Saab two-stroke
| Company type | Engine |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | 1950 |
| Headquarters | Trollhättan, Gothenburg , Sweden |
| Products | Two-stroke engines (two-cylinder and three-cylinder) |
The Saab two-stroke engine was a two-stroke cycle powerplant produced by Swedish car manufacturer Saab, initially designed as an inline two-cylinder and subsequently developed into a three-cylinder configuration. Its design was inspired by the German automaker DKW.
Two-cylinder
The original iteration was a 764 cc (46.6 cu in) inline twin-cylinder engine, mounted transversely in the 1950–1956 Saab 92. This power unit delivered 25 hp (19 kW) and enabled the vehicle to reach a maximum speed of approximately 100 km/h (62 mph). In the 1954 model update, enhancements included a Solex 32BI carburetor and an upgraded ignition coil, resulting in an increased output of 28 hp (21 kW). Notably, this engine incorporated advanced features for its era, such as dedicated ignition coils for each cylinder.
Three-cylinder
The subsequent Saab two-stroke engine variant was a longitudinally mounted inline three-cylinder unit with a displacement of 748 cc (45.6 cu in), initially producing 33 hp (25 kW). This engine powered various models including the Saab 93, Saab 94 (Sonett I, where it was tuned to 57.5 hp (42.9 kW)), Saab Sonett II, Saab 95, Saab 96, Saab Granturismo, the Saab Formula Junior, and the Saab Quantum. It featured a combined belt-driven DC dynamo and coolant water pump.
For the Saab Formula Junior, a horizontally oriented 'bored-out' version with 950 cc (58 cu in) displacement was utilized, employing two dual Solex carburetors that collectively generated around 95 hp (71 kW). One carburetor was uniquely split to provide three chokes, one dedicated to each cylinder.
In the 1966 Saab 96, an 841 cc (51.3 cu in) version employed pre-mixed oil and was equipped with a three-throat Solex carburetor. The central throat managed starting, idling, and low-speed operation, boosting power output to 42 hp (31 kW). This carburetor configuration was also present in the Saab 96 Monte Carlo and Sport editions. Utilizing a shared throttle shaft helped reduce synchronization challenges among carburetors.
The 1958-59 Sports variant of the 93B delivered between 48–50 hp (36–37 kW) in its standard form and up to 57 hp (43 kW) in the supercharged version. This model incorporated triple carburetors along with an oil injection system instead of mixing oil directly into the fuel.
Starting in 1959, displacement increased to 841 cc (51.3 cu in) with power rated at 38 hp (28 kW). By the 1966 model year, the standard three-cylinder two-stroke engine featured three separate carburetors. From 1967 onward, Saab began phasing out this three-cylinder two-stroke in favor of the Ford Taunus V4 engine.
A unique 'Shrike' variant was produced for the U.S. market during the 1967 and 1968 model years. It was downsleeved to 795 cc (48.5 cu in) to comply with American emission standards that exempted engines below 50 cu in (819 cc).
Additionally, Saab experimented with V6 engine configurations by combining two three-cylinder two-stroke engines at an angle. One prototype featured carburetors positioned externally within the V-shaped arrangement, while another adopted a more conventional setup with a single carburetor placed between the cylinder banks.
Production
At first, all two-stroke engines were manufactured at Saab's Trollhättan facility. However, in 1953, the production of engines and gearboxes was relocated to a former washing machine factory situated in Gothenburg.
Following Saab's decision to cease producing the two-stroke engine and switch to a four-stroke V4 engine sourced from Ford in Germany, the Gothenburg plant ceased engine manufacturing entirely. Instead, its production capabilities were redirected to meet the rising gearbox demand prompted by the launch of the Saab 99 a few years later.
Two-cylinder
Three-cylinder
- Saab 93
- Saab 94 Sonett I
- Saab 95
- Saab 96
- Saab Formula Junior
- Saab GT750
- Saab Quantum
- Saab Sonett II
- Saab Monster
- equipped with twin 748 cc (45.6 cu in) two-stroke three-cylinder engines
See also
- Ford Taunus V4
- the engine that succeeded the Saab two-stroke
- Saab B engine
- Saab H engine
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