Here’s one that doesn’t grace Barn Finds’ webpages very often, if ever, a 1973 Saab 99. But wait, there’s more as this mobile citizen of Elyria, Ohio, is a hopped-up EMS (Electronic fuel injection Manual transmission Special) edition. Said to have been restored about six years ago, this sporty Saab is beautiful in blue. We have Ted to thank for this tip, and those with an interest will find it here on Facebook Marketplace, where it’s available for $15,500.
In production from 1968 through 1984, the Saab 99 was available in both two-and four-door sedans, as well as a two or four-door liftback, also known as a “combi.” The model designations were numerous, with the EMS version in production from late 1972 through the 1978 model year. Most EMS-equipped cars were two-door sedans, such as our subject; however, one source indicates that the package was made available on the two-door combi in 1978. According to Hemmings, EMS equipment included limited colors, specific cast 15″x5″ wheels, a tauter suspension, faster steering, and a hopped-up engine – more on that to follow. Our subject appears to be in fantastic condition; the finish is deep, the trim shines, and the black rubber bits (bumpers) look like new, unusual for a car of 52 years – but then again, this example has undergone a redo.
The engine is a 115 HP, 1,985 CC (2.0 liter), in-line four-cylinder unit, driving the front wheels via a four-speed manual transaxle. The listing denotes this car as being equipped with an automatic gearbox, but that’s incorrect – no auto. available for the EMS-equipped models, and the interior image clearly reveals a clutch pedal. How’s it run and drive? No idea, the listing is about as barebones as they come.
The interior is upholstered in a fabric and pattern unique to EMS-endowed cars, and its condition reflects that of the exterior. The listing claims 72K miles of use, but that recording is not authenticated, nor is it stated that the interior has undergone a restoration either. The driver’s seat shows just a bit of wear, but it’s minor and could accurately reflect the claimed mileage. The dash has a hard-edged, angular design to it that became very popular in the eighties, and it appears to be free of cracks, splits, etc. The Hemmings article mentions that the leather-covered, three-spoke steering wheel came about in ’77, so what we see here may not be original. Regardless, it’s perfect for this car.
The EMS-equipped Saabs gave way to the turbo models in ’79, and it seems that everyone had, or knew someone who owned a Saab turbo in the eighties – they were everywhere. A Saab EMS? I’d never heard of the model designation until coming across this listing. While these aren’t exactly rare, I’d wager that they’re seldom seen today, and that makes this 1973 Saab 99 all the more interesting, wouldn’t you agree?
This is a great looking car in a nice color. That’s all I’ve got, it just looks great.
My 1974 was not an EMS but was a standard. Very impressive car in it’s day. The motor is in backwards with the clutch by the radiator. The only problem with mine was the water pump seized in the block. This motor found it’s way into the Triumph TR7 later.
Loved my 74. Very versatile machine. Saab was not afraid to try different.
At a glance, it looks like you’d have a hard time replicating this restoration for less than the ask.
Beautiful rare example here. I REALLY like the color. My mother had a 1978 or 79 Saab 99 LE coupe in a Crayola crayon green and it was a great car other than it seeming to go through thermostats often . It was her favorite car.
I owned a 73 EMS and it was quite special in the day. I owned many Saabs from a 96 to a 2000, not a bad one in the group. But the EMS was definitely the top of the lot. A great drive.
The EMS was available as a CombiCope in 1977…..in point of fact, once Saab went Combi in 1974, it was hard to find a two door sedan anywhere. The five doors (four door Combis) first appeared in 1977.
The Turbo first appeared in 1978….Saab built approximately 6300 CombiCoupe Turbos and 4300 came to America. I have one of those 4300. Emmy is rusty, but she runs.
The B motor (the 2.0 litter unit that lives under the hood of the 99, my Turbo and just about every other 99 from 1972 onward) is half of the V8 Triumph Stag motor that also graced the Triumph Dolomite. Saab approached Sir Harry Riccardo in the early 70s for help in making the 99 a faster car…..I think even then, Per Gilbrand was thinking about turbocharging the 99 (he worked for Scania at the time). The B motor is unique in that the water pump lives in the head and is run by a jackshaft that, if I recall, runs off of the camshaft. They’re hard to find and it’s getting harder to find a tech who knows how to properly set a 99 water pump. Set it incorrectly, it will either cavitate and not push any coolant through the engine, or it will whack the jackshaft and break.
The 99 is sort of the forgotten Saab…..great cars, and they spawned the fantastic Classic 900.
If Gary Stottler is out there, he can weigh in on the 99…he has an EMS and has a Turbo as well……
Excellent comments. Thank you for taking the time to add these details.
