1971 Saab Sonett III in the Hands of an 18-Year-Old: A Rare Classic Seen Through Fresh Eyes

An 18-year-old and a 1971 Saab Sonett III: An unlikely pairing

When you think about classic car ownership, images of middle-aged collectors or retirees usually come to mind—not teenagers just finishing high school. Yet in New England, 18-year-old David has chosen a 1971 Saab Sonett III as his pride and joy. This unusual story caught the attention of YouTuber Mike the Baldadonis, a creator best known for buying, reselling, and reviewing cars with a focus on common issues and ownership experiences.

In his video, Mike openly admits that he isn’t a Saab enthusiast, nor is he deeply familiar with the brand’s history. That’s what makes this perspective so refreshing: a rare Saab is being presented by someone outside of the Saab community, and it still manages to impress. The video not only highlights the car’s unique engineering but also puts a spotlight on David, a teenager who has a collection that would surprise most enthusiasts twice his age.

Lightweight engineering and a fiberglass body

David explains that Saab built only about 1,300 Sonett IIIs in 1971, making his car a particularly rare find. His example is finished in Mellow Yellow, a period-correct shade that accentuates the car’s fiberglass bodywork. The Sonett III combined a fiberglass shell over a steel subframe, giving it a remarkably low curb weight of just 1,900 pounds.

This lightness, combined with its compact dimensions, makes the Sonett III feel more like a road-legal go-kart than a traditional sports car. Mike even jokes in the video about how cramped the cockpit is—two grown men packed into a cabin clearly designed with minimal space in mind. Still, the compactness contributes to its unique driving character.

The German V4 under the hood

At the heart of the 1971 Sonett III lies the Ford Taunus V4, a German-built engine that Saab adopted after moving away from its two-stroke powerplants. Producing around 75 horsepower when new, David notes with a grin that “with inflation, it’s probably only about 50 horsepower now.”

Despite the modest output, the Sonett’s low weight and four-speed manual transmission allow it to keep up comfortably with traffic and provide plenty of smiles per mile. The free-revving nature of the V4, combined with the Sonett’s fiberglass construction, creates a sensation closer to a lightweight European rally car than an American muscle car of the same era.

The freewheeling clutch: A Saab trademark

One of the most fascinating aspects of the Sonett III is its freewheeling clutch system, a carryover from Saab’s two-stroke era. Saab originally engineered this feature to prevent oil starvation and overheating when drivers ran two-stroke engines at high speed.

The system allows the driver to coast with the engine effectively idling, almost as if the clutch pedal were pressed, without actually disengaging it. With the V4, Saab retained the system for its robustness and unique driving character. As David explains, in freewheel mode, “you can float through the gears without touching the clutch, except in first and reverse.”

This creates a fluid, almost frictionless driving experience that Saab fans have long considered part of the brand’s charm. Even Mike, unfamiliar with Saab quirks, recognizes how unusual and fun this makes the car feel.

Quirky safety features and over-engineering

The Sonett III wasn’t just about lightweight fun—it also carried Saab’s reputation for over-engineering safety features. David demonstrates the unusual dual locking system on the doors. To unlock, you need to operate both the interior and exterior locks separately.

Is this safer? Perhaps not by today’s standards, but it perfectly illustrates Saab’s sometimes eccentric approach to design. As David jokes, “Just don’t end up underwater,” highlighting the fact that this system could be as confusing as it was protective.

Such quirks are part of what gives the Sonett III its cult following. They remind us that Saab was always willing to challenge conventions, even if the solutions seemed odd to outsiders.

Rare 1971-only aluminum wheels

One of the highlights of David’s Sonett is its rare aluminum wheels, which were available only in 1971. Most Sonett IIIs came with the heavy, soccer-ball-style steel wheels, but the lightweight aluminum set was designed to complement the car’s fiberglass body.

David demonstrates just how featherlight these wheels are: “You can pick it up with your pinky finger.” At around 15 pounds with tire mounted, they reduce unsprung weight significantly, enhancing handling and giving the Sonett an even more agile feel.

These details are what make the 1971 model year especially collectible among Sonett enthusiasts. The wheels are not only rare but also a perfect example of Saab’s engineering philosophy—lightness over brute force.

Here’s the full video from Mike the Baldadonis featuring David’s 1971 Saab Sonett III. Be sure to watch it to see the car in action, including onboard footage shot with an Insta360 X4 camera and drone:

Why this story matters for Saab enthusiasts

The Saab Sonett has always lived in the shadows of the 900 and 9000, which gained broader recognition. Yet stories like David’s remind us why the Sonett deserves attention. It’s not just about rarity; it’s about the spirit of innovation Saab poured into a sports coupe that few outside of Saab circles ever experienced.

That a teenager is carrying this torch in 2025 is equally significant. Classic car culture often struggles to attract younger enthusiasts, yet here is an 18-year-old with a Saab Sonett III, keeping the brand’s heritage alive for a new generation.

Even Mike the Baldadonis—an outsider to Saab culture—admits he “absolutely loves this car,” despite not being able to fit comfortably inside and disliking its old-car fuel smell. If a casual car trader can be won over by the Sonett III’s quirks, it speaks volumes about the car’s enduring charm.

Looking ahead: Sonetts and the next generation

David’s Sonett story fits into a larger trend of young enthusiasts embracing unusual classics. While many gravitate toward Japanese imports or American muscle cars, Saab’s niche appeal ensures that those who do fall for it often become lifelong devotees.

The 1971 Sonett III is not a car you see every day—not even at Saab shows. But when it does appear, it stands as proof of Saab’s unique engineering ethos: make it light, make it safe, make it different.

With YouTube creators like Mike the Baldadonis introducing Saab models to broader audiences, cars like the Sonett III may yet attract fresh interest. The fact that an 18-year-old is proudly driving one in 2025 may inspire others his age to look beyond the mainstream and toward the quirky brilliance of Saab.