Saab Sonett is a Two-Stroke Heirloom

Few Americans think twice nowadays about buying a foreign-branded car, whether from Europe or Asia. Toyota is the biggest selling marque in the world and Volvo long ago captured the hearts of safety-conscious soccer moms. In the 1960s, however, Japan was an anthill on the automotive landscape and a car-buyer in America needed either a few extra dollars or a touch of eccentricity to cruise around town in a European car -- unless, that is, they happened to be the Roberts family of northern Florida, USA.

Mr. Glenn Roberts was born to Australian parents who spent their youth driving an eclectic mix of cars around Sydney and Hong Kong and who thus saw no reason to change their habits when they settled in Florida in the 1950s. In 1967, they special-ordered a silver Saab Sonett II from a Florida dealer and, as a result, Glenn spent his childhood riding to school not in Detroit's muscle cars of the 1960s and '70s but in a 1500-pound Swedish sports car with a 70 horsepower, two-stroke engine.

The Sonett has followed Glenn through life. In 1980, when he was eighteen years old, Glenn bought the car from his parents for $300 and, with the help of his father, gave the car enough energy to carry Glenn through college and into adulthood. In 2004, Glenn rewarded the car for its loyalty with a full restoration, after which he gave it back to his parents to enjoy when he moved to Australia for work. Now back in Glenn's California garage, the Sonnet gets plenty of time along the coast and through the canyons.

Even on today's American streets—filled with cars of all shapes, sizes, and nationalities—Glenn's Sonnet still draws plenty of puzzled looks, which suits Glenn just fine.

"It's part of my passion," says Glenn. "I look for the odd stuff."

Drive Tastefully®

[penguinworks]

Six minutes ago I didn't know this car existed. Now I'm wondering how to live without owning one...

[tmpetti]

One of the most beautiful Saab's built. The last try to get the two stroke going for them, a light, small and nimble gentlemans sports car. Ignored by many, but the ones who know the history of Saab and sports cars of that era, will appreciate it. Not too many of them left, this one is a real gem. Happy for you, Glenn.

[johanhaugthon]

As a Swedish car guy growing up with Saab 900's 9000 and so on, the Sonnet is that mythical unicorn that you never see (even in its home country Sweden). But you hear of people owning them and loving them. Fantastic! 

[beegee]

Didn't know about this car. I knew Saab two strokers fro, m many years ago when a friend had one in high school. This little one has a beautiful silhouette.

[cutlsenc]

My dad owned one of these when I was a kid. He auto-crossed it and won several times. He owned probably 100 cars during his lifetime, and his father owned 40-50 as well. Needless to say, there’s not many cars that I haven’t seen or read about or heard of. This Saab is one of those cars you never forget, even if you never got a chance to drive it. Rip Dad and Grandpa

[bruceturk]

Fantastic car and a beautiful restoration. It's a shame Saab didn't make more of these, with production at a mere 258. 

[entropy]

A good friend when I was attending U of Central Florida (FTU back then) had a yellow Sonett 2 or 3 years newer. His had a 4-stroke V-4. What a blast!

[TheJbh]

The exhaust note is pure magic ! Some of the sidecar racers here ( Ireland ), in the 70's  used the Wartburg engine, and with the expansion pipes fitted, the sound of those 3 cylinders at full song was unforgettably sublime.

[malcolmlane-ley]

Absolutely gorgeous car made even better by that unusual 2 stroke powerplant that did so well for Saab in it's rally cars of the time. It's lovely to have such a great provenance with this car and hopefully the next generation will continue to cherish it (and it's pal in the garage) in due course.

[winstonelston]

That sound is iconic, nothing else sounds like a 2-stroke SAAB.

[porschesc]

As a child my mom had a Saab 93 with a 2 stroke engine.  I still love the sound & smell of any two stroke engine till this day.  Very cool car & story, thanks for sharing and nice production really!

[tedyurkon]

Love it, love it, love it! Even though it's a Sonett, not a sonnet, that ringing 2-stroke is a beautifal sort of musical sonnet to my ears.

[markwilson]

Coming from Melbourne Florida, it's really cool to see a car like this from my hometown.

[LordArnie]

ooh - column shifter (4 speed) was never an issue - best car I ever owned. NOTHING handled like a Sonnett - Saab racing trany, true rack & pinion steering... I owned #247 - sold it for a 1991 Miata (still have it), but not a day goes by that I don't miss my Sonnett.

[FireflyActual]

What a lovely little car. Saabs from this period are a lot like Lancias in a way that they're completely different to all the other cars out there. I'd love to own one.

[michaelcornett]

I saw a picture of one once as a teen and fell in love. It was the early 80s and all the other guys wanted Camaros or Trans Ams or what have you...I wanted a snappy little foreign job that you didn't see every day. Still wish I could afford one.

[paulevo]

What a beautiful car! Very jealous....Good onya mate from Australia.

[revolutionday]

I remember there being one of these cars -which was probably a 70's model- indefinitely broken down in the local Autozone parking lot, a couple of years ago now, and it absolutely blew my mind to see it.  I have not seen one "in the flesh" as it were, since.

[Krodista]

I love everything you guys put out, but I especially love seeing cars like this which are on my "would love to own" list! Thanks again for the excellence Petrolicious

[Chr.U.Cas]

Bravo Petrolicious!
A completely fantastic documentation again! Thanks a lot for making, uploading/sharing.