Hollywood’s weirdest productions occasionally turn into cult classics. So it is with vintage cars – a lucky few models ignite a fervor completely out of proportion to their performance, sales statistics, and popularity at the time. The AMC Pacer, the Avanti, and our subject car, the Saab Sonett all have gained a following in recent years that belies their awful upbringings. The Sonett’s childhood was spent as a belching two-stroke with a column-shift manual and a free-wheeling clutch. At the time, this arrangement did not fly with Americans. The grown-up Sonett III, introduced in 1970, sported Ford’s Taunus V4 and a conventional floor-shift manual. Redesigned by Sergio Coggiola to eliminate the hood bulge of the earlier Sonett V4, the new car sold marginally better than prior versions. Alas, the gas crisis terminated Saab’s ambitions for its sports car, with the last Sonett III rolling off the line in 1974. Here on eBay is a 1973 Saab Sonett III project car, bid to $2950 with reserve met. This car is located in Escondido, California. Thanks, T.J., for the tip!

The German-made Taunus 1.7-liter engine isn’t quite ubiquitous, but let’s just say you will not need to worry about parts. In factory form, the 60-degree cast iron V4 made about 65 hp; notably, the power rating was down versus the earlier 1.5-liter V4, thanks to creeping emissions regulations. A four-speed gearbox drives the front wheels. The car weighed only 1900 lbs, so performance was adequate, with zero to sixty coming in about 13 seconds and a top speed of around 105 mph. This car does run, but the seller warns that it requires a full restoration.

This car has the base vinyl and cloth interior; a luxury version was available with leather but is very rare. The dash is clean and appears free of cracks; the seats and carpet are decent if a bit dirty. The rear cargo area hides the spare tire. Have to hand it to the seller – at least he vacuumed the car to present it for sale. I appreciate that as a hallmark of respect for the upcoming transaction.

This car has the famous “soccer ball” wheels and, unfortunately, the hideous 5 mph bumpers that arrived in 1973. Owners have been known to – ahem – remove those. The paint has seen better days, but it’s a small car and rust is present only in the battery tray. If you have a tolerance for fiberglass work and sanding, this is a great opportunity to hone your painting skills. The lenses appear to be intact, and the glass is good. No doubt mechanical work awaits the new owner, but the price isn’t in the stratosphere. Of course, though we bashed the two-stroke Sonett above, that turns out to be the most collectible of these cars. Still, there’s plenty of fun in this package for a reasonable price.