Text: Johnny Johansson
There have been articles about model cars in our magazine Sonettvärlden earlier, latest in no 3/1998. Then a detailed article was written by the German Saab enthusiast and collector Wolfgang Schmel. But that was 20 years ago, and it has happened a lot since then, so our newspaper editor thought it was time again, and asked me to write a new article. Even if I have collected model cars for many years, I don’t know everything about all models and manufacturers. For this article, I have received much help from Wolfgang Schmel and his Saab Archive, http://www.saab-archive.com/. He also has a web shop, where he sells model cars, literature and more.
Many thousand years ago, man learned to collect. We discovered the advantages of collecting, e.g. here in the North we gathered food in the autumn to survive the winter. Today, we do not collect, we can go to the store every day and buy what we need.
But this behaviour, and the need to collect, remains in our genes today. But now it turns out differently, often as a hobby. We who are interested in cars, may have one or a number of hobby cars, often an older model that we may remember from our youth.
Others collect model cars, perhaps models of the car they have, or the cars they had. For some that is not enough, they want to have all models of e.g. a particular model or a particular brand of car. There are those who are not satisfied with that either, the need of collecting is even greater. I have nearly 4000 model cars in my collection, of them over 700 Saabs, including 70 Sonetts.
In the years 1956 and 1966-1974, just over 10,000 Sonetts were produced, about what today’s biggest automakers produces in a few hours. A very rare car that was produced 40-50 years ago, and thus not so many should know. Then it may seem surprising that there still are a lot of Sonett model cars, and that a number of manufacturers still produce new models.
Most model cars are now made in China, they are manufactured in large batches of several thousand copies. Also smaller, limited series of a few hundred or a few thousand models exist. The models, not intended as toys, but intended for collectors, are now generally of high quality, finely detailed and well made. Price range about 200 to 800 SEK. Prices can vary a lot between different dealers. There are also smaller companies or individuals in Europe that produce small series or single models, partly or wholly handmade. That means higher prices, price levels from 1000 to 2000 SEK or more, but not always better quality. A completely handmade model may have some rough surfaces, not entirely correct proportions and poorer part quality. But on the other hand, it can be a unique model that only you, or a few others, have in their collection.
The most common scale for model cars is 1:43, but a number of other scales exist, both larger and smaller. Of the smaller scales is 1:87 (railway model scale H0) common. 1:18 is a common scale for larger models.
The most common material is white metal, which is a mixture of lead, tin, antimony and copper. It has a relatively low melting temperature, can be casted in silicone rubber molds. Another common material is resin, a plastic material, easy to mold, but more brittle and fragile than white metal. There are also wooden models, then it is handmade models, made in one or a few copies.
Saab Sonett I
Autosculpt
The English firm Autosculpt Miniatures began producing model cars in the 80’s, the first two Saab models came in 1993, Sonett I in scale 1:100 was first produced in 1998, when they also made 20 copies especially for the ”International Saab Club Meeting Gaydon, UK” (model to the right in the picture). The 1:43 model came the year after.
The models from Autosculpt are casted in one piece together with the base it stands on. Well-made and detailed, even the small models, which are only 35 mm long, are finely detailed.
Beny Box
Behind Beny Box is Beny Lutz from Switzerland, who produces handmade models in small series, primarily Volvo models. In 1985 he made his first Saab model, the 900 Turbo 16 Aero, 1995 came his second Saab, thisSonett I, produced in 35 numbered copies, in blue, yellow, red and white with blue stripe.
Editions Atlas
At the beginning of 2014, an offer from Editions Atlas came about that one could subscribe to a series of model cars called the ”Saab Car Museum Collection”. They had been to the museum and scanned the cars there. When you subscribe, you get one model about every four weeks. The series will comprise about 45 models, so it takes over three years to get all the models. These are nice models at a low price, about 240 SEK/pc. Sonett I is model no. 9 in the series. The models are manufactured by IXO, which manufactures models under several names: IXO, Altaya, Premium X, Triple9, PCT. This white Sonett I, on the same white base, is also sold under the name PCT, at a significantly higher price. It may also be available in other colours, under other names. E.g., there is now a red one from Premium X.
Nordland Scale 43
Saab Facett is home made by Sigvard Sörensson, built on Sonett I, chassis no. 4, who initially had a green body. This is a very nice and exclusive, hand-built model of the Facett. In 2013, German Saab enthusiast Peter Haubold produced a total of 30 completed models, 15 red and 15 white, and 50 kits. The completed model cost over 2000 SEK.
Norev – Provence Moulage
Norev started in 1946 in France, initially they made mostly toys. A few years ago, they took over another French brand, Provence Moulage, and now they also make nice collector models, like this Sonett I.
