Enter The Draken, My 1978 Saab 99 EMS

"DailyTurismo" (thedailyturismo) 06/16/2014 at 13:40 • Filed to: Daily Tursimo, Draken, Saab

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Another day, another Daily Turismo Project Car — time to introduce everyone to Draken ( Dragon in Swedish ). I decided it was time to pick up something inexpensive to use as a part time driver while fixing up a few of my other cars.

The criteria was simple, just a car that has seating for two adults, three kids, costs about $3k and can be manually shifted. The three thousand dollar price range on Los Angeles craigslist is like a minefield full of life's bad decisions; finding the right ride took a few months. Japanese econoboxes and 'Merican sedans reign supreme, but the occasional German, Eye -talian and Scandinavian depreciation special shows up. I ended up test driving an E28 535i and a few other common "enthusiast" cars but when I stumbled upon the Draken, I knew it had to be mine.

The Saab 99 was built from 1968 to 1984 and lives in the land between classic Saabs like the Sonett, 95, 96, or 97, and the newer styled Saab 900 and 9000. It checks all the funky boxes you'd expect from a 70s Saab — quirky styling, wrap-around aero style windshield, bizarre front engine mounted above transmission putting power to front wheels, and front hinged hood. From a electronics perspective it splits the difference between the simple " fix it with a new wire " early cars and the later " oh lordy, why do my wipers turn on when I hit the horn, time for another #%#@&! control module. " Similarly, the mechanical components are also a mixed bag when you compare performance and reliability. Some good, some bad — pray for the best!

Draken is an EMS version, meaning Electronic Manual Special, which combines electronic fuel injection with manual transmission & steering to make something special. This is the car that Stig Blomqvist took to victory at the 1977 International Swedish Rally probably because the Saab's vehicle weight mounted over the front wheels gave it better traction at a time before 4-wheel-drive revolutionized WRC racing. From the few days I've had with Draken I can say that it handles remarkably well for a front drive car from the late 1970s and you hardly notice which wheels are pushing the car around. According to Archibald Vicar M. Dip writing for UK's !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , "That the 99 is comfortable, well-made, satisfying to drive and well-equipped ought to mean that other makers should take heed. The Bavarians at BMW and Alfa Romeo of Milan also offer small and agile saloons. I would contend here that Saab has the advantage of them, and should Saab choose to fit an even more powerful motor, the 99 could be a class leader in a short space of time."

Draken is no ordinary 99 EMS, as it has had two owners since new, the latest one being master Saab mechanic Walter Wong from Right Solution in Culver City, CA. Walter has owned Draken for the past 15 years, buying it from the original owner and his long time customer John Allen in Marina Del Rey — the Draken plates came with the car when Walter acquired it and then stayed with it. Walter upgraded it as he used it for a daily driver, kid hauler, parts hauler and loaner car for his shop. The result is a car that has racked up 168k miles on the odometer but wears its original coat of spleen colored paint ( thanks Kaibeezy, I'll never think of it as anything other than spleen! ) and dings with honor. The interior is in surprisingly good condition but the steering wheel could be recovered and some minor cosmetic things need attention. Draken has also benefited from a close relationship with a master Saab mechanic who has swapped all manner of Saab 900 parts into it for easy servicing. Upper and lower control arms, brake rotors, hubs, pads, master cylinder, axles, radiator core, and fan are all from the prolific Saab 900 and can be easily found at the local AutoKragOreillyBoys, or online. Why update all these parts...well...Saab 99 parts are just about obsolete.

It isn't just the parts that are obsolete, even finding other 99 enthusiasts on websites seems to be a tricky task. Of course Draken has a few issues, the turn signals don't work, horn doesn't function (actually, I fixed that last night — horn slip ring had slipped from its plastic shroud), gas sloshes from the filler area in turns when tank is full like frat boy spilling Natty Light, and the headlights are hit/miss when they work. Typically when you have problems like this you turn to your trusty Haynes/Chilton manual (out of print - but I've got a used copy on the way) and a quick search on your local forums. However, the Saab 99 forums are severely lacking on participation, probably because if you own one of these cars you will spend your free time fixing it instead of surfing the web...

Okay, I'm being overly dramatic, the forum scene isn't that desolate and there are plenty of people on general Saab forums to point out various things, but I'm starting to understand why I could only find another 5 or 6 Saab 99s in any shape on a nationwide search for comparison when shopping. Perhaps the 99 is going the way of the dodo bird? Not if I can have anything to do with it.

