SAAB Quantum was a series of five privately designed and built automobiles using various
Saab components. The earliest used
Saab 93 two-stroke engines, transmissions and suspension. The later used
Saab 96 drivetrains and suspension parts. All were built in the United States.
The Quantum I was built in 1959, with a chassis
computer engineered by Walter Kern at
IBM in his spare time. It wore only the most basic bodywork at first. After initial testing and a race or two, it was replaced with moderately more complete bodywork which it still wears to this day. The Quantum II was nearly identical in every way, though built later. Both Quantums I and II were raced in the SCCA H-Modified class. They were pure prototypes and racing cars, never intended for production.
The Quantum III was designed to be a production car and was first presented in 1962. Only a few copies were built. Due to a lack of quality it was turned down by Saab in Sweden and never went into production.
* Quantum I (1959) - 1st iteration was with a very basic aluminum body. Second iteration of the bodywork was only slightly more finished. This is the version it wears today.
* Quantum II - Nearly identical to the Quantum I in every way. Both use a water-cooled, three-cylinder
Saab two-stroke engine.
* Quantum III - Completely new design. Two built.
* Quantum IV (1963) - Single seater formula car sold as a
kit car. Intended for
Sports Car Club of America's (SCCA) "
Formula S
In science, a formula is a concise way of expressing information symbolically, as in a mathematical formula or a ''chemical formula''. The informal use of the term ''formula'' in science refers to the general construct of a relationship betwee ...
" series.
* Quantum V (1965) -
Ginetta body. Saab
two-stroke engine and transmission. One built.
image:saabquantum4rear.jpg, Saab Quantum IV rear
image:saabquantum4front.jpg, Saab Quantum IV front
image:saabquantum4side.jpg, Saab Quantum IV side
image:suspension.jpg, Saab Quantum IV double wishbone suspension
A double wishbone suspension is an independent suspension design for automobiles using two (occasionally parallel) wishbone-shaped arms to locate the wheel. Each wishbone or arm has two mounting points to the chassis and one joint at the knuck ...
(left front)
External links
New England Saab Association: The Quantum SeriesFormula S registerGeorge Vapaa's Quantum Formula S restoration scrapbook''La prima Saab Quantum I''
Pictures
Quantum III
1959 Quantum I
{{Saab Automobile
Quantum
Rear-wheel-drive vehicles
Front-wheel-drive sports cars