Premium X
Premium X models are developed by Premium & Collectibles Trading Co. Ltd. in China. These are nice models, different versions and colors of the same model can also be manufactured under other brand names like Triple 9 and Whitebox. The same manufacturer also produces the models for the Editions Atlas ”Saab Car Museum Collection”. This red Sonett I came in September 2015.
Rudanko
Markku Rudanko, with company Woodplanet, is a Finnish wood sculptor who sculpt furniture, wooden shoes, vehicles and much more to order, such as this Sonett I, which he sculpted with some artistic freedom. It is not completely correct to dimension and scale.
Saab prototypes
These are Rolf Mellde’s prototype models of Sonett I, manufactured in 1953-54, probably in Saab’s model workshop. Rolf Mellde was technical director of Saab and the driving force behind Sonett I. The six Sonett I were intended for racing in the first place, so the red model is probably a proposal for a more civilian variant, more suitable for daily use.
Tetsuya Hori
In year 2000, the Japanese Tetsuya Hori made this model, only one unit, for the Japanese Saab club. It took him three months, he used maple, rosewood, ebony, brass and a pet bottle (for the windshield).
Tin Wizard
Thomas Wolter, with the company Tin Wizard, Germany, started producing model cars in small series in 1979. These beautiful Sonett I models started to be manufactured in 1997 in the colours white (chassis no 1, belonging to the Saab museum), red (chassis no 3, owned by our member Gösta Jakfors) and blue (chassis no 5, belonging to the Saab museum). Sonett I from Tin Wizard is also available as a kit.
The following year, a limited edition of 250 numbered units of the white Sonett I were made, in the version it was run by Erik Carlsson and Torsten Åman in 1989’s ”Mille Miglia”.
In 1999, Tin Wizard, commissioned by Wolfgang Schmel, produced a small edition of only 30 numbered units of the green Sonett I. This is chassis no 4, which was converted to the Facett in the 1960s, but which in recent years has been renovated and got back its green original body by German Saab enthusiast Klaus Müller-Ott.
In year 2002, a small edition of 40 numbered units were made, ordered by Dutch collector Willem v. D. Klis, of the blue Sonett I in the version it was driven by Erik Carlsson from Maastricht to Monte Carlo in the ”2001 Monte Carlo Challenge”. This model has a driver in the driver’s seat, but it does not look like Erik Carlsson. Certificates are included in these three models.
Karl Wöhr
In 1988, the German Saab enthusiast Karl Wöhr made six Sonett I models. Nice woodwork, but not quite correctly by measure, a full sofa in the cockpit instead of two chairs.
Saab Sonett II and V4
The Essence of the Car
The English company The Essence of the Car manufactures a variant of models, eliminating all details and concentrating on the car’s basic shape. The entire model, except the wheels, which are mounted afterwards, is cast in one piece. Among the six Saab models that are produced, this model of Catherina, the prototype of Sixten Sason’s proposal for the forthcoming Sonett II, is featured. The model is available in two variants, with and without roof.
Chris De Koning
Chris De Koning is a Dutch wood sculptor who produced various kinds of Saab and Volvo models: Larger series of scale 1:43 models, metal casted, solid cast or semi-relief on wood plate. 1:43 models in resin in very small series. Single wooden models with plastic wheels in scale 1:20, only on request. There are resin models of Catherina and wood model(s) of Sonett II. Unfortunately, I do not have a picture of his Sonett models, the picture shows a Saab 96 at 1:20 scale, which he partially carved out of a piece of wood.
Ark Models
At the end of the 1990s, Arie Kerrels, Belgium, manufactured a small number of vacuum-shaped bodies for radio-controlled models in scale 1:8, here a Sonett II. The material is transparent, when you finish the model, you paint it on the inside.
Artapo
The Czech company Artapo manufactures small handmade models in scale 1:87. Sonett II in several different colours began to be manufactured in 2006.
Autosculpt
The English company Autosculpt Miniatures started to manufacture model cars in the 1980s, the first two Saab models came in 1993. Sonett II and V4 in scale 1:92 began to be manufactured in 1994, 1998 they also made 20 specimens of each model specifically for the ”International Saab Club Meeting Gaydon , UK” (model to the right in the picture). The 1:43 models came in 1999 (Sonett V4) and 2001 (Sonett II).
The models from Autosculpt are casted in one piece together with the plate on which the model is placed. Well-made and detailed, even the small models are finely detailed.
Editions Atlas
At the beginning of 2014, an offer from Editions Atlas came about that one could subscribe to a series of model cars called the ”Saab Car Museum Collection”. They had been at the museum and scanned the cars there. When you subscribe, you get a model about every four weeks. The series will comprise about 45 models, so it takes more than three years to get all the models. These are nice models at a low price, about 240 SEK/pc. The Sonett II is model no. 14 in the series. In June 2016, a V4 also came, as no. 32 in the series.
