Cheap Project: 1972 Saab 96 V4

This next car comes as a tip from Erik202 who writes: If you’re going to buy what amounts to a rolling shell with potential you could do much much worse. Yup, the seller admits that the powertrain has been disassembled, but the German built Taunus V4 is one of those little engines that you can rebuild in your garage with a pair of pliers, a 6-pack of Heineken, and a jar of Loctite. And this is the kind of car that you will drive everywhere because you won't worry about rock chips but you will worry about missing out on beautiful mountain views because you are grabbing fistfuls of opposite-lock. Find this 1972 Saab 96 V4 offered for $2500 CAD ($1800 USD) in Calgary, AB via kijiji.net.

Shoulda Had a V4: 1974 Saab Sonett III

I've seen what happens when people buy the first year of a new car when it is released...and it usually isn't pretty.  The new model comes with new technology that always has some teething issues, so I generally recommend that people avoid the first few years of production...but what about the last year or so?  If the factory is being shut, will the assembly people care if your car is assembled correctly, or will they ignore the fine print on their work orders.  I think I'd take a risk on this next car because I can't imagine that any assembly issues haven't been worked out in the past 45 years. Find this 1974 Saab Sonett III offered for $6,500 in Anacortes, WA via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

Little Old Lady's Car: 1968 Saab 96 V4

You know what I don't like in craigslist adverts?  Blurry photos and claims that the car was "a little old lady's car"...but this next seller gets a pass because the asking price is reasonable and the little Saab is surrounded by other oddball cars covered in painter's plastic.  The seller is my kind of car collector-- and I give any possible buyers a low chance of having your dismembered corpse stuffed into a suitcase and and a high chance of driving home with a new sweet ride. Find this 1968 Saab 96 V4 offered for $3995 in Burlingame, CA via craigslist. Tip from Erik202.

Call me Ishmael: 1969 Saab 96 V4

The Saab 96 was the final evolution of the original aerospace derived and teardrop shaped Ur-SAAB.  In typical Saab fashion, the 96 continued in production long after its planned replacement (the 99) was released, in fact the 96 continued in production through 1980.  Today the 96 makes a great uncommon alternative to something like the VW Beetle and can be picked up for not a lot of cash. Find this 1969 Saab 96 V4 offered for $7,900 near Denver, CO via craigslist. Tip from Zach Z.

Almost A Donk: 1968 Saab Sonett V4

This next car comes from tipper Zach Z who writes: Born from Jets? Born for Mudding? Born for speed?  Maybe those fat balloon tires actually make it go faster.  I don't know.  Find this 1968 Saab Sonett V4 offered for $8000 near Anchorage, AK.

Flygande Avokado: 1972 Saab 96 V4

Nothing gets your taste buds going like the fresh scent of Skagenröra, which for the uninitiated is a classic Swedish shrimp mix that is best served inside an avocado half-shell.  What else is an amorphously oval blob, green, and smells fantastic?  This 1972 Saab 96 V4 offered for $5,500 in Albuquerque, NM via craigslist.  Tip from Zach Z.

Free Wheely: 1973 Saab 96 V4

The Saab 96 was a porpoise shaped classic from Scandinavia that was the final evolution of aerospace inspired Ur-SAAB -- and used a compact 2-stroke or V4 engine connected to the front wheels with a strange freewheeling clutch setup.  With a double wishbone and coil spring front suspension and trailing u-beam rear axle, the 96 made for a surprisingly adept rally car and the likes of Erik Carlsson, Stig Blomqvist and Per Eklund had success in it.  Find this 1973 Saab 96 V4 offered for $4,200 in Ventura, CA via craigslist.

BOGO: Two 1969 SAAB 95 Projects

The SAAB 95 (not the 9-5!) was a 7 seat, 2-door wagon from Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget that reminds us of the days before SAAB was mercilessly run into the ground by bean counters, and designed cars that looked like rocket ships. Today's feature is for two 95s with little detail from the seller on specs or condition, but a fantastic asking price.  Find these two 1969 SAAB 95 Projects offered for $1,000 in Ojai, CA via craigslist.  Tip from Sean. 

Loony Labor Day: 1973 Saab Sonett III

A stock SAAB Sonett is a loony car, powered by 2-stroke or V4 mated to the front wheels with an Italian inspired design created/executed by a group of Swedes.  The 3rd generation Sonett was a strange looking vehicle when new, but somehow a customizer turned this one into even MORE of a head turner spit-taker.  Find this 1973 Saab Sonett III custom offered here on eBay bidding for $2,600 reserve-not-met with a $6,000 buy-it-now located in Sarasota, FL.  Tip from Rene.

