| Year |
1977
- 1980 |
| Engine |
2.0
litre inline 4-cylinder, turbocharged |
| Transmission |
4
speed manual, FWD |
| Max
speed |
124
mph |
| 0-60
mph |
8.9
seconds |
| Horsepower |
145
bhp @ 5000 rpm |
| weight |
1,130
kg / 2,491 lbs |
Clearly the Saab 99 Turbo isn't going to win any classic beauty
contests, but it came loaded with enough quirky charm to make
it a characterful and desirable classic.
When new the Saab 99T wasn't cheap, but it did offer a lot of
perks. It had four usable seats, it could turn heads, it had
a degree of practicality, and if you liked the looks then there
wasn't anything else like it on the market.
The Saab 99 Turbo was powered by a turbocharged 2.0 litre 4-cylinder
engine which produced 145 hp @ 5,000 rpm, and 174 lb ft of torque
@ 3,000 rpm. That's not a lot nowadays, but in the late 70s
it was pretty impressive for what was essentially a suped-up
family car.
The Garrett AiResearch turbocharger was designed to provide
its maximum power in the middle of the rev range, and only when
the accelerator was flat to the floor.
The Saab 99 Turbo was offered in 3 different body styles, a
two-door saloon, a five-door saloon, and the iconic 3-door hatchback
(Combi coupé). There was also a Turbo S special model
with factory-fitted water injection, providing an extra 15–20
horsepower.
Stylewise the Saab 99 Turbo was relatively discreet compared
to the standard car. It had small spoilers both front and rear,
distinctive 'inca' alloy wheels, and the interior featured a
small boost gauge.
In total 10,607 Saab 99 Turbos were built. By far the most popular
color was black, a color which suited the car's unique shape
and discreet persona.
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