Saab 96 Monte Carlo 850

Saab 96 Monte Carlo 850

The Saab 96 Monte Carlo 850, produced in limited numbers during the early 1960s, represents the pinnacle of the two-stroke Saab era. Named to celebrate Erik Carlsson's spectacular victories in the Monte Carlo Rally in 1962 and 1963, this special edition took the standard 96 and transformed it into a genuine homologation special that blurred the line between road car and rally weapon.

The Monte Carlo 850 was powered by an enlarged version of Saab's familiar three-cylinder two-stroke engine, bored out to 841cc. In standard form, the Saab 96 used a 748cc version producing 38 horsepower, but the Monte Carlo treatment included a triple-carburetor setup with three Solex 40AI carburetors, higher compression pistons, and tuned exhaust headers. The result was 57 horsepower, a remarkable 50 percent increase over the standard engine.

Erik Carlsson, known as 'Mr. Saab,' had proven that the diminutive two-stroke Saab could compete with and defeat far more powerful machinery on the world's most demanding rally stages. His technique of maintaining momentum through corners, exploiting the front-wheel drive traction and the car's light weight, became legendary. The Monte Carlo 850 was Saab's tribute to these achievements and a road-legal version of the car that had conquered the Alps.

The Monte Carlo differed from standard 96 models in several important ways beyond the engine. The suspension was uprated with stiffer springs and dampers, front disc brakes replaced the standard drums, and the gearbox gained a four-speed configuration instead of the column-mounted three-speed used in standard models. The interior featured a sport steering wheel and additional instrumentation including a tachometer.

Driving the Monte Carlo 850 was an experience unlike any other car of its era. The two-stroke engine screamed to its power peak with an intensity that belied its diminutive displacement, while the triple carburetors provided crisp throttle response. The front-wheel drive layout, combined with the light weight and stiffened suspension, made the car remarkably agile on twisting roads.

The Monte Carlo 850 is among the rarest and most desirable of all Saab models. Production numbers were small, and many examples were used in competition, reducing the number of surviving road cars further. Today, genuine Monte Carlo 850 examples are highly prized by collectors and command significant premiums over standard 96 models.

The car's significance extends beyond its rarity. It represents a moment when a small Swedish company, better known for building aircraft and economy cars, produced a vehicle that could compete at the very highest levels of international motorsport. The Monte Carlo 850 is the ultimate expression of the clever engineering philosophy that defined Saab throughout its existence.