Smurf Wagon: 1970 Saab 95 V4

The Saab 95 wagon (1959-1978) is one of the best seat-to-door ratios you can get in a vintage car this side of an old school bus.  The 95 was always equipped with rear facing seats to allow a total of 7 human beings the chance to ride around, albeit slowly, in a Scandinavian front driver.  Today's 95 is a smurf blue survivor -- find this 1970 Saab 95 V4 wagon offered for $2,800 in Mountain View, CA via craigslist.  Tip from Kaibeezy.

5k: Green Beans: 1971 Saab 96 V4

Cruising around in a driver condition Saab 96 isn't going to get you a spot in the Pebble Beach Concours D'Elegance, or even a front row valet parking spot at your local Sizzler -- but with the money you save (compared to other classics) you'll be able to afford a few hundred to your local Golden Corral buffet.  And if that isn't money in your pocket, I don't know what is!  Find this 1971 Saab 96 V4 offered for $4,500 in Bristol, VT via craigslist.

3k: Banana Boat: 1972 Saab Sonett

The original Saab Sonett I prototype was developed in the 1950s as a roadster that looked like a Porsche 550 or Jaguar XK. It was a nice looking car.  A few years passed before the Sonett went into production (1966) and the new version (the Sonett II) was funny looking, but the third generation Sonett III was arguably hideous.  The years have been kind to hideous cars (and other hideous things too, e.g. Gaugin's "art", Chris Farley's neck fat, et cetera), and now the Sonett can be described as funky, cool, or eclectic. Find this 1972 Saab Sonett offered for $2,900 in Deland, FL via cars.com. 

5k: Funderful: 1972 Saab 96 V4

The SAAB 96 is a slow car, with 60mph achieved in a sundial stopwatch friendly 15 seconds...or more.  Don't make the mistake of confusing slow with un-fun, as a SAAB 96 is not a Prius-like appliance and will provide a thrill a minute, like merging on a major highway for instance.  Another example is cruising down hill, for example.  In a fancy car like a 911 it is a simple choice of which gear to select for engine braking, but the 96 uses a freewheel clutch designed to prolong the life of the previously fitted 2-stroke engine and it lets the car cruise down a hill while the engine settles to a peaceful idle.  Need to pick up speed, just mash the gas and a few minutes later the engine revs match trans speed the power gets put to the wheels.  Want engine braking -- just hit a floor mounted switch and the trans gets engaged.  If this seems like your idea of fun you can pickup this 1972 Saab 96 V4 for $3750 in Seattle, WA via craigslist.  Tip from FuelTruck.

5k: V4 Power: 1972 Saab 96

The Saab 96 was the final evolution of the original aerospace derived and teardrop shaped Ur-SAAB.  In typical Saab fashion, the 96 continued in production long after its planned replacement (the 99) was released, in fact the 96 continued in production through 1980.  Today the 96 makes a great uncommon alternative to something like the VW Beetle and can be picked up for not a lot of cash.  Find this 1972 Saab 96 offered for $3,950 in Hobe Sound, FL via craigslist.  Tip from JPB.

5k: Back So Soon? 1971 Saab 96 V4

In a dream last night, as I was wandering through the enchanted forest known as CraigsHollow, I stumbled upon a Saab V4 powered unicorn. The Saab mesmerized me with its freewheeling clutch to the point that I had entered a trance, when suddenly within me I was beset with the perplexing sensation of déjà vu.  What was it?  Have I seen this car before?  Rumblings from below gave me another reason to pause.  Did I have Mexican food for dinner last night, or was that a dream too? I attempted to get closer to the green Saab when it started to morph into an avocado and my shoes turned into size 11 jalapenos...and why on earth was Jennifer Aniston...buzz-buzz-buzz.  The staccato of my alarm clock interrupted pleasant slumber like the frantic percussion of a digital woodpecker.  Unfazed, but bleary eyed, I fired up the interweb via my trusty bedside Commodore 64 iPad and surfed to craigslist where I found this 1971 Saab 96 V4 offered in Ventura, CA for $7,500 via craigslist.

5k: Put A Little V4 In Your Life: 1970 SAAB 96 - $3900

 If you had thirty nine hundred smackeroos burning a hole in your pocket and missed the chance to pickup Mrs CFlo's 1800S-- fear not!  The world is full of cheap drivable Swedish classics just looking for your love, affection, time and money.  It is sort of like joining a budget dating service that only matches you up with people from half-way houses, but cheap is cheap, right?  Find this 1970 SAAB 96 offered for $3,900 in Los Angeles, CA via craigslist.

5k: Blue Thorsday: 1968 SAAB Sonett V4

The SAAB Sonett gets its name not from the poetic form, but from the Swedish phrase Så nätt den är which translates roughly to "how neat it is."  It is the perfect name for the wacky glassfiber bodied two-seater powered by two-stroke or V4 engines built in Trollhättan.  Find this 1968 SAAB Sonett V4 for sale in Hot Springs National Park, AR currently bidding for $3,050 reserve-not-met with 5 days to go.