Editions Atlas also have a series of rally cars with similar subscriptions. There is a model of the Sonett V4 that was run by Simo Lampinen and Arne Hertz in Monte Carlo Rallye in 1969.
The models are manufactured by IXO, which manufactures models under several names: IXO, Altaya, PremiumX, Triple9, PCT. The same models as Editions Atlas can be found under other names, usually at a higher price.
Griffin Mini
The English company Kevin Mason Diecast made these models of a rally-equipped Sonett V4 for Iain Hodcroft, England, in 1995. The models were casted in one piece together with the plate they are placed on. Two variants were made, silver and bronze plated, 100 units of each. The bump on the bonnet is offset 35 mm to the right of the Sonett V4, on these models it has been placed too far to the right.
Neo Scale Models
Neo Scale Models is a fairly young Dutch model car manufacturer. They started in 2007 with the ambition to manufacture high quality model cars for collectors. The first model was a Saab 95 and several Saab models have been made. They also make models in the 1:18 and 1:87 scale. In 2012, these nice Sonett II models were made, the red one in a limited edition of 500 units and the blue one, made for ”Model Car World” in Germany, in a limited edition of 300 units.
The following year, this Sonett V4 came in a limited edition of 500 units.
Somerville
The English, passionate and self-taught model car manufacturer Doug McHard first worked with prototype production at Dinky Toys. Then, in 1978, he started his own company Somerville Models Ltd., and began to manufacture high-quality models. After signing a fine contract with Saab Automobile AB, his first Saab model came in 1981. 1985 came the first Sonett model, a very nice model of the pre-series Sonett II from 1966, mounted on a wooden base. The rear part of the body, with the cover and the rear lamps, is painted black, probably due to the fact that this part is connected to the lower part of the model.
In 1994, there were some variants of Sonett II, supposed to be the 1967 model year, but the models do not quite match the serial production of 1967. Front blinkers are located above the headlights as they do on the 1966th, at the 1967th, they are placed beneath the headlights, on both sides of the grill. The air outlet behind the side window is missing. The red one and the gold / bronze metallic one (two versions, one more gold and the other more bronze) have the back part black as the first model, the other two, white and dark green, have the back part painted in the body colour. Some variations of the interior colors are present, and three different number plates. The red model has reg. no. EFY 187. That reg. no. was on the chassis. no. 11, a red 1966th, which first ended up at Saab in Trollhättan. There it was used for photographing. The last Swedish owner, our former member Lars Einar in Oxelösund, sold it to Japan in the late 1980’s. Perhaps Somerville’s first Sonett model was based on this Sonett? That model has reg.no. P 60747, maybe the Sonett with chassis. no. 11 had that reg. no. when it was new, before we switched to a new reg.no. system with three letters and three digits? There are also kits of this model.
The same year, these two rally-equipped Sonetts also came as nice and well-built as the other models. These are models of the two Sonetts that Erik Carlsson and his wife Pat Moss drove in the Coupe des Alpes 1966 rally. Pat’s red Coupe des Alpes-Sonett seems to have disappeared since many years, but Erik’s Sonett is now owned by our member Sverker Dahl, who now has made sure that the car has been renovated and in good condition, and with Erik’s autograph on the roof (the autograph is not on the model car). There are also kits, then you can choose which of the two variants you want to build.
Unknown
This model I know nothing about, can only guess. Maybe a prototype model from Saab, used for wind tunnel tests. Some details on the model indicate that. The size may be 1:5 scale.
Saab Sonett III
Ark Models
At the end of the 1990s, Arie Kerrels, Belgium, manufactured a small number of vacuum-shaped bodies for radio-controlled models in scale 1:8, here a Sonett III. The material is transparent, when you finish the model, you paint it on the inside.
Autosculpt
The English company Autosculpt Miniatures began to manufacture model cars in the 1980s, the first Saab models came in 1993. Sonett III in scale 1:92 began to be manufactured in 1998. The same year, 20 units were made especially for ”International Saab Club Meeting Gaydon, UK” (model to the right in the picture). In the picture there is also a winter diorama with a snowed in Sonett III. Autosculpt made a small number of them, ordered by the English Saab enthusiast and collector Iain Hodcroft.
The 1:43 model also came in 1998, but 1999 came a new version, when the first, the rear model in the picture, had wrong proportions (too high).
The models from Autosculpt are casted in one piece together with the plate on which the model is placed. Well-made and detailed, even the small models are finely detailed. They are still making models from their large model program, but do not develop any new models.
