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Some cars get parked for a season. This one got parked for four decades. A 1965 Saab 96 Monte Carlo 850 that was delivered new in San Francisco and then sat for roughly 40 years after an engine failure in 1983 is now live on Bring a Trailer, sitting at $2,600 with bidding scheduled to close Monday, November 2 at 4:29 p.m. ET. Photo and listing details courtesy of Bring a Trailer.
A rally tribute with three carburetors
The Monte Carlo 850 exists because of a trophy. Erik Carlsson won the Monte Carlo Rally in a Saab 96 in 1962 and again in 1963, and the road-going Monte Carlo 850 was Saab's way of selling a little of that glory to the public. Its 841cc three-cylinder two-stroke is fed by three carburetors with oil injection and makes roughly 57 horsepower, up from about 38 in a standard 96 in a car that weighs under 2,000 pounds. Monte Carlo badging, unique seats and door cards, and a wood-rimmed steering wheel complete the look.
The storage story
According to the listing, this car was delivered new to Executive Motors in San Francisco and was parked after its original engine failed in 1983. It then sat for well over 40 years, inside and out, according to the seller, who bought it in 2026 and lists it from Carmichael, California. A replacement 841cc engine, supplied by the factory, was installed before the seller took ownership, and the seller says the block and head are Monte Carlo spec. Since buying it, he has replaced the brake lines and the clutch master and slave cylinders. The odometer shows about 25,000 miles, roughly 60 of which were added under current ownership.
What is original and what isn't
A barn find is only as good as its paperwork and its photos, so it is worth reading the fine print. The seller is upfront that this is not a restored car: it has no hubcaps, door seals or carpet, the front seats need to be reupholstered, and the listing notes dents on the left-front valance and right-rear quarter panel, plus a missing rear emblem. The engine is a replacement rather than the one the car left San Francisco with, so this is not a numbers-matching story. The seller says the floors are solid, and commenters on the listing describe the car as rust-free and the white paint as mostly original.
Bidders have also pushed back on a few points. Some commenters think the wear suggests more than 25,000 miles, and one noted that the spare mufflers included are for a standard 96 rather than the twin-pipe Monte Carlo. The seller's reply is that these cars were never built for long American highway runs and that this one lived in San Francisco. The four decades in storage and the mileage rest on the seller's account and the previous owner's word, so treat them as claims to ask about, not facts to bank on. That is exactly the kind of homework we cover in Barn Find Basics, and it explains why buyers behave the way they do in Barn Finds at Auction: Why Buyers Pay Premiums for Dust.
Why this one stands out
Plenty of cars are pitched as sleepers. Few are rally-bred, reportedly rust-free, and carrying a $2,600 bid with a few days to go. The Monte Carlo 850 is the Saab that collectors chase, and the car comes with spare parts, including exhaust sections, brake rebuild kits, suspension hardware and distributors, plus a clean California title in the seller's name. Saab people tend to be loyal and a little obsessive, and the listing already has 400-plus watchers.
If you like your Swedish oddballs with a story, we have followed a few. See the YouTuber who tried to revive a dead 1974 Sonett III, the 900 Turbo rescued by the internet, and for more rally heritage, Barth's rally-bred 1980 Porsche 924 Turbo GT.
The details
- Engine: 841cc two-stroke inline-three with three single-barrel carburetors and oil injection (replacement unit)
- Transmission: Column-shifted four-speed manual transaxle with a freewheeling mechanism, front-wheel drive
- Brakes and wheels: Lockheed front discs, Girling rear drums, 15-inch steel wheels
- Finish: White over red vinyl and patterned cloth
- Extras: Lucas driving lights, Marchal headlights, spare parts, clean California title
- Mileage: 25k shown, about 60 added by the seller
The auction is scheduled to end Monday, November 2 at 4:29 p.m. ET. You can view the full photo gallery, video, comments, and bid history on the original Bring a Trailer listing.
