This may be old news, but I didn't see anything on here about it, so I either missed it, or it hasn't been shown yet.
Its a 1974 SAAB craigslist find. Looks kinda bad-ass.
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Jan. 19, 2010 10:57 a.m. 5ev3n New Reader
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Jan. 19, 2010 10:58 a.m. 93celicaGT2 UltraDork
Just stupidity's sake...
These are FF cars, yes? Anything weird about motor layout that would prevent putting a modern FWD drivetrain in it?
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Jan. 19, 2010 11:01 a.m. RossD Dork
If I wanted an old front wheel drive car, I'd look...everywhere. At least it looks kinda neat.
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Jan. 19, 2010 11:07 a.m. BoxheadTim HalfDork
93celicaGT2 wrote:
Just stupidity's sake...
These are FF cars, yes? Anything weird about motor layout that would prevent putting a modern FWD drivetrain in it?
It's got a Ford V4 so I'd guess space is rather limited.
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Jan. 19, 2010 11:11 a.m. m4ff3w Dork
93celicaGT2 wrote:
Just stupidity's sake...
These are FF cars, yes? Anything weird about motor layout that would prevent putting a modern FWD drivetrain in it?
As said it has a V4 and is mounted longitudinally.
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Jan. 19, 2010 11:17 a.m. mattmacklind PowerDork
I like Sonnets. Wanted to buy one off of CL local to me but of course lacked the disposable cash at the time. Very neat cars, love those "soccer ball" wheels.
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Jan. 19, 2010 11:25 a.m. procainestart Dork
Sweet find!
There's at least one of these cars running around with a classic 900 Turbo engine/tranny, so it can be done. If you haven't seen a Sonett up close, they're tiny. No way you'd ever by able to put a transverse set-up into the car.
More Sonett stuff for the bored or easily distracted:
http://www.vintagesaab.com/sonett/
http://jalopnik.com/5442284/saab-on-the-brink-mr-smith-sonett-goes-to-washington-motown
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Jan. 19, 2010 12:41 p.m. Woody UltraDork
I love these cars, but that is too much to pay for that car. They frequently show up for half that price.
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Jan. 19, 2010 1:48 p.m. tr8todd New Reader
Sweet little car. I had one before and I really miss it. Coolest feature was the front strut tie bar that doubled as a coolant expansion tank. Also had a push pull rod to raise and lower the headlights. The car incorporates a stamped steel pan like a VW and has a really flimsy fiberglass body that sits on top. Whole front end comes off in a flash to work on the engine, because the hood isn't much bigger than a pizza box. $2K for a car with a rust free pan is well worth it.
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Jan. 19, 2010 2:26 p.m. Matt B Reader
I always wanted a Sonett - although I can't tell you exactly why. Maybe because it's small, light, and weird - check, check, and double check. What do I know though? I seem to keep getting myself in over my head with weirdish old cars. (how else will I learn how to swim?)
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Jan. 19, 2010 2:40 p.m. Ian F Dork
When you look at early Saabs and Subarus, you can really tell where Fuji was looking for inspiration... so I'd wonder how hard it would be to fit a Subie FWD (or even AWD?) drivetrain into a V4 Saab... considering the configuration is identical.
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Jan. 19, 2010 7:17 p.m. Streetwiseguy New Reader
Guy back in the 70's had a Sonnet with a 911 engine of some sort up front. Pretty fast ice racer.
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Jan. 20, 2010 1:44 p.m. MiatarPowar HalfDork
Argh. I either need to find a good pan for mine or just strip the damned thing. Everytime that I see another one for sale, it makes me want to fix it.
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Jan. 20, 2010 1:58 p.m. oldeskewltoy New Reader
If you want a Swedish Sports car... find a Volvo 1800. Far easier to maintain and drive...
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Jan. 20, 2010 2:06 p.m. MiatarPowar HalfDork
Opinions are like...
Oh, nevermind.
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Jan. 20, 2010 3:05 p.m. volvoclearinghouse New Reader
In reply to oldeskewltoy:
+1 for the volvo love. The 1800 is all around the better car, too. We learned early on in life that FWD sucks when we tried to take a corner in our Big Wheels trikes while pedalling and either a) flipped over b) kept going straight, or c) spun out.
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Jan. 20, 2010 4:32 p.m. Ian F Dork
MiatarPowar wrote: Argh. I either need to find a good pan for mine or just strip the damned thing. Everytime that I see another one for sale, it makes me want to fix it.
I feel the same way about 1800's... especially ES versions... so little space... so little time/space/money...
We're still kicking ourselves for not picking up a Saab 95 a few years ago... such a neat car... it was even the same year and color as our green '73 ES (although it needed paint). And they have a column shift 4 spd! Ya just gotta love 'em!
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Jan. 21, 2010 7:51 a.m. MiatarPowar HalfDork
Ian F wrote: We're still kicking ourselves for not picking up a Saab 95 a few years ago... such a neat car... it was even the same year and color as our green '73 ES (although it needed paint). And they have a column shift 4 spd! Ya just gotta love 'em!
Yes. I love driving my 95. Maybe I should get it out and go for a drive Saturday morning. Damn this weather.
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Jan. 21, 2010 9:40 a.m. joey48442 SuperDork
volvoclearinghouse wrote:
In reply to oldeskewltoy:
+1 for the volvo love. The 1800 is all around the better car, too. We learned early on in life that FWD sucks when we tried to take a corner in our Big Wheels trikes while pedalling and either a) flipped over b) kept going straight, or c) spun out.
Yes it's true big wheels and their handling characteristics are totally the same as a front wheel drive car.
Joey
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Jan. 21, 2010 12:27 p.m. MiatarPowar HalfDork
joey48442 wrote: Yes it's true big wheels and their handling characteristics are totally the same as a front wheel drive car.
Joey
I wish I could '+1' that more than once.
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Jan. 22, 2010 12:47 a.m. joey48442 SuperDork
MiatarPowar wrote:
joey48442 wrote: Yes it's true big wheels and their handling characteristics are totally the same as a front wheel drive car.
Joey
I wish I could '+1' that more than once.
it's funny, two rear wheel drive guys (I'm assuming you have a miata, I know I have 2 and a half) and we're defending the handling of fwd cars!
Joey
Joey
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Jan. 22, 2010 8:44 a.m. MiatarPowar HalfDork
joey48442 wrote: it's funny, two rear wheel drive guys (I'm assuming you have a miata, I know I have 2 and a half) and we're defending the handling of fwd cars!
Yep.Joey
I have a Miata, a 2WD GMC R15 and a 2WD Toyota Pickup. Also had a couple of MR2s, LS400, etc. I've also had a ton of FWD cars and one AWD.
Different drivetrain layouts are good at different things, bad at different things. All that matters is how you drive them, really. Some people just don't leave their box long enough to realize it.
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Jan. 22, 2010 9:59 a.m. RX Reven' Reader
A rotary should be simular to a V4 is size / weight and won't put out so much torque that a stronger transaxle would be required.
What year is the cut-off for smog?
A stock 12A or 13B would make that thing move...a bridge ported, no smog set-up with either engine would make that thing fly.
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Jan. 22, 2010 10:58 a.m. Carson Dork
There's a guy who has a more modern Saab powered Sonett. Only his is now mid-engined, and fender flared.
He also has an incredible 96.
