Two Stroke

2 Stroke – Saab 92,93,95 and 96 

The 92 was the first production car from Saab, built from December 1949. The body was very aerodynamic, with a Cd of just 0.3. It was powered by a transverse 2 cylinder 2-stroke engine, based on a DKW design, and produced 25bhp. Saabs rallying history commenced only 2 weeks after the start of production, when one was entered into the Swedish rally. In 1953, an updated version – the 92B – was introduced and this stayed in production until just after the 1955 release of the 93.  

The Saab 93 looked similar to the 92 but was a different design and incorporated a boot lid. With this model, the engine became a longitudinally mounted 3-cylinder 2 stroke, giving 33bhp, and was fitted with a freewheel device, in order to overcome the problem of oil starvation on the overrun. The 93B, of 1957, gained a one-piece windscreen, and also in 1957, Erik Carlsson won the Finnish rally. Swedish rally victory followed in 1959 and in that year, the 93F received front hinged doors. Production ceased in 1960, when the 96 was introduced. 

The 96 featured more storage space and a larger rear window. It retained the same engine configuration, but power increased slightly over time. In 1965 the original front end (Bullnose) was lengthened (Longnose) in preparation for the introduction of the 4 stroke V4 engine. This Ford unit had won out against competition from a number of manufacturers and the V4 96 was introduced in 1967. 

The 1959 Saab 95 was a 3-door estate version of the 96, and it closely mirrored the 96 in development terms. Interestingly, it gained a 4-speed gearbox slightly before the 96, so it was used in rallying for a time.