I bought a new project. It’s a 1969 Saab 96 V4 Rally car – originally built to Group 1 specs. The body is in a bad shape and the technique is missing, but it has some competition history from 1976 to 1977. My dad is already working on the body and I on finding the suitable parts. I’m not going to do a high level restoration – the goal is to make something closer to Gr2 that I can have some fun with on the Saab Club track days and on ice…
Tikkis already helped me out with the UK spec manifold and dual Webers…
Posted by admin on Wednesday Apr 6, 2011 Under Enthusiasts
Me and my friend Tomi “Tikkis” Tikanmäki have a new project.
We are collecting info and pictures of the Finnish Saab Works Team of 1970′s. Saab Works Finland built 19 full specs Saab 96 rally cars and 2 Saab 99 16 valve cars from 1970 onwards and brought home many international and scandinavian victories for Saab. Many of the cars have survived to this day, which makes this project (finding out their history) very exciting. The long term goal is to collect a comprehensive archive of all the drivers, cars, the team, etc.
I’m sorry the site is currently in Finnish only, we still have a ton of info and pics to upload so the english translation will come later: www.saabworks.fi
But at least you can check out the cars from the top navigation (they are indexed by the registration number and all the Saab Works Finland team cars can be found under the Saab Works Finland tab). There are also other cars featured on the site, just click through the top menu to see them.
Woodbecker Motorsport is Tomi’s team – he drives the AYA-10 Saab 96 ExWorks rally car in the Historic Rally Trophy here in Finland and does quite well in it also. AYA-10 was the first Saab 96 built by Saab Works Finland for Leo Kinnunen to compete in the 1970 Rally Of The 1000 Lakes. It’s very cool that the same car is still being raced 40 years later.
We are very interested in all pictures and materials concerning the Finnish teams efforts abroad. Finns participated in many rallies in Scandinavia and also the RAC in many years. If you have info, statistics, interviews from old magazines, pictures or anything related to the blue&white cars and their drivers, we would very much appreciate a scan or copy. Please contact us at saabworks@gmail.com.
A “collector series” of classic rally cars has been published here in Finland this year. It looks like it’s a British company behind the series (www.eaglemoss.co.uk), the international marketing name appears to be “Champion Rally Cars” and in Finland “Mestareiden ralliautot” (Cars Of The Rally Champions).
The packaging looks nice and the model comes with a little 16 page brochure about the car in question. I have not bought any of the other models but decided to get the Saab 96 V4 “S.Blomqvist – A.Hertz” when it came availlable. The model is not of the highest quality but decend for the price. Actually, it looks to me that it is the same model that has been sold as the IXO Models Saab 96 V4 “S.Blomqvist – A.Hertz. Swedish Rally 1972″.
“Backissues” of the series can be bought at: www.ralliautot.com (In Finnish only)
Saab 96 V4 Rally car in the Neste Rally Finland 60th Anniversary Cavalcade. A few special stages were driven for show - not full speed. I was fortunate enough to get on the co-drivers seat on one special stage. Here’s some footage along the way.
This was the first car built for the Finnish Works Rally Team in 1970 and the driver Leo Kinnunen to compete in the Rally Of The Thousand Lakes that year (today Neste Rally Finland). The car is currently owned and raced in the Historic Class by Tomi Tikanmäki.
Note also our “service truck”, a next generation, 2010 Saab 9-5 It is the first one imported to Finland! Straight from the harbour, only 400 kilometers under the belt. I also got to drive that one – I have to say it’s a very impressive (and HUGE) car!
It is the first one imported to Finland! Straight from the harbour, only 400 kilometers under the belt. I also got to drive that one – I have to say it’s a very impressive (and HUGE) car!