In the end, I picked up a car that is going to test my ability to debug wiring issues with a multimeter and my bare hands. It could be a horribly huge mistake that my wife will hold over my head for years...or...it could be another example of living the Daily Turismo life. Only time will tell.

Originally posted as !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! on !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

For all Daily Turismo Project Car articles, including the E34 M5, Volvo 242, visit this link !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

Someone Else's Projects > DailyTurismo 06/16/2014 at 13:49

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Oh man, I've been watching that ad on Saabnet wondering when it'd sell. Good luck with it!

Plecostomus is a starred commenter > DailyTurismo 06/16/2014 at 13:51

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Hohohoho, Saab, cheap to own or modify, hohhohohohoho

A3R0 > DailyTurismo 06/16/2014 at 13:53

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Sweet car! I love the 99's. They just look so classic. To me they are just an earlier 900SPG in terms of styling; especially with the wing.

Saabnet.com is where I've found a ton of them for sale. Unfortunately, I'm not near driving age, and my parents wouldn't allow it (to old- not enough safety equipment for a beginning driver). That being said, I don't really have any knowledge of them and have never been a serious buyer.

DailyTurismo > Someone Else's Projects 06/16/2014 at 14:04

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It is certainly an interesting car, and every once in a while I get this feeling that I've gotten into something that is a way over my head...but then the blinkers start working again! Seriously. I've been signaling with my hands since I got it, but I fixed the blinkers this weekend.

Davevq > Someone Else's Projects 06/16/2014 at 14:10

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Me too!

Foo2rama > DailyTurismo 06/16/2014 at 14:14

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"Walter Wong from Right Solution in Culver City, CA"

LOL that made me giggle...

Chairman Kaga > DailyTurismo 06/16/2014 at 14:29

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Oh man. One of the few cars on my list of straight trades for my GTV6. Turbo, of course.

I hope the first thing on your list is to swap in some Euro headlights.

DailyTurismo > Chairman Kaga 06/16/2014 at 14:43

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I do like the look of the Euro lights, but honestly the first thing on my todo list is to get reliable and driveable 100%, then start scouring junk years for corner lights. Euro lights would be nice too!!

DailyTurismo > Plecostomus is a starred commenter 06/16/2014 at 14:44

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Cheap to buy and cheap to own are two totally different things. And who are you calling a ho?

baileyijon > DailyTurismo 06/16/2014 at 14:50

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Sounds like fun. Is there a slimmer front and rear bumper option on Euro models?

mtdrift > DailyTurismo 06/16/2014 at 14:51

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Incas, FTW.

Also, regarding this:

"This is the car that Stig Blomqvist took to victory at the 1977 International Swedish Rally probably because the Saab's vehicle weight mounted over the front wheels gave it better traction at a time before 4-wheel-drive revolutionized WRC racing."

I think FWD had very little to do with it, and everything to do with Stig Blomqvist being Stig Blomqvist - the original Stig.

DailyTurismo > baileyijon 06/16/2014 at 15:06

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That is a very good question - you can find pictures of 99s with slimmer bumpers, but I think they are the earlier cars with chrome bumpers. In the 70s Saab was obsessed with selling the safest cars on the planet, so it wouldn't surprise me if the entire world got the huge bumpers.

jcbecker > DailyTurismo 06/16/2014 at 15:08

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I had a '79 99 without the wing in Swedish beige. Loved that car, until the transmission died (well actually the gear shaft that connects the engine to the transmission). Even in the 90s it was hard to find parts for them. Drove it a couple of years after fixing that and the motor and electrical started going.

ChampagneChariot > DailyTurismo 06/16/2014 at 15:08

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In my opinion, the Saab 99 is one of best proportioned cars ever produced.

BrianMadigan > DailyTurismo 06/16/2014 at 15:19

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How do you say "tortoise" in Swedish? Or Turtle? Dirt Turtle. "Smuts sköldpadda"

I have no idea what makes people like Saabs.

dave the swede car guy > DailyTurismo 06/16/2014 at 15:20

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all Saabs have some issues, I have a NG900 convertible that can be frustrating and exhilarating in the same moment. I bought it when I saw it on CL for less than it was worth (104K on a 97) but it obviously had been neglected at some point. The oil pan bolt was rounded over and the oil was very dirty, stuck thermostat and dark colored anti-freeze, cracked distributor cap, tatty plug wires, noisy fuel pump, but as I worked through each fault, the car became better at impressing me. Good luck with the journey, and learn how to train your dragon

dave the swede car guy > BrianMadigan 06/16/2014 at 15:25

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they're "different", same way apple was different, same way a 12 string guitar is different. That appeals to some people, Saab demographics for years slated to slightly older professionals. I own faster cars, better running cars, and I'll still grab my saab on a sunny or snowy day because in one case it's the safest thing out there and in the other it's a blast and a half to drive

JalopJeep > DailyTurismo 06/16/2014 at 15:41

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I feel my mechanic abilities are highly above average for most 23 year olds but wiring and electrical issues are the bane of my existence. Props to you for taking this SAAB story on!

