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What is this Saab?

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Old 12-15-2009, 10:44 PM
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Default What is this Saab?

This is what it says on the nameplate, and this is a picture of the car.



I'm trying to help a friend tasked with discovering the history of this car. The only documentation we have says it's a "Saab powered Mid-1960's Prototype Formula Race Car with new chassis, custom fuel cell, Hillebrand Center Lock Indy car wheels with original tires, and alloy bodywork re-engineered by Hendrick Motorsports."

There's a lot of pictures of numbers stamped on the engine, suspension, and other components. Anyone have a clue? Any feedback appreciated.
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Old 12-16-2009, 09:11 AM
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I'm going to guess that the plate means that the engine is out of a saab 96, but that's about the only thing that hints to its relationship to Saab. Please keep this thread updated if you find more info, this is a fascinating car.
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Old 12-16-2009, 09:54 AM
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Thank you very much for the feedback!

The engine seems like a 3 cylinder carbureted flat-head engine. Was this what was in the Saab 96?
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Old 12-16-2009, 10:55 AM
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Yes! That look like the "96 sport" model engine.
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Old 12-16-2009, 11:10 AM
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Cool! Looks like this is a start. Do you think this is a one-off racer or a replica?
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Old 12-16-2009, 12:41 PM
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I would go with a "one-off", but I have no idea about it at all. This is a very cool car. Where was it found? Who owns it? Whatever it is, it's a cool piece of Saab history that I would love to see with my own eyes one day.
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Old 12-16-2009, 11:08 PM
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This car currently resides at the Davidson Center for Space Exploration at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. It is on display, and I don't believe there is any admission charge to see it. It is also available for purchase (hence why we're trying to find out more about it).
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Old 12-17-2009, 07:31 AM
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I might have to take a roadtrip and look at it before it's bought. For some reason I think that is something original and not a replica.
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Old 12-17-2009, 07:40 AM
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Apparently your car was auctioned off in atlanta in 2006. May be loosely related to Saab Quantum iv?

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Old 12-17-2009, 11:16 AM
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Originally Posted by Roto
I might have to take a roadtrip and look at it before it's bought. For some reason I think that is something original and not a replica.
My thoughts exactly. There's just so many angles of the car documented in the pictures and photographed serial numbers on the various parts. I don't see why these were photographed unless they were originals.
Originally Posted by Roto
Apparently your car was auctioned off in atlanta in 2006. May be loosely related to Saab Quantum iv?
Where did you find this information? It does look very close to the car in that picture:
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