1967-1969 Saab Sonett II

Above 3,000 rpm driving a Sonett II is like hanging onto an out-of-control chainsaw

by Paul Duchene

1969 Saab Sonett II V4

The words “Swedish” and “sports car” seem entirely uncomfortable bedfellows. But back in the 1950s, before Saab and Volvo had acquired the safe-and-sane reputations that still accompany their current American parents, both companies set off to create their version of a driver’s car. They took different directions, with similarly disastrous results, at least at first.Volvo’s P1900 of 1956-1957 was a stodgy roadster that was scrapped after only 68 were built, while Saab’s 1956 Sonett fared even worse, with total production amounting to just six cars. Despite the initial failures, neither marque gave up on its sports-car aspirations. Volvo introduced its successful P1800 coupe in 1961, while U.S. Saab dealers had to wait five years for their invitation to the party. Yes, America had started to embrace foreign cars, but that didn’t include tin turtles like the Saab 95 and 96. Saab’s answer was to introduce the front-wheel-drive Sonett II in 1966, an entirely...