Dsscats > DailyTurismo 06/16/2014 at 15:45

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You're in LA? Me too!

Thermse > DailyTurismo 06/16/2014 at 15:50

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last pay check was $9500 working 12 hours a week online. My neighbour's sister has been averaging 15k for months now and she works about 20 hours a week. I can't believe how easy it was once I tried it out.

This is what I do,,,,,,,,,,

www.bam80.com

pfftballer > DailyTurismo 06/16/2014 at 15:54

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Congrats. That's badass.

FlipperB > DailyTurismo 06/16/2014 at 16:13

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The most quintessentially SAAB SAAB ever made, and the least.

Futrell's Indenor XD2 needs a head gasket > DailyTurismo 06/16/2014 at 16:56

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I'm having a hard time reconciling the fact that this was supposedly owned by a Saab master mechanic as a daily-driving kid-hauler but the turn signals and headlights only sporadically work and you can't accelerate without spilling gasoline everywhere(!). I'm not sure how much Saab business that plug is going to get him...

That said, really cool car; I had a '77 5-Door 99GL back in the day (love loved it) and am currently daily driving an '84 900 Turbo Sedan.

DailyTurismo > JalopJeep 06/16/2014 at 16:58

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Wiring isn't a problem if you have an engineering degree and understand what 99% of the parts on a car do and how they do it...otherwise..yeah, gonna be costly if you take it to a mechanic. Short term fixes are easy (clean the contacts, re-assemble everything) but long term this kind of car needs to go to a later style sealed fuse panel to avoid constant fuse/spade/terminal issues.

DailyTurismo > BrianMadigan 06/16/2014 at 17:00

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Don't google "smuts sköldpadda" while at work FWIW!

DailyTurismo > Dsscats 06/16/2014 at 17:02

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Hey, did I see you on the corner of Wilshire and Western>...oh...nope...that was one of the other 25 million people who live in the greater LA-So-Cal basin.

Seriously though, great place to own cars (no rust), horrible place to drive them (no open roads).

DailyTurismo > Futrell's Indenor XD2 needs a head gasket 06/16/2014 at 17:07

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Hah - yes, I had the same thoughts. I asked Walter — "What does it need." And he says "absolutely nothing." I say "well, what about the turn signals, gas smell...etc" and he says "oh, it probably needs the fuses rotated and the gas smell goes away after 40 miles from fill up." Apparently this car had outlasted its usefulness in Walter's fleet and was waiting for his son to turn 16. His son took one look at it when he was 16 and said "Dad, I want this 2000-era Saab with auto transmission and GPS...etc"

I spent a few hours on father's day and fixed both turn signals and gas smell - will post another story later this week.

DailyTurismo > FlipperB 06/16/2014 at 17:08

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Bookends on the Saab story that was Saab.

Dsscats > DailyTurismo 06/16/2014 at 17:38

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Come to mulholland in Studio City. It's a great road and it's nearly empty 90% of the time.

Waris1963 > DailyTurismo 06/16/2014 at 17:46

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last pay check was $9500 working 12 hours a week online. My neighbour's sister has been averaging 15k for months now and she works about 20 hours a week. I can't believe how easy it was once I tried it out.

This is what I do,,,,,,,,,,

www.bam80.com

Lowtus > DailyTurismo 06/16/2014 at 18:16

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Boy does that bring back memories. A 1978 99EMS was the first new car I ever owned. Loved that car. It did need a new clutch every 50K miles, had crappy exposed element fuses. a droopy headliner, and suspect motor mounts but everything else was just fine. Sold it with 110K miles in 1986. Still miss that car. Those electrical issues could all be due to that crazy fuse assembly on the right fender.

DailyTurismo > Lowtus 06/16/2014 at 18:53

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Funny you should mention that, I spent part of my father's day with a dremel, wire wheel and contact cleaner — cleaning every fuse. Guess what, blinkers are back! Will have a full write up later.