We had 2 Goodyear Tire Centers (franchise X-Factory stores) So for company vehicles we had a Dodge stake bed and one of these in a 2 door hatchback configuration. Man you could haul a lot of tires in the back with the back seat folded down. I was hauling down a country lane and it was drizzling and I was momentarily distracted and then realized that I had come up on a 90degree left hand turn. I was at the time an ice racer with a Honda Civic. (2 time series class champion) I cranked in some left turn on the steering wheel and expected to have to do some “heroics” to keep it on the road (full power left foot braking kind of stuff) and the car Never even gave a hint that it was going to change line. I went straight off into a corn field with the sound of corn cobs ricocheting off of the hood. This was the only car that I have ever experienced where the car never even acknowledged my steering input. I expected massive understeer. But not total denial of my steering command. We had the car several years and it eventually needed a clutch. The book time to replace the clutch was astronomical (like removing the engine) I had a friend Rex Chalmers who I called to find out any short cuts. Remove the radiator, remove the clutch inspection cover, have someone depress the clutch and stuff an old fan belt in-between the clutch fingers and the clutch cover, (basically keeping the clutch depressed) slide out the transmission input shaft, and once the pressure plate bolts are removed, slide out the clutch assembly out the top of the clutch housing. Reverse the process to reinstall new clutch. Only you have to depress the new pressure plate with a press to install the sacrificial fan belt. The whole process took maybe an hour and a half. Easiest clutch job I ever performed. Never had to go under the car. I hated that car ever since the corn field excursion.
I owned one of the rare black turbo ems coops my second saab I’ve had four since then 900s all great car
The turbo blue :) on the way home seal went 4 quarts plus of oil in about 10 miles and nobody could get close to me from behind cause I smoked out the entire highway.
It was like a smoke screen complete blockage till the wind caught it .
I’m sure glad they were no cell phones back then by the time I got off the highway and added two more quarts …. their would’ve been police waiting at my door …..
I owned one of the rare black turbo ems coops my second saab I’ve had four since then all 900s all great car
The turbo blue :) on the way home seal went 4 quarts plus of oil in about 10 miles and nobody could get close to me from behind cause I smoked out the entire highway.
It was like a smoke screen complete blockage till the wind caught it .
I’m sure glad they were no cell phones back then by the time I got off the highway and added two more quarts …. their would’ve been police waiting at my door …..
I had a 1978 EMS. fantastic car, biggest problem was smashing the front air dam into curbing. Pieced mine together plenty of times.. rust finally took its toll and by 1986 the frame was very bad. sold it a kid for $100 he drive it another year before the rear suspension failed
“…never… acknowledged my steering input…”
civic: rear WD, SAAB: frnt WD?
same expectation/technique different vehicle?
chrlsful, no, any understeering front wheel drive uses the exact same technique. Use the left foot to drag the brake to get the rear tires to slightly lose traction, while standing on the loud pedal to power through the corner. Naturally, this technique is slightly different for every front wheel drive car. Usually the first click on the parking brake will really help the technique if you know you are going to play around like on an ice race situation. However the most fun is a front wheel drive car that has slight overseer at the limit. So much fun to correct and stand on the throttle!
chrlsful, Civic is front wheel drive, as is the Saab. The only vehicle where the first click on the parking brake does not work is some Subarus that have the parking brake on the front wheels.
I was brought back from the hospital in my father’s ’75 EMS. He previously drove two seat sports cars–a Triumph, then an Alfa. But with three kids, he needed something with more room. His accountant suggested he test drive it. My father was skeptical–a front wheel drive car? But he got on the entrance ramp going up a steep hill–Rt 15 in New Haven, CT–and the car accelerated all the way up. Then he took it on the windy back roads on return. He said that it did not plow, like most front wheel drive cars, but instead it “danced” as he put it. He said that because the engine is so far forward, that it gives different handling characteristics than most FW drive cars.
I love my EMS. You can get them to rev higher than the turbo cars, if you wish. They are tanks. Fun handling tanks.
In 1979 or ’80 I had a very fast 1978 Honda Civic. Going from the Illinois/Indiana border heading towards Wisconsin on the Tri-state tollway. I charged up behind a turbo Saab doing about 75mph. He then kicked it up to 85 and I was still there. Then he kicked it up to 100mph and I was still there. He finally just moved over and let be drive by. He sure looked at my car vary hard as I went by. He tucked in behind me and we drove 85mph almost all the way to the Wisconsin line where I turned off the tollway. It was fun running with the Saab driver.
The color is called lightning blue metallic, and it was used exclusively on the Saab 9-3 viggen models
A 99. EMS was an accessories package not a performance package.
the color is called lightning blue metallic which Saab used exclusuvely on the 9-3 viggens