1965 Saab 96 'Long Nose' 2-Stroke
A remarkably original example

Registration No: RHR 417C
Chassis No: 322556
MOT: Exempt

• An original home-market car imported into Holland in c.1995
• Understood to have been part of the collection of a science museum in Holland until purchased by the current owner in 2015
• A remarkably well preserved example with regular service history up to 1977
• Subject to substantial recommissioning works by marque specialist Graham Macdonald
• Supplied with the original stamped service book and documentation, plus a certificate of authenticity from the SAAB Owners Club of Great Britain

The Saab 96 was manufactured and marketed 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. The front end was lengthened for 1965 models, in preparation for the new engine, and the radiator was placed ahead of the engine rather than above and behind, a leftover from the thermosiphon cooling days. Both front and rear windows were enlarged slightly for 1968 models. The Saab 96 was driven most famously by Erik Carlsson in many international rallies, placing 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. Other 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.

Presented in its original colour of Olive Green, this Swedish-market 96 is one of the best-documented in Britain. Originally registered ‘R 74555’ in Mariestad, Skaraborg County, it was sold by the dealer C. A. Carlsson to Karl Gustav Georg Freijd, a machine foreman whose address of “Fagerhult, Bredvik, Kyrkebo” places him in Sweden’s southern tip. He retained it until at least 1978, servicing it annually or biennially up to 1977. The service book gives low odometer readings up to 9,180km, but the inspection report from 1978 confusingly claims 93,378km. By 1990, the odometer had been reset to 1,832km.

It appears the Saab was exported to the Netherlands in 1995, where it reputedly spent many years in a science museum. The present owner purchased it from the museum and imported it in 2015, giving it to Graham Macdonald of Macdonald Classic Cars for recommissioning, which included a carburettor overhaul, a front disc brake conversion and new rear brake cylinders. Also, new floor mats were made to order by Madmatz. The vendor describes the car as “excellent” and the paperwork file is exceptional, containing the original manual and service book, assorted documents from the 1960s and ’70s, several Swedish inspection reports, British registration documents, a SAAB Owners Club of Great Britain authenticity certificate, and invoices from the recommissioning.

For more information, please contact:
Lucas Gomersall
lucas.gomersall@handh.co.uk
07484 082430