Saab Sonett I (94) photos

The first-generation Saab Sonett, known internally as the Saab 94 and publicly as the Sonett Super Sport, was developed in 1955 by engineer Rolf Mellde as a dedicated competition roadster designed to showcase the brand's performance pedigree. Built around a lightweight riveted sheet-aluminum monocoque chassis that drew directly from Saab aircraft engineering, it featured an aerodynamic two-seater body shell fabricated from glass-reinforced plastic. The roadster was propelled by a specially tuned 748 cc two-stroke inline-three petrol engine, equipped with dual carburetors to generate 57.5 hp, mated to a 3-speed manual transaxle delivering power exclusively to the front wheels. Weighing less than 500 kilograms, the car delivered exceptional agility and respectable track performance for its era. Ultimately, shifts in international racing classification rules and limited commercial scalability restricted production to only six prototype units between 1955 and 1957, making it a pivotal piece in the historic evolution of Swedish sports cars.