Saab Sonett III photos

The Saab Sonett III debuted in 1970 as a substantial aesthetic and mechanical evolution of its predecessor, sporting a sleek wedge-profile silhouette penned by Italian designer Sergio Coggiola and refined by Gunnar A. Sjogren. The fiberglass bodywork introduced manually operated pop-up headlights, a hinged glass rear hatch for trunk access, and moved the gear selector from the steering column down to a conventional floor-mounted layout. Under the skin, the car retained the front-wheel-drive platform with the 1.5-liter Ford Taunus V4 petrol engine, which was subsequently replaced in 1971 by an enlarged 1.7-liter V4 engine to maintain output at 65 hp despite stringent US emission controls. Shifting was managed via a 4-speed manual transaxle. The 1973 model year brought integrated energy-absorbing impact bumpers and redesigned front grille elements. Produced primarily for the North American market, assembly in Uusikaupunki was discontinued in 1974 amidst changing safety legislation and the global fuel crisis.