Maxaxle > DailyTurismo 06/16/2014 at 19:41

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"No open roads"? I didn't tell you this, but Mira Mesa (subset of San Diego, CA) is absolute driving bliss when you're not getting lost and it's not lunchtime or rush hour, ESPECIALLY the commercial areas, where you can find 40-50 MPH roads with very little traffic.

"I didn't tell you this" as in "don't get in trouble and then blame me".

DailyTurismo > Maxaxle 06/16/2014 at 20:05

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Hah- I grew up in San Diego and remember when MiraMesa (and Miramar) were hot beds for illegal street racing. Any Friday night you could head in that direction and instantly find yourself surrounded by Civics with green lights and Fox mustangs. Is that still the case?

Maxaxle > DailyTurismo 06/16/2014 at 20:07

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AFAIK no, but the cops definitely act like it. Speed traps here and there, but thankfully the road designs haven't changed (i.e. roads made today are a lot like the older roads), so driving aroundi s still nice.

Kevin Rhodes > FlipperB 06/17/2014 at 02:21

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I think the Saabaru was MUCH more in keeping with the spirit of Saab than the Trollblazer was...

Kevin Rhodes > DailyTurismo 06/17/2014 at 02:25

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Never buy a car from a mechanic - they are too busy fixing cars for money to ever fix their own cars...But a great find none-the-less. 99s are the redheaded stepchild of the Saab family. But so very, very cool. Is this a B-motor or an H-motor?

85gripen > DailyTurismo 06/17/2014 at 10:15

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I added Walter's '88 Saab 900 Turbo convertible "Springtime in Sweden" limited edition to my collection a few months back.

Another note on the 'DRAKEN' license plate: I'd tried to order that plate years ago from DMV and found out it wasn't available (later discovering Walter had it). The Draken was a SAAB fighter plane, an older model, which is befitting an older Saab car. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saab_35_D…

Enjoy your car. She's a beaut!

AZRCD > DailyTurismo 06/17/2014 at 12:10

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I owned a 1990 SPG, and I want it back dearly. I loved that car and didn't entirely realize what had until it was gone. Unfortunately it needed a lot of this and that, also a transmission rebuild and the rust loved it maybe more than I did. The guy I sold it to about a year later sent me a picture of the missing floor, he said while he was driving his feet started getting really hot. I did sell it to the right guy, he loves it and put money into it, maybe I don't agree with all his choices in modding it, but it's good to know he's stuck with it.

DailyTurismo > Kevin Rhodes 06/17/2014 at 13:45

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Now you tell me!!! I do agree that buying a car from a mechanic is like getting a used organ from a doctor.

It is a B-motor, so Saab SOHC design based on what they learned from Triumph, but without the wacky aluminum cylinder head issues.

DailyTurismo > 85gripen 06/17/2014 at 13:49

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Walter mentioned that he had a few people looking to buy that plate from him - but he insisted it go with the car. I need a Saab-35 Draken outline sticker for the rear window of the car.

Plecostomus is a starred commenter > DailyTurismo 06/17/2014 at 14:24

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Oh, as a former Volvo owner I just lol at the idea of anyone thinking anything besides the initial purchase of the car will ever be cheap.

ZackDag > Futrell's Indenor XD2 needs a head gasket 06/17/2014 at 16:58

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That you own an '84 turbo sedan has finally compelled me to comment on Jalop after being a lurker since '08. I have a 93 S sedan and I love, love it, but desperately want a flatnose turbo sedan. http://www.peopleswheels.com/2014/02/18/saa…

Futrell's Indenor XD2 needs a head gasket > ZackDag 06/17/2014 at 18:31

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Great write-up! Looks like you got a really great deal. I got mine for $1k just over four years ago and it's in comparable shape to yours, save the rust (no salt in Seattle thankfully). It's still running strong at 264k, but the clearcoat is almost non-existant on the roof and trunk, I've got a front wheel bearing quickly needing replacement, and maybe a couple times a month the turbo burns a touch of oil. No biggies. If I get something else before something catastrophic happens to it, I think it's getting turned into a rally car:)

I also see you're a real glutton for punishment: scouring CL for Peugeots for the love of God... I've got a '79 504 Diesel in the garage that needs a new head (most likely) and a rod bearing (or four). Tow it away and it's yours...

ZackDag > Futrell's Indenor XD2 needs a head gasket 06/17/2014 at 20:58

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Ha! Were I closer to you I just might take you up on that offer. As it is my wallet, and my marriage are probably better off without. One day, I'd love a 504, or, god willing, an SM. In addition to a fleet of cool Swedish metal. Thanks for reading!