In 1962, a little two-stroke Saab ripped and snorted its way to victory in the legendary Monte Carlo Rally with Erik Carlsson -- a “moon-faced 250-lb Swede,” as our correspondent Jean Dupont deemed him -- at the wheel.

The next year, he and the 841-cc chainsaw-on-wheels repeated the feat, all despite treacherous roads that helped knock 196 of the 296 entrants out of the running. Gunnar Palm was his co-driver.

Saab didn't take victory in the Monte Carlo Rally ever again, but we have no doubt its success in motorsport helped make it a left-field enthusiast favorite right until the Trollhattan assembly lines shut down for good.

Also of note: Three Ford Falcons entered the rally, presumably as some part of the Blue Oval’s Total Performance push. Despite lavish on-the-ground support, though, the (relatively) big Holman-Moody-prepped Falcons were kept off the podium by a combination of snow drifts and penalties; Ford’s rallying success arrived a few years later with the introduction of the European Escort. Interestingly, Gunnar Haggbom -- Carlsson’s co-driver in ’62 -- rode shotgun in one of the Falcons.

The Monte Carlo Rally is still held; it’s now the World Rally Championship season opener. Much has changed, however: For one, entrants no longer choose their starting point and rally route (it was originally conceived as a sort of rally to Monte Carlo). For another, there are no more Saabs, two-stroke or otherwise.

Read our coverage of the 1963 rally below, and be sure to check out the fresh new look for Sebring track workers at the bottom of the page!

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