06/11/2026
It was time to make a new signboard for DirtBomb in preparation for Motor Muster Father's Day Weekend at Greenfield Village.
A Reimagined 1968 Saab 96 Rally Icon -
Coined "Dirt Bomb," this 1968 Saab 96 is a custom creation by Murray Pfaff of Pfaff Designs. Stepping away from the traditional American hot rods and muscle cars typically associated with his studio, Pfaff embraced the unique, aerodynamic contours of the "longnose" Saab 96 originally penned by Sixten Sason. By leaning into the car’s inherent Scandinavian eccentricity, this project seamlessly blends purposeful aesthetics with distinct mechanical character.
The exterior styling emphasizes a tough, aggressive stance while retaining the distinctive teardrop silhouette that made the original production model a giant-killer on the global rally circuit. The build pays homage to rally legend Erik Carlsson—affectionately dubbed "Carlsson on the Roof" for his flip the car upside-down antics. He famously piloted Saabs to historic victories in the 1960s, besting titans like Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari, and Ford.
"Dirt Bomb" commands attention with a striking combination of custom fabrication and vintage flair:
• Custom Aerodynamics: Pfaff fabricated custom aero components and a lightweight aluminum bumper, with build support from Mike Clarahan and Steve Langdon.
• Period-Correct Aesthetic: Vintage graphics by Axiom Graphics adorn fresh paint and detailing executed by B&B Collision and Motorcity Auto Spa.
• Night-Stage Ready: A "full house" of Marchal off-road lighting is perched atop a custom light bar fabricated by Ernie at Motofab, turning night into day.
Under the hood sits an original equipment Ford-sourced V4 engine, legendary for its ruggedness and use in industrial equipment and pumps. Now displacing 1.7L, this rebuilt powerplant features a competition camshaft and breathes through an aluminum intake topped with a two-barrel Weber carburetor.
• The Powertrain: The meticulous machine work and engine rebuild were executed by Tom Stark of Grasshut Performance, with AMSOIL fluids keeping the high-strung powerplant operating at peak performance. Power is routed through a classic 4-speed, column-shifted manual transmission.
• Stability & Handling: Staying true to its roots, the front-wheel-drive layout is paired with a lowered suspension, making this sample incredibly sprightly and agile.
• Chassis & Grip: The stout, planted stance is courtesy of widened factory steel wheels wrapped in modern BFGoodrich tires. Thanks to Bilstein shocks and EBC brakes it is equally at home carving pavement or tearing down backwoods dirt roads.
• Interior: Inside, the car has been treated to a leather interior complete with side bolstered and lumbar supporting bucket seats and “Saab motif” custom door panels. Modern Kicker audio components provide the soundtrack when the V4 engine note isn't enough.
A project of this scarcity requires a community, and a huge thank you goes out to several Saab Facebook forums and Larry Laughtenschlager, whose invaluable knowledge of vintage Saab mechanicals was instrumental in guaranteeing the future of this incredible machine.
Ultimately, this build illustrates Pfaff's versatile design philosophy, proving that automotive artistry can seamlessly bridge the gap between traditional custom styling and historic European racing heritage. Despite the inevitable bumps, lumps, and dirt, we hope you find this classic machine, the bomb!
Special thanks to – Ryan Harding, Steve Langdon, Mike Clarahan, Mike Kaczmar, Steve Metcalf, Chuck Yee, Joe Holyfield, Tom Stark, Jason Balaban, and Larry Laughtenschlager
