The Sonett III was the final iteration of Saab’s fiberglass sports car, and traces its roots back to the six Sonett I roadsters constructed between 1955 and 1957. Officially known as the 94, the original Sonett got its name when designer Sixten Sason first laid his eyes on it and exclaimed,“Så nätt den är!” (So neat it is!). This name stuck when the Saab sports car, now designated as the 97, was reintroduced as the Sonett II in 1966. The Sonett III arrived in 1970 with a body redesigned by Sergio Coggiola, and 8,531 were produced through 1974, with more than 90 percent being exported to the United States. This 1974 Saab Sonett III listed here on eBay in Voorhees, New Jersey is a genuinely nice example from the final year of production.

Claimed to be a one-family-owned car, this Sonett III has been repainted in its original Emerald Green and appears to be in excellent condition. 1973 and 1974 Sonetts are immediately identifiable by their prominent impact resistant bumpers, which were narrowed versions of those found on the Saab 99, and the ones here are in nice condition. They look a bit awkward but do a good job of protecting the fiberglass which does not have any noticeable flaws on this car. A pair of driving lights sit behind the front grille and there are pop-up headlights activated by a pull handle on the dash, but the seller says he cannot get them to open due to possible operator error. The frameless glass hatch opens but will need new gas struts.

The Sonett chassis is essentially a shortened version of the 96 sedan on which it is based. The undercarriage of this one is solid, which is important because Saabs of this era are particularly rust-prone. From underneath, the floorboards and rocker panels appear to be in great condition, with no rust through or bubbling at the seams, only some areas with paint coming off which should be top coated. A common place where these Sonetts rust is on the right front corner of the trunk where the battery is mounted, but this trunk floor looks fine from below. There is a shot of the front suspension which shows new ball joints, tie rod ends, and KYB shocks. The “soccer ball” wheels wear 155R15 Vredestein Sprints which are a great tire choice for these old Saabs; one blue center cap is missing but reproductions are available.

Underneath the small hood sits a 1.7-liter Ford V4 producing 65 horsepower, which was the same engine used in the Saab 95 wagon and 96 sedan that exited the US market after 1973. The seller says the clutch may need to be adjusted and that the transmission sometimes pops out of gear. The latter could be a concern as the four-speed transaxle used in these V4-engined Saabs is a known weak point, though it could be as simple as the convoluted shift linkage needing some adjustment. At just under 40,000 miles, it is hard to imagine there are any transmission issues, but a buyer would still want to ask about any groaning noises that may indicate a loosening pinion nut. No mention is made of the freewheel mechanism which, when engaged, allows these cars to coast when the driver lets off the gas.

The interior is in nice condition with the only flaws being a worn spot in the rug and a droopy headliner. The seats with corduroy inserts and lumbar support pillows are in excellent condition. A leather wrapped steering wheel and shift knob help lend a sporty feel, and there is a three-gauge cluster with a tachometer set into a black crinkle finish dashboard.

The values of old Saabs have started to rise in recent years and Hagerty places a #2 Excellent 1974 Sonett III at $11,000. The seller is asking twice that with a $21,995 Buy-It-Now price but there is a Best Offer option as well, so hopefully they will consider letting it go for a more realistic sum. Could you see yourself behind the wheel of this weird Swedish front-wheel-drive sports car?