Card Collectables
Phil Chapman, England, started 1993 with various Saab models, here a Sonett III 1974, as cardboard sheets. You can cut the model, fold it together, glue it and put it on a socket that you also cut out fold from a sheet.
Chris De Koning
Chris De Koning is a Dutch wood sculptor who produced various kinds of Saab and Volvo models: Larger series of scale 1:43 models, metal casted, solid cast or semi-relief on wood plate. 1:43 models in resin in very small series. Single wooden models with plastic wheels in scale 1:20, only on request. There are wooden model(s) of Sonett III. Unfortunately, I do not have any picture of his Sonett models.
Editions Atlas
At the beginning of 2014, an offer from Editions Atlas came about that one could subscribe to a series of model cars called the ”Saab Car Museum Collection”. They had been at the museum and scanned the cars there. When you subscribe, you get a model about every four weeks. The series will comprise about 45 models, so it takes more than three years to get all the models. There are nice models at a low price, about 240 SEK/pc. Sonett III, year model 1971, is model no. 27 in the series.
The models are manufactured by IXO, which manufactures models under several names: IXO, Altaya, PremiumX, Triple9, PCT. The same models as Editions Atlas can be found under other names, usually at a higher price.
Griffin Models – GB
The British company Griffin Models (not to be mistaken for Griffin Models in Bulgaria, which manufactures exclusive handmade Saab models in the price range of 2000 SEK) manufactured in 2002 100 units of this model. Seems to be a casting of Universal Hobbies’ model of Sonett III 1973/74. Moulded in coal (”Made with deep mined coal”) in one piece together with the socket.
Jim Simpson
Made by Jim Simpson from Seattle, USA, in a small number. I know nothing about this model.
Matchbox – Lesney
Matchbox is a popular toy brand introduced by Lesney Products in 1953 and now owned by Mattel Inc. The first version of the Sonett III, with openable rear window, started to be manufactured in England in 1972. It is available in several shades of blue metallic. A very unusual variant is the white, which was only sold in the United States. Also, the red metallic is unusual, sold only in South America. Not quite the right proportions, for example, the front wheels are a little too far backwards, the rear window is too curved. The wheels do not fit the model. Manufacturers of cheap toy cars often use the same wheel, a standard wheel, for many different models.
In 1985 they started to produce a new simplified edition, in different colors and different decorations, named Super GT. Rear window is not openable, interior is missing and glass windows are not transparent. In the first two years, the models are still manufactured in England, but from 1987, they are manufactured in China.
Unknown manufacturer
Produced in USA, seems to be a simplified copy of Matchbox.
Kit, manufactured in the United States, intended for slot-car tracks. Available in many different colours, seems to be a copy of Matchbox.
Rudanko
Markku Rudanko, with company Woodplanet, is a Finnish wood sculptor who sculpts furniture, wooden shoes, vehicles and much more to order, such as this Sonett III, which he sculpted with great artistic freedom. It does not have the correct proportions, the wheels are too small.
Sohbi
Simple and cheap toy, made in China. Available in different colours and with/without different decor, interior and transparent windows.
Stinie-Wilcox Modelle
Cardboard sheet from England. You can cut the model, fold and glue it together.
Tin Wizard
Thomas Wolter, with the company Tin Wizard, Germany, started producing model cars in small series in 1979. These beautiful models of Sonett III started to be manufactured in 1999. Available in two versions, 1970 and 1974 models. Not exactly proportions, the model is 2-3mm too thin. Both versions are also available as kits.
Universal Hobbies
Pretty nice, well-built models made in China. Sold under different names, beside Universal Hobbies, also Jumbo Way, Eagle Collectibles, Saab Model Car Collection. Models of the 1972-74-year models began to be manufactured in 2001. In 2004, the red 1971 model was shown at the Toy fair in Nurnberg, but seems to have been manufactured in only a very limited number.
Wheeler
Cheap toy, made in Hong Kong. Seems to be a simplified and slightly smaller copy of Matchbox. Available in a couple of colours.
Yatming
Cheap toy, made in Hong Kong. Very similar to Matchbox, but slightly smaller. Available in many different colours, different packages. Some colours are heat sensitive, become brighter if, for example, dip in warm water. Also available without Swedish flag and stripes. The wheels do not fit, like the Matchbox.
My own manufacturing
In 1981, I started working in Saab’s design studio, and soon I wanted to test my new model building skills on a project of my own. It became this fantasy creation, a version of my own III, with trimmed turbo engine and half-meter-wide wheels. In addition to my own copy, there are two, unfinished copies at two of my Sonett companions, in their model car collections.
Epilogue
An article about model cars can never be completely complete. At uneven intervals, new models come from different manufacturers, and there are those who make some or a few models, primarily for their own and not for sale. Those models are often difficult to find.