Saab · 1960–1980

Saab 96

The Saab 96 is an automobile manufactured and marketed by Swedish automaker Saab from 1960 to January 1980, replacing the Saab 93. The 96 featured aerodynamic two-door bodywork, four-passenger seating and at first a two-stroke, three-cylinder engine, later a four-stroke V4.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Predecessor: Saab 93 · Successor: Lancia Delta|Saab 99

All Saab 96 data: UK builds, safety, recalls, model years →

Body design

Compared with its predecessor, the Saab 93, the 96 featured greater and more easily accessible storage space and a larger rear window. The front end was lengthened for 1965 models, in preparation for a new engine, and the radiator was placed ahead of the engine, rather than above and behind, a leftover from when earlier models had thermosiphon cooling. Both front and rear windows were enlarged slightly for 1968 models.

Engine

The Saab 96 had a longitudinally mounted engine layout. As first designed, it had an 841 cc displacement, 38 PS (28 kW) three-cylinder Saab two-stroke engine. By 1965 this was increased to 40 PS (29 kW). An optional 52 PS (38 kW) version of the engine, with triple carburetors and oil injection, was used in the Sport/Monte Carlo models. The additional power was obtained from a modified cylinder head and filled crankshaft counterweights offering higher overall compression ratio. For 1966 models, the standard 96 841 cc engine, using pre-mix oil, appeared with a three throat Solex carburetor in which the center carburetor handled start, idle, and low speed functions, increasing the power to 42 PS (31 kW). The same carburetor had been used in the Sport/Monte Carlo models. A common throttle shaft minimized carburetor synchronization problems. In 1967, Saab began marketing the 96 V4, with the Ford Taunus V4 engine, a four-stroke 1498 cc V4 engine, originally developed for the 1962 Ford Taunus 15M. Saab's project to source a four-stroke engine was dubbed 'Operation Kajsa'. The two-stroke option was offered until 1968. Four-stroke engines had been tested before—between 1962 and 1964 Kjell Knutsson and Ingvar Andersson under Rolf Mellde tested three different engines: a 45 PS Lloyd Arabella of 897 cc; a 33 hp BMC A-Series 848-cc engine and a Lancia Appia engine of 1089cc and 48 hp. However Rolf Mellde's view that Saab needed to switch to a four-stroke engine was stopped higher up by CEO Tryggve Holm. Mellde then went behind the back of Holm and made contact with Marc Wallenberg, son of Marcus Wallenberg, Saab's major stockholder. The coup succeeded and testing could begin. The tested engines were Volvo B18, Ford V4, Triumph 1300, Lancia V4 engine, Opel, Volkswagen and Hillman Imp

Suspension

The front suspension used double wishbones and coil springs, while the rear suspension was a trailing U-beam axle with coil springs. Telescopic dampers were used for all four wheels. Up to model year 1967 models had drum brakes all around. Starting 1967, with the coming of the V4 engine, models were fitted with front disc brakes.

Saab 96 in rallies

The Saab 96 was driven most famously by Erik Carlsson, in many international rallies. His most famous successes were first in the 1960, 1961 and 1962 RAC Rallies and first in the 1962 and 1963 Monte Carlo Rallies. It was these successive, top-level victories that put the Saab 96 'on the map' and established its reputation for reliability and toughness. Carlsson also competed in the East African Safari Rally, finishing second in 1964. Famous rallying names such as Simo Lampinen, Per Eklund, Pat Moss-Carlsson, Tom Trana, Stig Blomqvist and Carl Orrenius have also been connected with the Saab 96. WRC victories.

Land speed record

On August 16, 2011 a 1966 Saab 96 driven by Alex LaFortune set a new speed record at the Bonneville Salt Flats for stock body production cars with 750 cc engines at 110.113 MPH.

Production numbers

The last production date for the Saab 96 was January 11, 1980 (VIN 96806002814), the last VIN (96806002820) was produced on January 3, 1980. These cars were built by Valmet Automotive in Uusikaupunki, Finland. The Saab 96 was succeeded by the Saab 99, introduced in 1967, and subsequently by the Saab 900, introduced in 1978. A total of 547,221 were made. Its place at the Uusikaupunki plant was taken over by the similar sized Talbot Horizon.

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

name: Saab 96
Manufacturer: Saab Automobile
Production: 1960–1980
Assembly: Sweden: Trollhättan (Trollhättan Assembly), Finland: Uusikaupunki (Saab-Valmet), Belgium: Antwerp
Designer: Sixten Sason
Class: Compact
Body style: 2-door sedan
Layout: Longitudinal front-engine, front-wheel drive
Related: Saab 95 , Saab Granturismo
Engine: 795 cc Saab 2-stroke I3 (US, 1968), 841 cc Saab 2-stroke I3, 1,498 cc Taunus V4, 1,698 cc Taunus V4
Transmission: 3-speed manual, 4-speed manual, 3-speed Saxomat
Wheelbase: 2488 mm
Length: 4050 mm
Width: 1570 mm
Height: 1473 mm
Kerb weight: 873 -
Predecessor: Saab 93
Successor: Saab 99
sp: uk

Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Measured facts from Wikidata (CC0). Check the linked sources for citations.

More photos

Sources

Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q420796CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saab_96CC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1360014038 · retrieved 2026-10-01
Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SAAB_96_(25825262244).jpgCC BY 2.0 · Photo: Andrew Bone from Weymouth, England · retrieved 2026-10-01
Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.