In 1966, to keep the arrival of the upcoming Saab 99 secret, endurance testing of prototypes was carried out inside an old aircraft hangar. Non-stop runs were conducted as the prototypes circled round and round for several days at a time to test driveshaft durability.
In 1967, the Saab 99 gets an advance showing in Stockholm on November 22. It is the first entirely new model since the Saab 92-96. Among the new features are a double-jointed steering column of safety type, a safety body with crumple zones front and rear, and the ignition switch on the floor between the front seats. The power unit is a straight four-cylinder engine of 1.7 litres, developed for Saab by Ricardo and built by Triumph in England.
Sixten Sason, the designer of the early Saabs from the original 92 to the highly innovative 99, was a leading exponent of the emerging discipline of industrial design. Working as a freelance, he also designed the first Hasselblad camera, Husqvarna motorcycles and Electrolux domestic products.
Saab 99 named Car of the Year 1972 in Sweden
In 1977,the Saab 99 Turbo is presented at the international motor show in Frankfurt.
Source: Saab Press Release
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