1972 Saab 96 V4

Around 25 years ago, the current vendor saved this low-mileage 1972 Saab 96L V4 from being dismantled for spare parts by a previous owner. Although the previous owner had done some mechanical work on the Saab, they were too busy to get the car how they wanted. Recognising the car's value, the vendor, a classic car enthusiast, decided to purchase it instead of seeing it broken up. The Saab was in excellent condition at the time of purchase, with its original interior and a solid body, which it still has to this day.

After acquiring the car, the vendor had it repainted in its original colour. Later, he also upgraded the valves and seats of the cylinder head to enable the car to run on unleaded fuel. Since then, the vendor has been maintaining the car regularly, and with the occasional weekend tinkering, it has been a regular participant in classic car shows. The Saab 96L has even won several awards under the vendor's ownership.

However, he and his wife have been using the car less and less, and it is time to part with this Swedish classic, leaving it ready to be enjoyed by the next enthusiastic custodian.

Walking around the outside of the Saab, the bodywork is in excellent condition for the age of the vehicle. One thing you will notice is the lack of corrosion; there are no blisters to see, and it looks like a solid example. There are a couple of light dings, one on the nearside wing and one on the offside wheel arch, but these haven't broken through the paint. The car was repainted several years ago in what's believed to be the original colour, and there is some paint around things like the light seals and bits of rubber trim.

Starting at the front of the 96L, the chrome work is in excellent condition and has a bright, tarnish-free finish. Both headlights and indicators are free from damage, and the grille is nice and straight, with no dings or dents in the bars. A period RAC badge is mounted to the bumper, showing a true enthusiast owner; the Saab Owners Club badge is mounted to the grille. The bonnet aligns as it should and opens easily with little effort. The windscreen is in good condition with no chips, the seal is free from signs of perishing, and an external sunvisor has been fitted, which is in good condition.

Around to the sides, you can fully appreciate the shape of the 96L. Both doors align well; apart from the minor dings mentioned earlier, the car is nice and straight. Chrome door handles and mirrors are in good condition. The door windows have some very minor age-related scratches from being wound up and down, and the rear opening quarter windows open and close as you would expect.

At the rear of the 96L, the enormous curved rear window is in good order along with the seal, the boot aligns well, and the lights are free from any cracks in the lenses. Just like the front, the bumper is in excellent condition with a bright tarnish-free finish. There is a small amount of paint flaking off the boot handle, but nothing excessive. The badges are in good order, with no oxidisation to them.

The original wheels are colour-coded to the body and in nice condition; these are finished off with the original hubcaps. A set of matching white wall tyres are fitted, all of which have a good amount of tread remaining.

Being the L (luxury model), the interior of the Saab benefited from comfortable seats and headrests, and in this 1972 car, it is all original and in superb condition for its age. The colour choice from Saab was brown with a mix of vinyl and material. All of the seats are excellent, with no damage to be seen. There has been a small amount of stretching to the fabric, but nothing to cause any issues. The door cards are also in excellent condition with no scuffs.

Sitting behind the original steering wheel, this does have a small amount of patina in keeping with the Saab’s age. The dashboard is free of splits or cracks, and the instruments present well and work as they should. The odometer shows a reading of 32,981 miles, which is said to be original. All of the switchgear looks to be in good order and is reported to be working correctly.

The carpets in the cabin are excellent with no real signs of age, and match the colour of the seats. There is a set of Saab all-weather floor mats helping to keep the carpets in excellent condition, and if we look up, the headlining is nice and tight, with no staining.

Inside the boot presents very well. The original floor mat and wooden floor cover the matching spare wheel. There is also a jack and fire extinguisher in place.

It is fitted with the famous 1498cc four-cylinder V configuration engine. This fires up without hesitation thanks to being upgraded to electronic ignition. We did mention earlier that the cylinder heads were removed and upgraded valves and seats were fitted to enable modern-day unleaded fuel to be used, which makes filling up much more straightforward than adding additional additives. Even though the car has only covered just over 32,000 miles, the vendor has ensured the 96L has been well maintained with regular servicing carried out by himself.

The four-speed gearbox has a column mount gearshift and changes gear smoothly. No unwanted noises are coming from the transmission, and the 65bhp pulls as you would expect through the gears. The brakes on the car are on point, bringing the Saab to a stop with no issues and in a straight line.

With the vendor carrying out the maintenance himself, there are no invoices for any work carried out, and what has been bought for the car has just been routine servicing items, and the invoices haven't been saved.

There are 20 previous MoT certificates which correspond with the low mileage; in fact, you can see the car has only covered around 1,200 miles in the past ten years. The last MoT expired on the 16th November 2020, but of course, the car is MoT exempt.

The V5C is present and shows just four previous keepers, and that the vendor has owned the car since the 6th October 1998.

With 20 years of production under its belt, the 96 Saab is probably one of the most well-known Saabs ever produced. With its distinctive styling, V4 engine and success in rallying, the 96 has become somewhat of a Swedish icon.

Loved by many, the Saab 96 has a vast following. Finding one in such original condition with extremely low mileage is a rarity nowadays, making this 1972 Saab 96L V4 very appealing to any classic car fan.

We estimate this classic Saab to fetch in the region of £8,000 - £12,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located with the vendor in Ramsbottom, Bury. Viewings are strictly by appointment. To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.