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Saab 99L, 99LE
Page 2
Contents
Models and colors for 1973. Page 3.
The Saab 99, from idea to reality.
A car which has earned more than its share of honours
and distinctions: Page 4.
Better and better vear by year.
How the Saab 99 has been developed model by model.
Page 5.
The air resistance must not be neglected. Pages 6—7.
The exterior in close-up. Pages 8—9.
To see and to be seen.
Headlight wipers on European models with
rectangular headlights. Page 10.
Impact absorbing bumpers. Page 11,
Interior and interior measurements. Pages 12—13.
Adjustable seat.
Every driver can choose the driving position that
suits him best. Page 14.
Electrically heated driver's seat.
A cold seat can be regarded a medical risk, as well as
uncomfortable. Page 15,
Instruments and controls. Pages 16—17.
Heating and ventilation. Pages 1|8—19.
Suspension, Page 20.
Steering. Page 21.
Brakes.
Disc brakes front and rear. Vacuum servo, Dual circuits.
Handbrake acting on front wheels. Pages 22—23,
Engine and transmission.
Carburetor or electronic fuel injection.
95 or 110 horsepower. 4-speed manual or 3-speed
automatic transmission.
How are kgf m and hp converted to Nm and kW?
Pages 24—28.
Safety body. Page 29,
Luggage space and loading capacity.
Folding rear seat makes the Saab a semi-station wagon.
Pages 30-—31.
Technical specifications. Pages 32—34.
These are the built-in safety features of the Saab 99 LE
and Saab 99 EMS. Page 35.
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Models
and colors
for 1973.
The 1973 Saab 99L., LE and EMS models
are offered in a total of seven different
basic models with varying combinations
of engines and transmissions and dif-
ferent body designs for the American
market.
All cars are equipped with the new,
Swedish-built 2-liter (122 cubic inches)
engine, indicated by the "2.0" next
to the model designation L, LE, LE
Automatic or EMS to the right of the
nk. L indicates “de luxe” and E
indicates "electronic fuel injection”. The
last two letters in the EMS designation
mean that the car is provided with a
manual transmission and certain special
Quipment. The V4 models Saab 95, 96
and Sonett M1 and the basic model
"Saab 99” are not described in this
brochure.
Models
(Engine power given in SAE net value)
Saab 99 L, 2-door sedan
2.0-liter carburetor engine, 95 hp.
4-speed manual transmission.
Saab 99 L, 4-door sedan
2.0-liter carburetor engine, 95 hp.
4-speed manual transmission,
Saab 99 LE, 2-door sedan
liter fuel injection engine, 110 hp.
4-speed manual transmission.
Saab 99 LE, 4-door sedan
9_0-liter fuel injection engine, 110 hp.
speed manual transmission.
Saab 99 LE Automatic, 2-door sedan
2.0-liter fuel injection engine, 110 hp,
3-speed automatic transmission.
Saab 99 LE Automatic, 4-door sedan
2.0-liter fuel injection engine, 110 hp.
3-speed automatic transmission.
Saab 99 EMS
2.0-liter fuel injection engine, 110 hp.
4-speed manual transmission.
2.0L
2.0LE
2.0 LE Automatic
2.0L
2.0 LE
2.0 LE Automatic
Saab 99 L, 4-door
2.0 EMS
Saab 99 EMS
99 L, 99 LE 99 LE Automatic
Color Upholstery 2- and 4-door 2- and 4-door 99 EMS
Polar white Green e e
Brilliant yellow Green es e ®
Verona green Green e e®
Toreador red Red e e ‘i
Amber yellow Brown e e
Caroline blue Brown o. e 7
Black Brown e e
Sepia metallic Brown e e
Coral metallic Brown 7 e
Brilliant yellow, Caroline blue and Sepia metallic are new for 1973.
