Love in the Ruins of SAAB: 1974 99 EMS // CARISMA
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- Опубліковано 28 бер 2024
- Saab has been gone for over a decade, but it'll never be forgotten. Not if people Mark Skinner have anything to say about it.
[CARISMA is The Drive's new series exploring the connection between enthusiasts and their cars. NEW EPISODE OUT TODAY! • Perfect: Toyota MR2 Bu... ]
“The reason I believe Saab represents me as an individual is their being a contrarian,” says Mark. “Being a contrarian in the right way, to aspire to something different, to reach for what is possible, that’s always interested me. I’ve always said why, why, why?”
Born from jets, dead from GM's mismanagement, Saab was a one-of-a-kind company making unique cars for smart people. And while everyone remembers the iconic Saab 900, the car that really built the Swedish company's global reputation is this: the Saab 99.
Produced from 1968 to 1984, the Saab 99 was a big swing with a ton of firsts for the company-heated seats, headlight wipers, a turbo, collapsable bumpers, four-wheel disc brakes, and its first home-built four-cylinder engine. The EMS version is known as the last factory rally Saab, with a sportier suspension and steering setup to compliment its overbuilt nature.
Mark's always had a thing for the Saab 99, but it wasn't until 10 years ago that he bought one of his own-a beautifully maintained example lightly modified for autocross. Captivated, he began collecting Saabs, eventually building a Saab sanctuary in Brooklyn and starting a side business called Zurich Classic Motors to broker sales and spread the Saab way,
"Some people collect sculpture, paintings. But this to me is beautiful, so I just kept chasing it," Mark says. "I do feel blessed, truly blessed, by what Saab has brought me."
Follow Mark on Instagram: / zurichclassicmotors
Produced, shot, and edited by: / tomgorelik
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I was born thanks to SAAB. My father who immigrated to Sweden from Finland after the Winter War, bought a factory new 99 Turbo in Sweden. He then went back to Finland during his summer vacation with that same Turbo. He saw a blonde out jogging and honked his horn at her, she then came home and asked her mother who the "Swedish man with the "SAAB Turbo" was, and she told her my fathers name. Many years later i came to be. I am now restoring a SAAB 1992 900i 2,1 and loving the brand more than ever. Thanks for this, Zurich you are amazing and your cars are aswell.
haha, that’s incredible. good on your parents, and good luck with the restoration!
How old was your father when he emigrated? The Winter War happened in 1939 and the first 99 Turbo was built in 1977.
@@erlendlundvall He was about 7 i think, he emigrated with his parents ofcourse a few years after the Winter War. He bought the car in 1977, he was 30 then. I was born when he was 39, he is now 76!
I am a French currently living in Stockholm and it’s a joy to see so many Saabs in the streets every day.
Such great cars!
I love what this series seems to be, because to me, it fills the void that Petrolicious left when that collapsed some years back.
high praise, thank you 🙏
I totally agree... Literally what I was thinking. A cat is amazing but what the owner see in their prize is what makes the car special.
I’ve been driving Saabs for 40 years. I will never be without one.
This is so much better than any content regarding modern cars.
we like to think so! thanks for watching
Agreed! Imagine - cars even had buttons instead of touch screens - lol. But yeah cars now are like smart phones on wheels.
Such a beauty. I learned to drive in a Saab 900 and the brand still holds a special place in my heart.
Such a nice collection of SAAB in a beautiful space.
My first car was a 9000 Aero. Fun fact: 50-75mph faster than a Ferrari Testarossa. The best OEM seats ever. So comfortable. What blast it was to drive around in high school. Such an underrated car
I learned how to drive stick on a Saab 99 at Jones Beach West End 2 when I was a kid in the 80's. Thanks for the memories.
bet that was a blast
That was the "cool" beach!
@@blisterbrain Was a great place to get away from hot concrete of Queens. Many fond memories...
Excellent to see this video!
My very first car was an early 70's Saab 99. I was in Iowa in the 80's, still in high school - and no one knew what it was or what to make of it and ended up paying next to nothing for a one owner with very low mileage. It was excellent and everyone wanted to ride in it after school or "cruising the strip" in my very small country town...
Long gone but never forgotten.
Sitting in a cafe taking a break on a motorcycle ride and watching this video made my day.
Nicely done.
Thanks for watching and sharing your story. Sounds like you’re having a pretty great Friday!
I spent countless hours in my dad's SAAB 99. It's the car that makes me get into cars. This clip really bring back many fond memories.
I've been wanting a 99 EMS forever
if you drive a saab, car companies hate you because you are not giving them money.
Parts sellers on eBay love you though.
Oof!
I drive a Lancia tho…
@@grievuspwn4g3 came here to post this
Know the feeling, I drive a Plymouth..
Great guy, great video. Love everything about it. Music, interview, car shots, edits, amazing. So well put together
thank you!
My first Saab was a 99, then I got a Turbo 900. So through my 20's to my late 40's I was a Saab 900 fan. Now in retrospect I really want back my 99. It's cooler in my memory, and would certainly be cool to have today.
