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The SAAB Way - History of the Marque
The SAAB Way Part 5
Enter the 96, the car that the 93 should have been. That is the sort of comment which car salesmen and motoring journalists love to make whenever significant improvements are rolled out in a ‘new’ model. The 96 incorporated an 841 cc engine mated first to the old 3-speed gearbox and then to the new 4-speed box fitted in the 95. There were changes in outward appearance compared with the 93, mainly around the back of the car giving more luggage space, a larger rear seat and a much larger rear window.
1960 saw the first Saab appearance at the British Motor Show at Earl’s Court – it was a right-hand-drive version of the 96. Actual production of this version didn’t commence until the beginning of 1961. However, the British motorist now had a chance to see what all the fuss was about.
Road test reports were universally good and Erik Carlsson’s success in the 1960 RAC Rally attracted a lot of attention in Britain.
This led to good early demand for the little car. “Motor” magazine eulogised that “this Saab 96 is not only a very sound and well thought out small car, but one which possesses both performance and charm to a degree that makes it easy to forgive its few foibles.” (Incidentally, these foibles included a perceived lack of driver’s visibility and a ‘joggly’ ride?)
Saab with Erik Carlsson won a hat-trick of victories in the RAC, 1960-1962. The trophies were accumulating fast now. Other notable wins during those early years included the Rally of a Thousand Lakes in Finland in 1960 where Saabs were 1st, 2nd and 3rd. Saab also gained wins in the Monte Carlo in 1962 and 1963.
Of course, by this time, there were several very good drivers in the Saab team and they all played a big part in Saab’s rally successes. Among many others, names like Carl Magnus-Skogh, Carl Bremer and Pat Moss begin to appear regularly on the winners board.
Everywhere, especially where road conditions were poor, Saabs were winning trophies. These were cars made for ice racing, it seemed. This was a sport which was especially popular in the Nordic countries and it gave valuable experience to local drivers who quickly moved up the ranks to rally for Saab and for the opposition!
Saab learnt a lot from their rally experiences. It was a very tough environment for man and machine and it called for a special determination to beat the conditions and the opposition at the same time.
In 1962 Saab introduced the 4-speed gearbox, which had started life with the 95 and had been useful in rallying, as an option on the 96. The main difference was a slightly higher top gear ratio. The 4-speed box resulted in marginally higher top speeds and better fuel consumption, but its main benefits were a greater choice of gears for hill driving and synchromesh on first gear!
The same year also saw the introduction of the Saab Sport (Monte Carlo 850 in US), based on the 96. This car was closest to the rally cars. It had a more powerful engine with a triple Solex carburettor, the oil lubrication was changed from a fuel/oil mixture to a separate feed system and it was fitted with front disc brakes.
Saab was gradually building a world reputation for tough, reliable, driveable, interesting small cars.
Mike Palmer
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