Only a limited number of black cars are produced,
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Saab 99,
When guidelines for the Saab 99 pro-
ject — or Gudmund, as its code name
was — were drawn up, the design team
had a very clear idea of the charac-
teristics that the new car should possess
in order to compete seriously for a
prominent position in the market.
No speculation in fashionable or way-out
styling was considered at all, This would
have been far too chancy and would
not give future owners anything of real
value, Instead, common sense ruled
the day and it was agreed to make the
Saab 99 as good a car as possible.
Since Saab had no intention of departing
from its fundamental design philosophy,
there was no question whatsover that
the car would have front-wheel drive, It
was equally certain that the fuel tank
would be located between the rear
wheels.
One absolute requirement was that the
car should perform with a high degree
of safety and be designed to cope with
severe winter conditions without dif-
ficulty. It should also provide a good
standard of comfort for the occupants.
The lines of the car had to feature low
drag coefficient and insensitivity to
cross winds. And it should have a roomy
interior in spite of compact exterior
dimensions. Performance was to be good
and roadholding excellent.
Part of the design plan was that the
engineers were to take into considerat-
tion all factors affecting running costs.
The car should be easy to service and
economical in operation from every
aspect.
Approximately 400,000 man-hours of
development work by design engineers
had already been put into the new car
when it was presented to the public for
the first time in November 1967 and
assigned the designation Saab 99. By this
time the styling of the car had long
since been all but finalized, But it was
still about one year away from full-
scale production. This was because Saab
wanted to make absolutely sure that
the product came up to all expectations,
One of the ways in which this was
done was to allow a number of people
in various parts of Sweden to have
a pre-production Saab 99 for approxi-
mately six months on the condition that
they advised the factory in Trollhattan
of all their opinions and experiences,
While the Testing Department collected
data from rugged test driving — both
on the road and in the laboratory — in-
formation was received from motorists
with yarying driving habits and stan-
dards.
When the Saab 99 made its first appea-
rance on the market — after develop-
ment work that had lasted for ten years
—a great deal was expected of it by
the motoring public and the press. Much
had already been written about the new,
larger Saab model and journalists were
eager to test it on the road in order
to see whether the newcomer was really
worth all the acclaim it had already
received,
Overall opinion in the press was extre-
mely favorable. The Saab 99 was cor-
rectly conceived and properly built. Ita
spired confidence and had a charm of
its own. Points receiving particular
mention were its roominess and good
roadholding characteristics, seating com-
fort and the highly developed heating ww
system. Brakes, suspension, controls,
directional stability in strong cross winds,
low wind noise at high speed and mo-
dern engine design were also highly-
praised. And all agreed that the Saab 99
must surely be one of the world’s most
advanced cars from a safety aspect.
A car which has earned more than its
share of honors and distinctions
This is how the sub-heading to a Saab 99
test report in the April, 1970 issue of
Car and Driver magazine read: "Saab
doesn’t build automobiles, — Saab builds
Saabs, which are a highly original and
highly logical answer to at least one facet
of the human transport problem’.
Quote from the August 21, 1971 issue of
the English magazine Motor: “Saab
obviously thought hard about all the
conflicting factors in design and
managed to reconcile them all in a
pleasing whole.”
From the magazine CAR, in its Novem-
ber 1971 issue: Most of the world’s
manufactures would do well to look at
the 99 and take note.”
Teknikens Varld, Sweden's largest
popular technical magazine, selected the
Saab 99 as their "Car of the year” for
1972. In justifying their choice, the
jury wrote: "The selection of the Saab 99
as the 1972 "Car of the year” is a way
of rewarding the features which place
this car in a special class on the world
market. An already good quality Swedish
car has become even better and provides
an example of what can be done if the
will exists,”
When Great Britain’s most coveted
annual award for automobile safety —
the Don Safety Trophy — was presented
for the seventh time in 1972, it went ww
the first time to a non-British car —
the Saab 99.
