Table of Contents
- 1 A Race Car That Was Never Meant for Obscurity
- 2 Six Years, 6,000 Hours: Restoration as Precision Craft
- 3 Not Just Historic—Ready to Race
- 4 The Simo R. Lampinen Connection: More Than a Provenance
- 5 A Spare Parts Arsenal Worth Its Own Auction
- 6 Digitally Documented, Transparently Presented
- 7 Price, Contact, and Future
A Race Car That Was Never Meant for Obscurity
If there’s one car that encapsulates the rise of Saab’s motorsport legacy in the 1960s, it’s the 1965 Saab Monte Carlo 850. But this particular example—chassis ABV-48—goes far beyond its model designation. It’s a factory-prepared race car, delivered to the Finnish Saab importer and handed directly to Simo R. Lampinen, a name synonymous with Scandinavian rally dominance. Between 1966 and 1969, this very car competed in 57 sanctioned races and came away victorious in 38 of them. That kind of win rate doesn’t just make a good story—it builds legends.
What makes this car even more exceptional is that it has never faded into obscurity. Owned by the same Finnish family since 1970, this Monte Carlo 850 has remained intact, preserved, and revered. And now, after a painstaking six-year restoration, it is being offered for sale in a condition that exceeds what left Trollhättan’s factory floor six decades ago.
Six Years, 6,000 Hours: Restoration as Precision Craft
The numbers behind this restoration are as compelling as the car’s competition record: six years of full-time dedication and over 6,000 hours of skilled labor. This wasn’t just a cosmetic overhaul; it was a mechanical, aesthetic, and historical resurrection. Every component was either rebuilt or replaced with period-correct, competition-grade parts.
The result is a Monte Carlo 850 that not only meets the standards of FIA Historic Technical Passport certification (valid until 31.12.2028), but one that exceeds expectations for concours collectors and race historians alike. The restoration was led by Pera Kurki-Suonio of PKS Racing in Hämeenlinna, Finland, a name familiar within Nordic classic motorsport circles.
Not Just Historic—Ready to Race
Too often, cars like this become static display pieces. Not this one. Every effort during the rebuild was made to ensure the car is race-ready, road-legal, and mechanically resilient. The car is currently road-registered in Finland and even carries museum vehicle approval, a status that certifies both originality and preservation.
Mechanically, the car is built for serious track activity. It comes with two recently serviced engines, both built by Swedish engine specialist Mikael Mohlin. The gearbox—a close-ratio competition Special 1 with a 7/38 crown wheel and pinion setup—has also been freshly serviced. Notably, neither engine has been raced post-service, offering the buyer an essentially brand-new powertrain experience with historic DNA.
The Simo R. Lampinen Connection: More Than a Provenance
Having Simo R. Lampinen in the logbook elevates this car from a rare factory model to a documented motorsport artifact. Lampinen was not just a driver; he was a Saab ambassador, rally tactician, and national hero in Finland. His early career was defined by extracting performance from machinery that, on paper, should never have outrun more powerful competition. But with Saab’s front-wheel-drive advantage and a lightweight two-stroke platform, Lampinen proved otherwise.
Owning this Saab Monte Carlo 850 is not just about chassis numbers and paperwork. It’s about owning the machine that carried a motorsport revolution across the ice and gravel stages of Scandinavia, long before turbochargers and intercooled badges became the norm.
A Spare Parts Arsenal Worth Its Own Auction
Included in the sale is an inventory of race-spec spares so extensive, it could support an entire racing season or even a second build. From a spare engine with a new clutch to five complete sets of powder-coated rims (mounted with Dunlop and Avon competition tires), the parts list reads like the internal catalog of a Saab motorsport department.
Among the standout items:
- Serviced spare gearbox (CWP 7/38) in its own transport box
- Multiple sets of Wössner pistons, new and used
- Full ignition, fuel, brake, and suspension components
- Spare carburetors, air filters, and custom intake hardware
- Fresh brake rotors, pads (five sets), and calipers
- A new high-capacity aluminum radiator and complete water system
- Additional race exhausts, including a new expansion chamber and 95 dB compliant muffler
This is not a seller clearing garage clutter—this is a curated support package designed for serious racing or preservation-level maintenance.
Digitally Documented, Transparently Presented
The restoration and history of the car have been comprehensively documented across multiple video productions, available via the seller’s official YouTube Channel. These videos go beyond the typical walkaround, offering:
- Archival insight into the car’s racing days
- Full visual walkthrough of the restoration process
- On-track driving footage post-restoration
For anyone considering this car seriously, the videos serve as a transparent visual dossier that complements the documented mileage of 32,500 km and the official FIA paperwork.
Price, Contact, and Future
Offered for €55,000 with the spare parts package available for an additional €30,000, the price reflects both provenance and painstaking restoration. The car and parts are located in Hämeenlinna, Finland, and can be viewed by appointment. Interested buyers can reach Pera Kurki-Suonio at +358 400 817002 or visit the RaceCarsDirect listing for more details.
Whether it’s destined for historic competition, a private museum, or occasional spirited drives on public roads, this 1965 Saab Monte Carlo 850 is one of the few surviving examples that ties racing glory, factory heritage, and private preservation into one cohesive package.
