Belgian registration title

High performance vehicle
Carefully prepared
Old PTH from 2008

In the aftermath of World War II, the Swedish aircraft manufacturer Saab (Svenska Aeroplan Aktie Bolaget) presents its very first car, the 92. This car, with its aeroplane wing profile and two-cylinder 2-stroke engine, was unlike any other. It was followed in 1955 by the 93 (3-cylinder 2-stroke), which was quickly "modernised" with the 96 in 1960. The unique design, still signed by Sixten Sason, is recognizable among thousands! The big change came in 1966 with the adoption of a Ford V4 (from the Taunus 12 M), a traditional 4-stroke, under the bonnet, alongside the used 2-stroke, which disappeared in 1968. With power increasing from 42 bhp to 65 bhp, the improvement in performance is notable. It's not a racing machine per se, but with its low weight (920 kg dry), its front disc brakes and its ruggedness, it has long been a winner in the world's toughest rallies, including the Monte Carlo, the San Remo and the famous RAC (Rally of Great Britain), not to mention an insolent domination of the Nordic rallies (Sweden and Finland) and incredible exploits on the Safari Rally (Kenya). The V4 engine, re-built to 1,840 cm3 by the competition department and equipped with two Weber carburettors, developed up to 150 bhp! Behind the wheel were two Swedish legends: Erik Carlsson and Stig Blomqvist (five consecutive Rally Sweden victories in a Saab 96!). Until 1980, 547,241 Saab 96s were produced.
Thanks to its record of success, the Saab 96, which was already on the front page of the second issue of the famous magazine Sport Auto, made rally fans all over the world dream. Hervé Charbonneaux is one of them, and as a teenager he remembers the Saab 96 Monte Carlo parked next to his family's home in Paris. "The dashboard, which included a stopwatch holder and the famous Halda Tripmaster that gave the average speed to be respected in rallies between two stages, was remarkable!" In 2019, he wanted to take part in the Gravel Rally in Romania, so he went in search of a car that was as much fun as it was good, and found the Saab 96 that illustrates these pages. The car, which had been prepared like the Gr. 2s of the time (its old 2008 Historic Technical Passport - HTP - is on file), had recently competed in historic rallies in Sweden and was indeed just waiting to take part in new adventures. At the last moment, however, Hervé decided for logistical reasons to rent a car directly in Romania. It was not to his liking, as the car he drove broke down in the middle of the night in the Carpathian forests, "and we were unable to get out of the car because of the presence of bears in the area... Our assistance team eventually found us and brought us back to the technical park by strap. We really missed the Saab!" he says, still laughing today. Prepared according to the factory specifications of the time, this atypical and high-performance 96 is ideal for historic rallying. The HTP and safety features will have to be renewed for those who wish to enter an FIA event.

This car will be sold by auction by AGUTTES Auction House, in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, on June the 20th, 2021.
The digital catalog is available by the following link
https://www.aguttes.com/en/catalog/113642?

Please contact us for any further details.
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