The German magazine Hobby gave its
1972 “Oscar” for automobile safety (ir ,,
the 1.5—2.0 liter class) to the Saab 99,
Popular Science Magazine has selected
the Saab 99 and four other cars as
"Cars of the future”. In giving the rea-
son for their choice, the editors remarked
that “each and every one of the chosen
cars boasts design features which can
be expected to be standard equipment
on the cars of the future.”
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Better and better
year by year.
1969 During its first year of production,
the Saab 99 was manufactured in only
one model — a two-door sedan with a 1.7
liter engine and a manual four-speed
transmission. The engine rating was
80 horsepower (SAE, net).
There were six colors to choose between:
Hussar Blue, Silver Sand, Sea Green,
Toreador Red, Polar White and Black.
¢ interior came in grey, red or black.
1970 The 1970 model offered the choice
between a 80 hp carbureted engine with
_.a manual transmission and an 87 hp
Bev-injected engine.
In the middle of the year (spring 1970),
the Saab 99 4-door sedan was introduced
on certain European markets. Hussar
Blue was replaced by Medium Blue and
Savanna Beige was offered as a seventh
choice. The doors had new upholstery.
The interior was offered in brown, blue,
red or black,
Among the miscellaneous innovations
were: new universal joints, new engine
mounting, standard clock and cigarette
lighter, exhaust system of aluminized
sheet, improved rear window defroster,
rear-view mirror light, warning light
for withdrawn choke control, reflector on
the left door, a panel under the dash,
switch on the console for interior ligh-
ting, new gas tank cap, two rear ashtrays.
1971. The 1.85 liter engine — with
86 hp in the carbureted model and 95 hp
in the fuel-injected model — was in-
troduced as an alternative to the 1.7 liter
engine,
Headlight wipers and washers were
introduced on models with rectangular
headlights — another Saab first!
Application of the primer coat is made
with Electrodip methods.
A completely new instrument panel.
Improved fresh-air ventilation.
New colors: Silver Mink and Tyrol
Green. (Silver Sand and Sea Green were
dropped),
Other innovations in brief: More power-
ful brake power assist, extra air
vent under the main grille, new location
of the cooling system expansion tank,
new defrosting vent for the front side
windows, improved evacuation system
for air circulation, non-dazzle exterior
rear-view mirrors, interior rear-view
mirror adjustable to eliminate dazzle,
new parking brake lever, attachment for
automatic seat belts, tires with depth-of-
profile indicators, new interior trim
under the side windows, new rear grab
handles on the 2-door model.
1972 Saab became the first automobile
in the world to come equipped with an
electrically heated driver's seat as a stan-
dard feature — and the 99 was the first
with impact-absorbing bumpers. In addi-
tion, the 1972 model came with new
wheels (which reduce the risk of getting
dirt in the brake system), harder
brake linings, heavier-duty springs,
more powerful radiator fan motor,
radiator moved further forward, im-
proved selector switches for turn signals
and windshield wipers/washer and a
simplified electrical system.
The colors Silver Mink and Savanna
Beige were dropped from the program
and replaced by Verona Green and
Amber Yellow. The interior came in
three colors: green, brown and red,
From the beginning of 1972, the 1,85
liter engine was standard on all 99's.
Soon afterwards, a new manual trans-
mission was introduced.
Automatic seat belts with indicator lights
on the top of the instrument panel for
the driver and front-seat passenger
became standard in 1972.
The 99 EMS was introduced on the
European market — a special model with
the new Swedish 2 liter 110 hp engine,
Electronic fuel injection was standard,
as well as metallic finish.
@roovations on the 1973 models
@': 1973 models look different from
eir predecessors because of the new,
matte black grille, You can also see the
difference in the new model names and
numbers and perhaps in the color,
since three new shades have been intro-
ducced, including one metallic (see
page 3).
The range of engines and transmissions
has also been changed. The new Swedish
2 liter engine is standard on all
99 models sold in the United States.
