1964 Saab Quantum Formula S news, pictures, and information

Walter Kern's first Quantum, named the Quantum I/II, was built in 1959. Walter Kern was working at IBM at the time and used his spare time and computer resources to engineer a chassis. This began the Quantum series cars built using a Saab 96 two-stroke engine and suspension parts. Full commercial production never occurred since the vehicles were apparently lacking in quality and Saab of Sweden was reluctant to provide aid.

The first Quantum, the Quantum I, was created as a prototype and displayed as a rolling chassis. The second Quantum, Quantum II, was given a Saab two-stroke 750 cc three-cylinder engine which was water-cooled. With the addition of three Solex 34W carburetors it was capable of producing nearly 60 horsepower. The two Quantum II vehicles created could race from zero-to-sixty in around sixteen seconds and had a top speed of about 155 km/h.

The Quantum III was a rebuild and redesign of the Quantum II. Only two examples were created. The Quantum IV was available as a kit car and had been redesigns to accommodate a single passenger. The final version of the Quantum cars, the Quantum V was created in 1965 with only one example being produced.

The example shown is a car created by Quantum Motorcars and is one of around 60-kit examples created. Though there were roughly sixty kit examples created, there were fewer examples that were created into workable racers. These vehicles were meant to be Quantum Motorcars entry way into the SCCA 'Formula S' racing class.

View more photos

This 1963 Quantum IV is powered by a 3-cyliner, 2-stroke SAAB engine that has only seven moving parts.

The Quantum IV was created to be an easy way for a motorsports enthusiast to go racing. Developed in cooperation with SAAB, the kit from Quantum basically gave you a frame and bodywork. Suspension, brakes and drive train were adapted from a SAAB 96 street car. The suspension is identical front and rear. A second 96 front suspension was then used at the front of the Qunatum. Rather than the more common drums, the original builder of this car used ultra-rare SAAB GT disc brakes all around. Originally, the large frame tubes served as gas tanks for the car - clever, perhaps, but not very safe. Today, a five-gallon modern fuel cell resides behind the driver's seat. The car is most notable for its use of the SAAB 3-cylinder, 2-stroke engine. With only seven moving parts in the entire engine it is something of a marvel and is anything but quiet. Originally 850cc in displacement, it has been modified per SAAB Sport an Rally specs to 940cc - bumping horsepower from 40 hp to 80hp.

View more Formula Saab vehicles

Vehicle Spotlight