Friday, August 16, 2013
Review Neo Retro Car We Need
Saab Sonett II, IIISaab: the Swedish car for the bohemian in all of us. At least thats the way it used to be before General Motors entered the picture. Today, much of the Saab character has faded. One way to bring it back is with a neo-retro Sonett, the automakers sports car built from 1956 to 1974.
A Saab sports car? Yes. Or to be more accurate, a Saab sporty car.
The 1973 brochure rated the Sonett III at 65 horsepower with 85 pound-feet of torque. That doesnt put it on the same level as a Corvette, but it wasnt meant to be. Saab was after a few folks who wanted the safety, features and sensibility other sports cars didnt offer.
The look? Well, think old-Saab quirky molded in swoopy fiberglass. Its front-drive layout gave it an overbite, which was out of harmony with the abrupt rear. One look and you knew Pininfarina didnt do it. Thats not to say that the Sonett wasnt attractive in its own way. A neo-retro model, built on the 9-3s platform, would most certainly flow and yet allow elements of the original to set it apart.
Wholl buy in: Younger guys who miss Saabs with soul.
