Saab 96

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For the Saab 9-6, see Subaru Tribeca.
Saab 96
Kerb weight
873–950 kg (1,925–2,094 lb)
Chronology
PredecessorSaab 93
SuccessorSaab 99

The Saab 96 is an

automobile manufactured and marketed by Saab from 1960 to January 1980, replacing the 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.

Body design

1961 Saab 96 De Luxe
Rear view of a 1961 Saab 96 with sunroof
Saab Sport
, a modified version of the Saab 96
1965 Saab 96 with the extended nose that accommodated the radiator being moved forward of the engine.

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.[2] Both front and rear windows were enlarged slightly for 1968 models.[3]

Engine

1979 Saab 96GL V4 model, celebrating Saab's 25 years in Netherlands.[4]

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

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
.

The B18 was the most reliable, but the Ford V4 was not far behind and was significantly easier to fit into the engine bay of the 96. The testing was done in secrecy.

Desenzano in northern Italy with a 96 V4 prototype for testing. With five months to go before production only seven persons knew about the new engine. To maintain secrecy they rented a house west of Kristinehamn. To keep purchases of V4 specific parts secret they started a front corporation, Maskinverktyg AB (meaning Machine-Tool Company). The ordinary purchase department at Saab was oblivious to what was going on, something that caused an incident when Rune Ahlberg cancelled the orders for cables for the two-stroke engine and the purchase department called the supplier and sharply told them to keep their deliveries. In the last week of July, just before the summer holidays, information about the new engine was released to further people and they were informed that full-scale production would start in four weeks. To keep secrecy, 40 of the ordinary staff were told to report to work to fix a problem with the disc brakes. Just prior to the official introduction, a journalist noticed a lorry loaded with 96s with V4 stickers on the front bumpers.[5]

The ordinary V4 engines produced between 1967 and 1976 had 65 PS (48 kW). Cars from the first year of production had engines with "Ford Motor Company" stampings. For the Swedish 1976 model year, the car - now known as the 96L - had its power reduced to 62 PS due to new Swedish emission regulations. However, the 1977-1980 models had 68 PS (50 kW),

Solex 32TDID carburetor. These models were badged "V4 super".[7] The V4 96 managed 0–100 km/h in 16 seconds. In August 1975 (called "1975B" in Sweden as the less powerful engine was kept for cars marketed after the beginning of the new year, when the new emissions standards took effect), the car received new impact absorbing bumpers similar to those on the 99 and an altered bottom plate which allowed the rear seat to be moved 5 cm (2.0 in) further back.[8]

In the US, the two-stroke engine was called the "Shrike" in 1967 and 1968. Its displacement was reduced slightly for 1968, to 795 cc, to avoid emission regulations which exempted engines under 50 cu in (819 cc).[9] The V4s used in US cars had a 1500 cc high compression engine with 73 hp (54 kW; 74 PS).[9] For the 1971 model year it was switched to a 1700 cc low compression engine, so as not to lose power while meeting new emissions regulations.[10] Stated power dropped to 65 hp (48 kW; 66 PS) for 1972 as SAE gross figures were abandoned in favor of the lower net ratings. 1973 was the last year that the 96/95 were available in the United States.[11]

Drive train

The Saab 96 and its

synchromesh
on first gear, was offered and the three-speed was phased out.

An unusual feature of the Saab drivetrain was a '

petroil-lubricated two-stroke requires lubrication according to its speed, but provides this lubrication according to the amount of its throttle opening. Where the engine operates at high RPM and low throttle (such as when coasting down a long hill), the lubrication provided may be inadequate. With the freewheel, a coasting engine could reduce its speed to idling, thus requiring only the small lubrication available from the closed, coasting, throttle.[12] In certain higher-performance models and in later two-stroke models, direct injection of oil into the engine from a separate reservoir allowed lubrication to be a function of engine RPM and rendered mixing of oil with gasoline unnecessary.[13]

Freewheeling was retained in the four-stroke variant, until the end of production and in the Saab 99 with the 1709 cc Triumph engine. A minor drawback to the freewheel, particularly for drivers unfamiliar with the Saab, is that it makes engine braking unavailable although it could be manually engaged or disengaged by a control in the foot-well. Fixed wheel disengagement, using the foot, could be difficult, as it involved pulling a 'T handle' intended for manual operation.[13]

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.[14]

Saab 96 in rallies

The Saab 96 was driven most famously by

Pat Moss-Carlsson, Tom Trana, Stig Blomqvist and Carl Orrenius
have also been connected with the Saab 96.

WRC victories

No. Event Season Driver Co-driver Car
1 Sweden 23rd International Swedish Rally 1972 Sweden Stig Blomqvist Sweden Arne Hertz Saab 96 V4
2
24th International Swedish Rally
1973
 Sweden Stig Blomqvist Sweden Arne Hertz Saab 96 V4
3 Sweden 26th International Swedish Rally
1976
 Sweden Per Eklund Sweden Björn Cederberg Saab 96 V4

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.[15]

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.[16] These cars were built by Valmet Automotive in Uusikaupunki, Finland
.

The Saab 96 was succeeded by the

Talbot Horizon.[19]

Postage stamps

The Saab 96 features on several postage stamps. A Monte-Carlo Rally Saab 96, driven by Erik Carlsson, appears on a Swedish stamp.

See also

References

  1. ISBN 978-1-906133-26-9
  2. ^ Road & Track. Vol. 39. Bond Publishing Company. 1987. p. 97.
  3. ISBN 978-1-84584-256-7
    .
  4. ^ Putten, Erik van (2019-01-25). "The SAAB 96 "Special", unique Dutch anniversary edition from 1979". Oldtimers in Auto Motor Klassiek. Retrieved 2019-11-05.
  5. ^ Granlund, Olle. "Minnesanteckningar från införandet av fyrtaktsmotorn i Saab 95/96 1966" [Notes from the 1966 introduction of the four-stroke engine in the Saab 95/96] (in Swedish). Saabveteranernatrollhattan.com. Archived from the original on 2020-01-04. Retrieved 2011-12-01.
  6. ^ Iliev, Andrei. "The SAAB Way: 1977". Griffin Models. Archived from the original on 2015-10-12.
  7. ^ The Saab Way, Gunnar A. Sjögren
  8. ^ Iliev, Andrei. "The SAAB Way: 1976". Griffin Models. Archived from the original on 2016-10-28.
  9. ^
    ISBN 0-87341-158-7
    .
  10. ^ Flammang, p. 561
  11. ^ Flammang, pp. 562-563
  12. ^ Vance, Bill (August 9, 2019). "Bill Vance: Offbeat designs set Saab apart". Victoria Times Colonist. Retrieved 2022-08-01.
  13. ^ a b Markovitch, Alex (January 1969), "Small Sporty Sedans", Popular Mechanics, vol. 131, no. 1, Hearst Magazines,
    ISSN 0032-4558
  14. ^ Gunnar A. Sjögren, "the SAAB way", 1984, page 35.
  15. ^ Wakelin, Nicole (September 6, 2015). "The 20-Year Run of the Adorable-Yet-Venerable Saab 96". BoldRide. Retrieved 2020-08-17.
  16. ^ "The SAAB 96 : 1960 – 1980 | Saab History".[permanent dead link] Ref not in link given.
  17. ^ "SAAB History". media.gm.com. Archived from the original on 2006-05-05. Retrieved 2008-01-16.
  18. ISBN 3-444-06065-3
    .
  19. ^ "dev-horizon". rootes-chrysler.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2011-12-01.

Further reading

External links

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