A few technical features were altered in
the power unit: The generator
was moved to a position above the
engine, the blades on the radiator fan
were lengthened, a new fan housing was
introduced, and the gear ratios were
changed.
The following innovations were made
in the interests of comfort or safety:
Strong beams in the doors, easier steer-
ing. pivot-mounted front springs, higher-
quality windshield wipers, extra pad-
ding on windshield posts, side posts and
rear corner posts, headliner of molded
fiberglass with molded, thicker carpeting,
sun visors with black backs, easier-
to-read instruments with yellow-orange
indicators, child-proof locks on the
rear doors of the 4-door model.
Some other new features: The front
bumper moved forward about one
inch, upholstery of fire-resistant material,
new gear ratios in the manual trans-
mission introduced during the model
year, new location of the horn, con-
tinuously variable instrument illumina-
tion (rheostat), new pump and fluid con-
tainer for the windshield washer, hub
caps with new Saab logo.
The Saab 99 EMS comes equipped with
steel-belted radial tires, mag-type wheels,
a leather-covered padded steering
wheel, a tachometer and clock, a special
grille, black racing stripes and color-
coordinated racing mirrors. Metallic
Cooper Coral paint is available as an
extra cost option.
Page 6
etn ead.
When driven at a steady speed on level
roads the power of the car is balanced
against rolling resistance (friction) and
air resistance. If the throttle opening
is reduced its speed will drop. Tf it is in-
creased, the car will accelerate until
the balance is again restored.
As long as speed is moderate and it
isn’t windy, the power required is quite
small. At 40 miles per hour, for
instance, air resistance for an average
medium-sized car is approximately
30—40 Ib, and requires approximately
5 hp to overcome. But at 100 miles
per hour it will be found that air
resistance absorbs as much as 60 hp,
Headwinds, and to an even higher
degree cross winds, naturally increase
the power required and affect fuel
consumption.
Measurements show that between 15
and 20 hp extra, and approximately 1
gallon of fuel more for every 50 miles,
are required if strong cross winds
are blowing when the car is driven at
70 miles per hour.
Since power at the driving wheels is
always appreciably less than that develop-
ed by the engine alone — the drive train
absorbs a considerable proportion —
a very large part of the available horse-
power is expended in overcoming air
resistance at high road speeds.
Auto manufacturers can alter two
things in order to reduce drag: the shape
of the car, and its size.
It was already laid down in the initial
directive to the designers that the
Saab 99 was to be a roomy car. Even if
width and height were to be kept close
to what from a technical viewpoint
was a minimum with regard to the neces-
sary internal dimensions, they could not
be especially small, In fact, the Saab 99
is found to be surprisingly spacious by
those who ride in it for the first time
after only having seen it from the out-
side, And still it gives the impression of
being a wide car.
Then there is the actual styling of the
car. Its shape from an aerodynamic point
of view.
As a measure of how favorable a parti-
cular shape is from the viewpoint of air
resistance, its coefficient of drag is often
given, This, which is fairly independent
of the size of the object (the car), is
in the region of between 0.32 and 0.50
for modern cars. (Cars of the twenties
had a drag coefficient in the region
of 0.7), Total air resistance in the direc-
tion of travel — tangential force —
can be calculated for any speed if the
drag coefficient, the cross sectional area
of the car and the density of the air
are known. Windless conditions are
assumed.
Early areodynamic testing of
the Saab 99 showed that the coeffici-
ent of drag was as low as 0.36. The model
(Fig. B) used in these tests was made to
a scale of 1:5 and its shape was practi-
cally indentical to the present-day car
in volume production.
Certain modifications, naturally, were
carried out before production proto-
types were built, but not so much that
drag was increased to any appreciable
extent. A realistic estimate of the coeffi-
cient of drag for the current model is
approximately 0.37.
