The first prototypes of the 99 were built by cutting a Saab 96 lengthwise and widening it by 20 centimetres (7.9 in); this created the so-called Paddan (The toad), which was a disguise for the new project.

A number of Saab 99s were equipped with a Triumph Stag V8, but the V8 was later dropped in favour of a turbocharged unit which later powered the 99 Turbo.

Triumph soon upgraded the engine to 1.85 L; the appearance in February 1971 of the four-door Saab 99 (99CM4 series) coincided with the adoption of the new, bored-out, 1854 cc unit.

[7] Saab experienced reliability problems with the Triumph-sourced engines and decided to bring the design in-house.

During the lifetime of the 99 model, several subsequent engine developments took place, including the incorporation of fuel injection for some versions.

[8] Due to the American sealed beam headlamp requirement in place at the time, the USA models had a special front fascia with four round headlights instead of the two rectangular units it had in other markets.

The 99 was Saab's last factory rally car,[citation needed] first in EMS guise and later as the Turbo version.

[10] The UK's "Mass Motorist" magazine (1968) summarised their view of the 99 as follows: "That the 99 is comfortable, well-made, satisfying to drive and well-equipped ought to mean that other makers should take heed.

[12] Popular Science wrote "It's in the Peugeot/Volvo price class, but in the Colt/Dasher fuel-economy class; and the little four-cylinder overhead-cam engine gives this car V8 agility" and "No American made engine since 1968 can compare with this kind of driveability, and earlier ones are still not equal to the Saab"[13] A police version of the 99 was also built.

Since it wraps around, covering the wheel arches, the paint had to be extended up onto the hood panel and not restricted to just the fenders as on other cars.

The Saab 99 (saloon model) featured a heating duct leading to the rear window - a lever between the front seats controlled the de-fogging airflow.

These cars were inspired by a gift to the Finnish President Urho Kekkonen in the mid 1970's by the industrialist and personal friend Marcus Wallenberg Jr., who got the idea at a social function where Kekkonen had complained to him that he disliked his brash and extremely conspicuous Cadillac official state car in a normal setting.

In addition to which, it strongly stood out from normal Finnish traffic and everybody knew who was in it, making this an obvious security concern.

Kekkonen didn't have a driver's license and preferred to be chauffeured to his official business, but in an inconspicuous fashion.

This was of course widely reported in the press and Finnish political and economic elite liked the idea to the point that Saab-Valmet felt necessary to start emulating the fashion endorsed by the nation's head of state.

The tradition continued with the Saab 900 Finlandia in 1979, which was then from 1982 sold as the 900 CD with most ordered examples being 4 door-sedans, instead of 5 door combi coupés.

One LWB 900 5D combi coupé aka "The last Saab Finlandia" was delivered to Finnish paper-mill giant Metsä Group in 1983.

Saab also introduced headlight wipers, as well as larger rear-view mirrors and an additional air inlet beneath the existing grille.

The engine had 1985 cc displacement and Bosch D-Jetronic electronic fuel injection giving 110 PS (81 kW; 108 hp) and a top speed of 170 km/h (106 mph).

[9] In January 1974 the three-door hatchback combi coupé (marketed as a "Wagon Back" in the USA) was introduced.

The engines were adapted for tougher emissions requirements and several models with an electrically heated rear window were introduced.

The turbocharged two-liter engine produced 145 PS (107 kW; 143 hp) giving the car a top speed of 200 km/h (124 mph).

[18] The 99 Turbo repositioned Saab in the car market and it came to be regarded as an iconic and technologically significant model of its era.

The rear axle was altered, the fuel tank changed to a plastic one, new wheels were fitted, and four-door models received new bumpers similar to those of the 900.

In the Swedish market the twin-carb version made a return for a single year, sold as the 99 Super and only available with four doors and an automatic transmission.

In 1983 a number of smaller technical and cosmetic changes were made, including a new grille similar to that of the 900 and blacked out B-pillars on two-door models.

Five-speed-equipped 99s received low-resistance tires, which sit on wider 5½-inch rims, requiring moving the rear axle.

[21] Some further minor changes took place for 1984, including electronic ignition, lowered seats, and a more upright steering wheel.