My first time driving a car was in my grandfathers brown SAAB 96. It was an experience I'll never forget.
Gorgeous cars and video. As a happy owner of a 93 and 95 I can comfortably say "if you know, you know". Always have a big grin on my face everyime I put my foot down.
thanks for keeping the saab love going
My first car was a Saab 99E and I still think it has the most beautiful lines of any car I have ever seen.
I like the variety being brought to the channel!
thank you 🙌 we’ve got loads more coming up!
Reminds me of Petrolicious content in a good way. Thanks for this!
@@snobotz kinda what we're aiming for with this series. thanks for watching!
Theres a passionate community of us keeping these cars alive, I've got an 08 9-3 Aero 6mt wagon and an 07 9-7x 5.3 for a daily. There is an experience that is these cars. thank you for sharing this story!
that's an amazing combination. what do the neighbors think?
@@drive they love them. They’re car enthusiasts as well, at work, everyone drools over the wagon because It’s my take on how these should look eurospec.
My first car at age 16 was a 1980 Saab 99 2 door notchback, color was light M&M brown. I still miss it to this day. Nothing else drives like it or handles like it. Saved my life in emergency maneuvers on the freeway several times. Such an awesome car. Wasn't highly reliable, but wow. I've never felt as safe in any other car. Was a blast to drive.
Magnificent specimens in there. Congratulations to the happy owner
The key in the center and the flight mode in the speedometer. I miss saab cars, now we just have planes :(
long live the night panel!
Great light in this video the cars looks magic.
tom is a magic man
My dad's first car was a Saab 99. He loved that thing to bits and literally drove it until it died.
Ahhh, SAAB ❤
As a former owner of 99, 900, 9-3 and several 9-5 I love this.
That "pshh" sound when you turn the dial on the climate control.
Cheers from Sweden!
What a car! You dont see em like this anymore!
awesome cars, EPIC garage, and the nicest guy. I've met him at a few NYC car shows. this video was great!!
The SAAB 9000 CS id as modern today as it was in 1991. One of the best design in the last 30 years.
These cars are art - they inherited the souls of their creators who were swimming against the tides of orthodoxy, "good enough," and sameness. I love these cars and am making baby steps daily to spend my days restoring these beautiful machines. (yeah, I know I sound pompous, but who cares, these things are just that good)
Fantastic car and fantastic story! Saab rules! 🇸🇪
Each sentence this guy says makes the car more impressive. Euro delivery, autocross career, ...like, what?! Never even seen one of these in person.
I love Swedish cars. Volvos, but especially Saab. The underdog. I remember seeing a dark green Saab 900 2 door sitting on a dealers lot when i was a kid and fell in love with its looks. Someday I hope to own a SAAB. 😊
The 9000 was a Wonderful Combination of Power Comfort and Understated Class in the right Spec, Shame GM didn't really have a clue what to do with SAAB.
shame GM got involved in the first place. saab needed a lifeline, but still
I'm with a 9000 CD for 3 years now, I love how it doesn't bring me any attention, only people that know cars would look at me, it's like what a car should be, nothing more, nothing less, comfortable, safe, powerful enough.
Beautiful space filled with beautiful examples of automotive history. I'm on my 2nd Saab. ❤
I'm a Saab lover, owner and I love your space and how you've filled it.
So smooth and warm video. Nice place. Amazing cars. I drive BMW E34 only because I didn’t find 9000 Aero in good condition. But one day I’ll own 900 Turbo. Happy that at least Scania still alive.
goes down easy, doesn’t it?
Best episode yet.
and we're just getting rolling!
My first car was a 1998 SAAB 9000 CSE. I was 18 and bought it in mint condition from a family friend.
I truly miss it every single day. This video was like seeing the girlfriend that got away on TV
you'll always have paris...
Originally a New Yorker, but 30+ years in Seattle now. Because of the many Scandinavians who immigrated here decades ago, we likely see more Saabs per capita and have several shops still dedicated to servicing them. I hope to keep enjoying mine on the road for years to come.
I really wish SAAB still made cars. ❤ i would so love to own one...
Small correction: the engine in the 99 was not their own design, it was a Triumph engine, coming from the Dolomite.
Enjoyed the video, pretty cool cars!
Thank you for your work.
I love the contrarians in the car world. Not too far from me is a small dealership that focuses solely on Saabs, called "Saabman". Although the vast majority of the cars he has (and parts as well) are the GM-era Saabs, it's always fun to visit him and check out the unique cars he buys, repairs and resells. Personally, my contrarian car is a '88 Mazda RX-7 convertible- not fast, not especially agile, but the unique sound that emanates from the exhaust puts a smile on my face every time I twist that key. Great story, thanks for sharing!