To give an example of what this means
in reality, the Saab 99 LE or EMS
must produce 3.3 hp at the driving
wheels in order to overcome air resis-
tance when driven at 40 miles per
hour under windless conditions. 11.1
horsepower is required at 60 miles
per hour, 26.3 hp at 80 miles per hour
and approximately $1.4 hp at 100
miles per hour. If the drag coefficient
were 0.45 the corresponding horse-
power required would be 4.0, 13.5, 32.0
and 62,5 respectively.
The Saab 99 has been designed and
styled to hold its course under all driving
conditions — even in gusty cross winds.
The so-called yawing moment is small,
which is partly due to the fact that the
car is nose heavy with a low frontal
area but has comparatively large side
surface areas at the rear, The total effect
of cross winds and aerodynamic forces
acting on the car strike it roughly as
though directed against a vertical line
passing through the center of gravity.
The design of the rear window and
trunk lid, as well as the transition be-
tween side panels and rear sections are
of significance for the unusually good
directional stability of the car in windy
conditions (Fig, E).
During wind tunnel tests it was disco-
vered that lifting forces were extremely
small — and negative — when air was
directed at the front, Instead of lead-
ing to a reduction in wheel pressure on
the ground due to low pressure in
certain zones, the rear wheels of the
Saab 99 models exert slightly more pres-
sure on the road.
Under conditions of cross winds certain
lifting forces do arise but these are yp
so small as to be negligible.
Before body shape was finalized, such
important things as the dispersion of
exhaust gases behind the car at different
locations of the exhaust pipe were in-
vestigated as well as the extent to which
the rear window displayed a tendency
to become dirty when alternative design
details for the bodywork, bumpers,
etc. were employed, The most suitable
location of the outlets for the flow-
through ventilation system were arrived
at after extensive experimentation.
Owing to the steeply curved windscreen.
and the absence of sharp cornerson
the body to create turbulence, wind noise
in the car is unusually low,
~
Fig. A. If you look at the Saab 99 LE from
above you notice its resemblance to true sport
cars.
Fig, B. This 1:5 scale model was one of
several body styles tested in wind tunneis.
Fig, C. The diagram shows how the air
drag coefficient varies with the resulting angle
of speed and cross winds. When the wind
hits the car at an angle of 30° (30), the
coefficient reaches its max. value, The dashed
curve indicates another car tested,
Page 9
The exterior
in close-up.
Merely by looking at the Saab 99
from the outside is it possible to conclude
that it is a thoughtful design that must
have certain distinctive characterist
It does not take up a lot of unneces-
sary space on the road nor in a parking
lot although it is roomy, both in the
nassenger compartment and the trunk
has no sharp projecting corners, no
“empty inches” of extra length just
to look impressive or to provide space
for a fashionable styling feature or two.
The Saab 99 is compact. Look at
Pe rear pillars. They are integral with
the side panels — without a distinc-
tive waistline to make the car look
narrower at the top. Together with the
generous track — 55.1 in.
at the rear — it hints at roomy
interior dimensions, particularly in
the back seat. Tt goes almost without
saying that a wide track also contributes
to good roadholding,
The smooth and clean-lined bodywork
makes the car easy to wash and keep
clean, The hub caps and other bright-
work are all of stainless material,
The radiator grille is made of resistant
hiack nylon material.
romium-plated molding of plastic are
fitted round the wheel arches.
Getting in and out of the Saab 99
oresents no problem, The door sills are
w and located well in from the out-
side edge of the body-work (Fig. D).
Since the sills are protected from splash-
ing they do not dirty the clothes of
occupants. The door contour of the four-
door model follows the line of the rear
stat contour, Comfortable. No sharp
or awkward corners to present an
obstacle on entry or egre:
The outside handles are softly shaped
and fitted across depressions in the doors
$0 a$ not to project more than necessarily
(Fig, E). Only one key is used for all
locks on the car, Door edges on the left
hand side are equipped with reflectors
(Fig. F). The windshield of tough
laminated glass, is deeply curved for
reasons of safety and also to ensure
low drag and minimum wind noise.
