The Swedish rallying pride of yesteryear, a Saab 96 V4 restored in the style of motorsport, put up for sale in Poland

Saab 96 is a model from an era when motorsport was a proving ground for road models, that attracted their glory in public perception. But it is this model, together with others of its contemporaries, that strengthened the image of Saab as an indestructible car, with decent performance, made to last a lifetime. And this even if Saab was, in essence, at the beginning of car production.

The Swedes had developed a 3-cylinder, two-stroke engine for this model, of 841 cubic cm and 38 HP. The car had front wheel drive and, because the engine was lubricated in a specific way, sometimes with small jerks, the people from Saab decided to equip the gearbox with a special flywheel, which would allow a deviation of revolutions and absorb the shocks.

But the Swedes also needed a bigger and more powerful engine, which they found at Ford. They received a V4 engine from the Ford Taunus, with a displacement of 1.5 and 1.7 liters. First the 1.5-liter engine was the one that delivered 65 hp, but over time it reached a power of 90 hp from the 1.7-liter engine.

The rallying career of the Saab 96, however, began very quickly after the model's 1960 launch. Erik Carlsson became the most famous driver competing with the Saab 96 in rallies, starting in 1960. The successful participations continued in the following years, in 1962 and 1963 the Saab 96 reached the Monte Carlo rally, where the whole world could he admired the Swedish car fighting with dignity and without any technical problem.

Photo: Saab 96, driven by Carlsson at the Monte Carlo rally in 1963

It was an excellent way to increase the model's international reputation and today, if you talk about the history of the Saab 96, you can't help but mention its motorsport career. By the way, the Saab 96 also participated in rallies with a two-stroke engine, but also with the later V4.

And the V4 rally engine was constantly modified, putting forged pistons and many other internal components, which also changed its displacement, usually around 1.8 liters or a little higher. The car we are talking about today has the V4 engine modified in the same way, up to 1,850 cubic cm, being equipped with 2 Weber carburettors.

Initially, this specimen was a regular Saab 96 V4. But its owner wanted to transform the car in the style of the glorious rally cars in the history of the Swedish brand. So he contracted the Kanczuga workshop, the most skilled in Saabs in Poland, to make the desired transformations as per the book.

As a result, the car was made with respect to the original style, with thorough and thorough work done, and with an appearance that inevitably recalls the Saab 96 rally cars of the 60s. This car was made in 1967, by the way.

Inside, it has a roll cage and more modern bucket seats, so it could be driven safely on today's circuits. The Saab also has a central switch of the electrical system, as well as an anti-fire system.

The car is approved for public roads, and is even certified as a historic vehicle. So, it can be fully enjoyed, anywhere and anytime.

Now, this example from Poland has been put up for sale at a price of 23,000 euros, which seems to cover only the work done on the car. Being a replica made in rally style, and not an example originally built for rallying, it is understandable that the car has a more affordable price. But in this case, considering how good this Saab 96 V4 looks, the price is unexpectedly moderate.

It's not a choice for everyone, though. Rather, you can buy it if you have a deep respect for Saab and know its history and models, or if you take it as an addition to an already existing collection of classic cars that you have. It is certain that this car, with the way it looks and the sound of the V4 engine, will immediately stand out on the streets.