1961 Saab 96 Launch - Crazy Sound

two stroke 3 cylinder engine

[josephryan]

I had a 1961 2 cycle 3 on the tree Saab and just used to run the collector only from the front of the engine . My friends could hear me coming down the road 3 blocks away. hahaha I raced a VW bug one time which had 500 more cubic centimeters and beat him, He complained that he couldn't hear his engine so his shift points were off, to bad so sad. Six months later i was drafted in the army and driving a 17 ton wrecker, go figure at nineteen years of age. At that time the only requirement for my position in the army was being able to drive a standard shift vehicle and kept me out of the infantry .

[paulofagundes]

Just like the title suggested, crazy sound indeed. I came here to enjoy a cool different engine sound from what I'm used to and I got exaactly what I wanted!

[tahustvedt]

Sounds like an RX-7. My dad has owned probably 30 SAABs. I'm surprised he never owned one of these.

[wheressteve]

The best sounding 28hp you'll ever hear or smell.

[robertlyszak]

I can't stop watching this, I have to watch it at least 6 times every morning for my dose of hot rod happiness! I love the 2-cycle music from the engine, just enough rattiness but not obnoxious! Please shoot more video clips on this car and the guys working on it. Very cool! The other clip is great too, the higher rpm is music to my ears.

[mattcampbell]

That poor mom with her kid cracks me up every time. That kid in the stroller turned full acoustic after that LoL

[chicobicalho]

When I was 18, in 1978, I lived in Connecticut US, and bought a 1969 Saab 96 that I loved, and kept for 8 years. In 1987, living in Rio de Janeiro, I bought a mint condition 1965 DKW Vemaguet, that sounded exactly like this 2 stroke Saab (except mine had a muffler... : ⁰ ), and when I sold it, three years later, I made a 100% profit.

[GrahamHumphreys-el]

I had a couple of those in the 70s, great bits of kit and a load of fun..

[johndavis]

Ok, I've watched this video several times now and have become truely amused by the exhaust note and the squat it does going into 2nd gear.
That would surely be a Hoot on Australian roads...👍😉

[sharonneil]

Mum and the baby enjoyed that ear splitting sound too

[jeffhildreth]

I owned a SAAB 93 race car built and raced by Ole Andersson. I steeterized it and had a blast blowing off Porsches, Corvettes and BMWs. etc.
Miss that car.
There is nothing like a 2 strike SAAB.
Excellent video.

[jojje-]

And Saab won rally championships with that engine 💪

[breakawaymotorsports]

Ring a ding ding! My mom drove one of these until the gas pumper didn't put the bottle of oil in the tank like she told him to. Seized up about 3 miles from the station. Great little cars up till then..

[josephryan]

I also owned two other 96 Saabs a 1973 2 cycle and a 1967 V4 . The 73 was given to me so i would switch plates from my other car on snowy days onto it to keep the snow and salt off of it. The 67 i had for a little over two years and put about forty five thousand miles on it. The 73 two cycle was tired and was terrible on Taconic state parkway hills. The 73 V4 had plenty of power for the hills and we would go sking with five skinny adults with all of our ski equipment to Mount Snow in Vermont.The problem with the 2 cycle engines they would foul out the spark plugs easily unless you had CDI high ignition box. Probably with todays 2 cycle oil for the fuel its easier on the spark plugs.

[Kees-fl]

Lovely car and beautiful 2stroke sound 😊

[jackg]

Used to race one of these in the late 60's . Great fun. 8000 rpm. Freewheel shifts 😁😁😁 had two 😊😊

[jeffhildreth]

PS, I worked at Scandia Motors owned by Ole Anderson, for two years in 1965 and 66.
It was the Volvo SAAB dealership in Seaside, California.
My favorite SAAB was not the Monte Carlo but the one that was one step down ( I have lost the name of the model)
Which was a Monte Carlo without the fancy interior etc.
I am looking for a 1967 SAAB station wagon... hard to find.
PS I have owned about 6-7 Volvos.

[top-o-can]

I’ve been searching for one for the longest time

[norsefalconer]

My brother had one. Thanks for stirring that memory!

[JETZcorp]

Always wondered why you never see expansion chamber exhausts on Saabs. They can really help out with power, and if properly designed, don't make the power and narrow.