The short and sloping hood affords good
close-up forward visibility, Since the
windshield pillars are located well back
and “edged” towards the driver they
appear slim and good side visibility is
insured. Contributing to this is also the
absence of front vent windows. Follow-
ing modern practice, the door windows
are all in one piece (Fig, B),
Since the hood is a one-piece pressing
incorporating the upper part of the front
fenders and hinges forward to a verti-
cal position in front of the radiator grille
(Fig. C), the engine compartment is
readily accessible for service and main-
tenance. And there is no danger of
the fenders getting scratched or oily after
a visit to the garage
Another detail showing how much
thought has been given to the design of
the car is that the mudflaps at the rear
are located and directed so that they
cannot be torn off, in the event that they
get caught between the wheels and a
curbstone, for instance, Regarding
splash protection, look at the styling of
the wheels. The ventilation holes are
directed radially towards the rims so that
rain and mud spashed up by other
vehicles will not reach the brake di
On examining the exterior of the Saab
99 the careful observer cannot avoid
noticing the high and clearly
visible direction indicator lights and
side marker lamps, the sturdy bumpers
and the rear light clusters with their
large all-in-one housing incorporating
a back-up light. The bumpers are de-
scribed in greater detail in the following
pages. However, two things should be
pointed out here: retaining holes for
auxiliary lamps are located in the front
bumper and strong towing hooks are
fitted both front and rear (Fig, K, L).
Page 10
To see and to be seen.
If you drive a Saab, you can see and be
seen. Not only during the day
and when the weather is beautiful. The
car is de ed for use in all seasons,
in all kinds of weather and on all kinds
of roads, Take a look at illustration A on
this page. It shows a windshield covered
with chalk before the wipers were turned
on. As you can see, the wipers sweep
over the entire width of the window and
even tuch the bottom edge. This means
that the windshield is kept clean from
rain and snow — an important factor in
good visibillity and driving safety,
The windshield wiper has two speeds and
is operated simply by means of a lever
at the steering wheel (Fig. B). The same
lever also controls the washing of the
windshield
The deep-curve windshield, the lack of
front ventilation windows (which impair
good visibility) and the location of the
windshield posts as far to the rear as
possible are factors which contribute to
good front and side visibility. The high-
level rear-view mirror which can be
adjusted to avoid dazzle and the two anti-
dazzle treated side-view mirrors provide
rear view. The powerful headlights,
the high-level and clearly visible blinkers
and side lights together with the auto-
matic back-up lights also make it easy to
see and to be seen well in traffic.
Scientific measurements have shown
that light losses of more than 60 % are
common after only a comparatively
short period of driving in dense traffic
and on wet roads. Dirty slush mixed with
salt can almost completely obscure
headlights. A 90 % loss of light has been
recorded after only 5 miles of driving.
Eyen in summer conditions headlights
are liable to get dirty. Their light in-
tensity may be reduced by 10 to 20 %
during the course of an hour and a half
of driving on dry asphalt roads. In an
hour and # half on 4 busy gravel road
the headlights may collect a la
dust so thick that light intensity is re-
duced by half.
The problem of developing a suitable
device for cleaning headlights while the
car is in motion was tackeld by Saab
engineers carly as 1967. They set out to
devise a mechanism that could remove
wet and dry dirt, icy slush, salt sludge
and snow from the headlight glass to such
an extent that headlight light intensity
would not be less than that prescribed in
the UNECE regulations, In addition
the wipers would have to last for at least
1.5 million working strokes — equal
to approximately 75,000 miles of
normal driving — at temperatures
between —22°F and + 104°F
The system eventually developed satisfied
these requirements completely and
as a result Saab was the first manufac-
turer in the world to have what we
call headlight wipers as standard equip-
ment on the 1971 models in many
markets. Because rectangular headlights
are not permitted by American law,
headlight wipers are unfortunately not
available in the United States.