinately an ice racer 'cause of the screw-studs in the tires,
and that IS the exhaust header poking outta the hood - strange though, I wonder why they did that.

If it's an exhaust, that does make more sense. Stock DS exhaust is a rather restrictive affair so I can see why he'd want something shorter and larger, but not sure why it needs to go to the roof.

The one thing that I can think of is that by running the exhaust pipe up to the roof it is protected if the car had to be re-started during the race. If it skidded on a corner and went rear-end first into a snowbank there's not much protecting the back of that car. If snow got stuffed into the tailpipe and the car stalled out, the car might not start with a totally blocked tailpipe. (Remember the banana in the tailpipe gag in Beverly Hills Cop?)

What do you guys think of this rationale?:confused:

Yeah, I guess that makes more sense than anything I can think of...good thinkin' 54b :thumbsup: