Saab Sonett II

The Saab Sonett II was a sports car built by Saab. In the 1960s Bjorn Karlstrom proposed that after the Sonett I Saab should build a new two seat sports car with the same two-stroke engine, but as a coupe rather than an open roadster. Two prototypes were developed, the Saab MFI13 by Malmo Flygindustri and the Saab Catherina, with a targa roof, by Sixten Sason, and the MFI13 was chosen. After some changes it went into production at ASJ in Arlov in 1966 as the Saab 97, with 28 built that year and a further 230 in 1967. The body was fibre-reinforced plastic on a steel chassis with a roll bar, and the whole bonnet hinged forward for access to the engine, gearbox and suspension. The engine was a three cylinder two-stroke of 60 hp (45 kW), giving 0 to 100 km/h in 12.5 seconds and a top speed of 150 km/h. The chassis proved so stiff that a lightweight amphibious vehicle was suggested on it. The Ford V4 engined Sonett V4 followed.