The Saab Sport was a modified version of the Saab 96
The interior of a 1965 Saab Sport
Saab Sport is an automobile from Saab, launched in 1962 as a replacement for the Saab GT750. It used the same body shell as the Saab 96, with slight modifications and with a different interior configuration and equipment. From the outside it could be differentiated from a standard 96 by the twin chrome stripes along the lower part of the sides.
The engine was an 841 cc two-stroke three cylinder engine with one Solexcarburetor per cylinder, giving 52 hp (39 kW). The engine was lubricated via a separate tank for two-stroke oil, allowing the use of ordinary petrol. The gearbox had four gears. In order to overcome the problems of overrun for the two-stroke engine, a freewheel device was fitted. The car also used disc brakes at the front, something that was unusual at the time and the wheels had four studs instead of the five used on the 96 and were of a stronger build, to withstand the extra workload.
From 1963 on the model for the USA market was named Granturismo 850.
In the 1965 model year power output was raised to 55 hp (41 kW).
From model year 1966 all market variants were named Monte Carlo 850.
During model year 1967 the two stroke models were phased out and replaced with the Monte Carlo V4 (with the 65 hp (48 kW) Ford Taunus V4 engine).
It was the Saab Sport that made Saab's reputation in the international rallying world. Erik Carlsson was its most famous driver.
In the 1962 Safari Rally, Pat Moss (Stirling Moss's sister and later Pat Moss-Carlsson) drove her personal light blue Saab Sport, since the competition department at SAAB didn't manage to get a suitable rally car on time. She was promised a new car if she should crash. The car was one of a kind. Since Pat Moss couldn't get the car in red (her favorite colour), she insisted on at least having a red interior. This resulted in the only light blue Saab Sport with red interior.
