Forwarded message:
>From phile Thu May 14 17:06:44 1992
From: phile (Philip J Ethier)
Message-Id: <9205142206.AA08990@pwcs.StPaul.GOV>
Subject: Sonett info
To: gerry@probe.att.com
Date: Thu, 14 May 92 17:06:33 CDT
Cc: british-cars@hoosier.utah.udu, saab@dartmouth.edu
In-Reply-To: <9205141615.AA16535@hoosier.utah.edu>; from "gerry@probe.att.com"
at May 14, 92 12:10 pm
X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.3 PL11]
Gerry@probe.act.com writes \
\Does anybody have any information about the
\SAAB
Correct. It is an acronym, like BMW. Means Svenska Aeroplan A.B.
Sonnet?
Incorrect. It is Sonett, pronounced "SO-net" with a long O like in Joe.
The name is the first two syllables of a Swedish phrase meaning "wow". Yes I
know that this story sounds just like the one about "Countach", but I am told
that both stories are true. I don't speak colloquial Swedish or Italian, so I
dunno.
I KNEW this would happen. I sent a bunch of stuff about Sonetts to another
netter (in Wichita?) and did not save any of it. If he is still there, maybe
HE saved it.
\Are there any years to stay away from?
There are prejudices of course. The pornobumpers started in '73. I liked my
'72 better. I would rather have had a Sonett V4 than a Sonett III.
Sonett (I) 6 made
Like you are going to see any of these!
Sonett II ~260 made
Had 3-cyl 2-stroke engine. 850 GT engine, I guess. 4-speed on column, a much
better shifter than you imagine, very direct. Fixed backlight, vertical trunk
lid swings down. Fixed headlights in fenders. which stand proud above hood
Swinging front end like a Spitfire. Engine is north-south in front of the
transaxle. Fiberglass bucket seats lay back almost as much as a Europa.
Sonett V4 ~1600 made ~1969-1969
Same body with big power bulge on center of hood, 1500cc Ford V4. Still
4-speed on column.
Sonett III ~8300 made from ~1970-1975
Got some fancy-shmancy Italian designer in to ruin the car. Looks "better",
sort of like a Ferrari or ALFA one-off, but the features went to hell. The
front end does not swing, you get a 1.5' square access panel. The whole front
has to come off to do serious work. Takes two people, 13 bolts and lots of
sworking. Headlights are pop-up worked with a handle that looks like a parking
brake on a Europa. Gearchange is floorshift and contains about ten times the
parts the column shift did. They should have left it on the column, but Madison
Avenue said you can't sell a sports car in America without a floorshift. Make
no mistake, this car was made for America.
The Sonett III was the second car to have an all-glass lift gate, the first
being the Volvo 1800 ES variant. Lift-over is really high.
\using the Ford
\V4 engine of 1600cc (?) or was it 2L. GRP body on a steel pan chassis.
I think all Sonett III cars had 1700cc engines. There is a 1600cc engine
listed in the SCCA SOLO II Prepared rules, but I never heard of one anywhere
else. Maybe they went into Ford Taunus cars in this size, but I never saw one
in a SAAB. These engines are bulletproof, and spares come from Ford tractor
dealers.
\I will be looking at one next week with the intent of buying it.
Let me know what year, etc.
\My only knowledge is that it is FWD
All SAABs have been, so far.
\(free-wheeling hubs)
This was a leftover from two-strokes. It is not on the hubs, but in the
transaxle itself. Fun once in a while, great mileage, shift without the
clutch, but not the best for a four-stroke engine. I kept it turned off. I
once got 54+ mpg in an economy run in a SAAB 96 V4 using this, and I had not
even pulled the plugs since getting the car used
\ GRP body on a steel pan chassis.
Yes, it was a "Karmann Ghia'ed" SAAB 96 sedan. All production Sonetts were
considered SAAB 97. Watch out for rust on the pan. It will get you. Leading
cause of death, followed by ring and pinion failure.
\BTW: I think the Sonnet should be made an honourary LBC, it has all of
\the same characteristics.
But from a different angle. You'll see.
There is a SAAB mailing list that spends more time on the inline-engine cars,
but some of them remember. saab@dartmouth.edu. Maybe thy will help you out.
I am no longer a member.
Tim Winker, 218-724-1336, runs the SAAB Club. $20 a year. He used to be my
rally partner.
Sean Coleman, 612-724-4752 knows all about parts, get calls from New Zealand!
Spridget talk:
\I received the Panhard rod from Winner's Circle last night in the post
\(talk about service - I ordered it on Monday morning !!!). It looks
Yes, these guys are great!
\well built and from browsing at the instructions, looks fairly easy
\to install.
Yes, it is. It will argue with your parking brake rods in the middle of the
axle. Just remove the bracket and drill new holes and move it forward. Trust
me. It may also argue with your exhaust. See, these guys take these parts out
of race cars, and did not design this for a streeter.
\I have always
\been surprised by the high pedal pressure required to make a Midget
\stop, considering it is such a light car
No kidding!
Phil Ethier, THE RIGHT LINE, 672 Orleans Street, Saint Paul, MN 55107-2676
h (612) 224-3105 lotus@pnet51.orb.mn.org
w (612) 298-5324 phile@pwcs.stpaul.gov (list goes here)
"The workingman's GT-40" - Colin Chapman "It's a Mistake" - Colin Hay
--
Login name: phile In real life: Philip J Ethier
Phone: 298-5324
--
Login name: phile In real life: Philip J Ethier
Phone: 298-5324
|