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SAAB Sonett III — 1972

A fine little GT car in a delightful 70s outfit with an intriguing history. The owner and user has been the motor and rally profile, as well as the Saab legend, Torsten Åman.

Tore Thallaug
Inspector
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Rebecca R Bengtsson
Case manager
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"There’s a certain excitement as you approach this car. Not only is it a Sonett, but it has also been restored, owned, and driven by Mr. Sonett himself. For many decades, this vehicle has been a well-regarded participant in Sonett circles. The color combination is a delightful 70s candy, and both its condition and performance are in excellent original form, serving as a “homage” to Saab’s sports car ambitions from the 60s and 70s. It’s wonderfully cheeky and bold."

COUNTDOWN
CURRENT BID
ENDED
220 000SEK
LOT NUMBER
LOCATION
17450
NYKÖPING
RESERVE PRICE
Reached
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Tore Thallaug
Inspector
Send message
Rebecca R Bengtsson
Case manager
Send message

"There’s a certain excitement as you approach this car. Not only is it a Sonett, but it has also been restored, owned, and driven by Mr. Sonett himself. For many decades, this vehicle has been a well-regarded participant in Sonett circles. The color combination is a delightful 70s candy, and both its condition and performance are in excellent original form, serving as a “homage” to Saab’s sports car ambitions from the 60s and 70s. It’s wonderfully cheeky and bold."

Description

This car was registered for traffic in Sweden in October 1972. It was then acquired by Torsten Åman, who restored the car in the early 80s. Torsten began his career as a co-driver for his brother and went on to win the Swedish Championship in Road Navigation. He made a name for himself in rally sports and was recruited by Saab to co-drive for Erik Carlsson, known as “Carlsson on the Roof.” They competed together for many years, traveling and racing worldwide. After his rally career, Torsten continued to work for Saab’s PR and information department.

With a heart full of Saab passion, knowledge, and enthusiasm, Torsten meticulously restored the Sonett, which is reflected in its excellent condition. He was also honored as an Honorary Member of the Swedish Sonett Club, with a plaque on the glove box lid. Together with his life partner Cajsa, they traveled across Europe in the Sonett to attend various events. However, for Saab meetings in the USA, they flew over. Torsten and Cajsa were always a cherished presence at various gatherings.

The car comes with documentation, literature, and all evidence showing that it has received diligent and careful attention. It is inspected and ready to drive.

Technical data

  • Year
    1972/1972 
  • Registration date
    1972-10-27 
  • Mileage
    63 641 km 
  • Kw / hp
    48 / 65 
  • Fuel Type
    Petrol 
  • Transmission
    Manual 
  • Interior finish
    Vinyl 
  • Colour
    Orange 

Condition

  • Mechanical condition:

    Starts easily and runs well in both engine and drivetrain. During the test drive, the car felt responsive and stable with well-functioning steering, clutch, and shifting functions, as well as brakes. It has not been inspected on a lift, but the visible parts appeared to be in good condition, and there were no comments from the vehicle inspection.

  • Interior condition:

    Nice interior in original condition. The seats, headlining, door panels, and trim are all in good shape. There is a small tear on the driver’s door. The textile floor mats are in good condition, and there are practical rubber mats as well. The steering wheel, controls, and instrumentation are also in excellent condition. Everything seems to be functioning well.

  • Exterior condition:

    Nice and glossy paintwork with semi-matte black accents. Additionally, the glass, chrome, plastic, rubber, and lighting details are all in equally good condition. The wheels are in excellent shape, and the tires are in good condition. The engine and trunk compartments are also well-maintained. Everything seems to have held up well since the renovation 40 years ago.

  • General condition:

    A genuine GT car for connoisseurs was part of the marketing pitch for the Saab Sonett. Or, as it was called “over there,” Sonett III is a different sports car. Saab aimed to demonstrate that owning and driving a Sonett meant being part of an exclusive group of Saab enthusiasts. With this color, in its fine original condition, and with the car’s unique history, it stands as a delightful classic with both Swedish automotive heritage and collector status.

MOT (tech. insp.)

Fordonsstatus: Itrafik 1985-05-01 (Konvert)
Ursprungsbesiktning: 1972-10-27 (typbes)
Datum i trafik första gången: 1972-10-27
Senast godkända besiktning: 2021-05-26
Besiktningsbefriad: Ja
Skattebefriad: Ja
Körförbud: Nej
Antal ägare: 3

Facts about the model

The Saab Sonett Super Sport was premiered on March 16, 1956. This open sports car was partly based on components from the Saab 93. Only six units were ever made. After just over a year of testing, demonstrations, and exhibitions in Sweden and the USA, a decision was made not to put the Sonett into production, thus ending that chapter of its history.

However, the story didn’t end there. Both in the USA and at home, various prototypes for a follow-up Saab sports car were developed. The success of Saab in racing around the world spurred interest in a dedicated sports car. Prototypes such as the Quantum Saab, Catherina, and MFI-13 were created, generating excitement for a pure sports car. The latest prototype, designed by Björn Karlström, eventually became the Saab Sonett II. Production of this new sports car began in 1966, ten years after the Sonett I. The first year saw the creation of three prototypes and a pre-series of 25 hand-built vehicles with various detail solutions. By the fall of 1966, series production started. The initial cars, from chassis number 1 to 258, featured a two-stroke engine from the Saab Monte Carlo 850 but with a different carburetor setup of three Solex 40 DHW, delivering 60 horsepower at 5,200 RPM. From chassis number 259 onwards, the car featured a Ford V4 engine. Along with the new engine came a redesigned hood to accommodate the V4.

Starting with the 1970 model year, the Sonett received a nearly entirely new body and was dubbed the Series III. The body was initially marketed as being designed in Italy by Sergio Coggiola. However, this was somewhat of a half-truth. While Coggiola had made sketches and there were similarities with his proposals, much of the detailed work and significant parts of the rear were done by Gunnar A. Sjögren (GAS), who was working in Saab’s advertising department. The final model year for the Saab Sonett was 1974. In total, 10,219 units of the Sonett II, Sonett II V4, and Sonett III were manufactured.

Location and viewing Information

Location: Nyköping

For viewing the vehicle, contact the inspector/case manager:

Tore Thallaug
+46 705 90 23 65
tore@bilwebauctions.se

Pick up

Collection must take place before: 2024-09-12.

NOTE! Payment (deposit to our account) must be made within 5 days and before collection.

Auction information

General information about the condition of the vehicles .
  • At this auction, many vehicles have been included in car collections and have been stored (mothballed) for a long time. For this reason, they are described from a collector's perspective and may need technical reviews and maintenance service - oil, battery replacement, new tires, brake review, etc. - before they can be used. .
  • During the auction days information about a vehicle may be updated up to the day before the auction ends. When you bid at the end of the auction period - and also if you have made an earlier bid - we therefore ask you to read the descriptions carefully, in case something has been changed due to new information.
Important to know before placing your bids!
  • Once you have called in an item and the reservation price is reached we want you to deposit the entire purchase amount into our client funds account before retrieval can take place.
  • When you need to retrieve a called in object we want you to examine it carefully. If you consider that the item does not match our description you do not need to complete the purchase. In this case the deposited purchase sum and the entry fee are refunded.
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  • If you make the entire purchase exclusively at a distance you have 14 days to cancel, but must return the item at your own expense.
  • Your shipping costs and other costs are not reimbursed when the right of withdrawal is exercised. Swedish court applies.
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