Awesome cars!!! Great video, straight to CarGurus.
godspeed in the hunt
The SAAB 101 comment happened to be by me. I'm blessed with a 1996 manual SAAB 9000 Aero, and though I only sold a handful as a salesman in my 20-year SoCal SAAB retail and wholesale career, this is only the second one I've been fortunate to be a caretaker of. Maybe I've only retailed 1,000 SAAB cars, but I was fortunate, at one time 20 years ago, to have a $3 million credit line to buy 70-80 SAAB cars a month at the auctions for SAAB of Santa Monica & SAAB of South Bay. The legendary SAAB franchise in Greater Los Angeles was always Lindqvist SAAB in Culver City, that's where the Swedish Monte Carlo Rally legendary winner Erik Carlsson set up his Baja SAAB 96 race cars and dusted the competition in the late '60s. SAAB cars might be born from Jets, but their down-to-earth owners will always find their own roads.
My first SAAB was an orange four door 99. A truly great car.
Love this car series.
All your Saabs look beautiful! Nice to see someone taking such good care of them! A fellow Saab owner from Belgium
I love Saab. Just sold mine and I miss its little quirks like the cup holder, centre ignition and Nightpanel. I hope to own another in the future, maybe 9-3 TurboX
My first car learned on on a 1977 SAAB 99 Turbo that would become my first car. It was way faster then it had any business being and had the reputation at my high school of being "The Swedish Rocket Tank". I would go on to own a 2001 SAAB 9-3 SE and a 2003 SAAB 9-3 SE after. I am currently out of the SAAB world but Would love to get myself into a SAAB 9-3 Viggen.
Nice piece. Well done.
thank you friend
I will never forgive GM for killing Saab yet keeping GMC and Hummer around. Saabs were so great. I still have my 06 9-5 wagon and just can't bring myself to part with it yet. I've had it longer than any other car in my life (which isn't saying much since I like changing cars, but it's been 5 years). It's so smooth and still pulls quite well. Not to mention the wagon design being incredibly useful.
you might as well keep it forever at this point
@@drive The old gal is helping me through another move shortly so she's not going anywhere just yet!
What a collection! I owned 3 9-3 Saabs in a row before the company collapsed and then I bought an Audi 😢. My father had 5 Saabs from 96 to 9000. Loved those cars, the best and safeest for finnish winter. I think the 9000 cs aero was the pinnacle moment of Saab albeit of it's half italian origin... Have to buy an og 900 turbo Aero some day though. Not the best Saab maybe, but the definite one.
Im from sweden, own one in past an 1970 model 99 but also in past hade one saab V4
Saab ❤
Beautiful story, thank you 7:07
Videos like this are why I didn't unsub. The Zero Fucks Given drew me in. This will draw me back.
bless you 🤟
Great video! Reminds me of how UA-cam used to be. All the best wishes in your big return!
rock on, thank you
A SSAB is a crime really adore. The thought of the design elements put into it is engineering genius.
He’s living the dream, in Brooklyn but has a “barn” space. Win win.
just love Saab one day I get one
Saab was always that brand to me as a kid that evokes like the owner stated "Why?". Yet, that always fascinates me and over time like these oddballs.
I owned a SAAB, and didn't think it really fit my personality well. I do think they're neat cars though, and I'm always happy to see enthusiastic people loving on odd, different, or quirky cars.
reminds me of how Petrolicious's videos used to be, keep up the good work 👍
we tryin
Amazing !
Had exactly the same color, 1976, GL. One day... I want an EMS.
Old Saabs and Volvos scares me .... brought me back to my childhood ... my teachers drove them😅
Those teachers had good jobs and good taste…. School kids dont
@@thomo1077 it's the headmaster and discipline teachers who drove them .... got one English teacher/cricket coach drove the Volvo1800 Simon Templar
@@princesssolace4337
Headmaster - leading by example like a boss! But wait, there were lessons in discipline?
@@princesssolace4337 cricket + volvo = hero
@@thomo1077 back in the day only headmaster and discipline teachers have the power/rights to cane your ass
My first car was a '74 orange combi coupe. Eventually upgraded to the soccer ball alloys and a tach. Every time I see a current Subaru Cross trek in orange with the angular alloy wheels I think the designer grew up with an orange 74 EMS.
I really like both of these Saabs. The 99 is a masterpiece of quirkiness, and I'd tend to agree the 9000 was the pinnacle, though I'm sure the 9-5 crowd would disagree. I came *this close* to buying a 9000 aero stickshift in 1999 - it had been sunset but the dealer had a clean very low mile trade. Loved it, but I just could not deal with the short seat bolster. Instead a Volvo S70 T5 with the stick got the nod; it didn't look as sophisticated inside or out, but it 'fit'. Just from feel, I'd say they were about equally matched in acceleration. Hard to say if I made the right decision - the Saab was more art.
The Drive is such a class act.
no, you are!
love it. grew up with a 900 turbo
Thank for the East Coast car culture content.
Beautiful video - but I do think the soundtrack should have been all ABBA. :-)
That 99 is a beauty I also done my driving test in a 99L SAAB here in Ireland the 99 is long gone but I have a 88 reg 900 TURBO as a classic its a 2 door notchback which are rare here in Ireland SAAB was always an interesting car to own and drive
Great video. I think I’ll go take a ride in my 9-3 Viggen now :)
I love your videos.
Zurichclassicars is the holy grill of Saabs in BK!!!⚡️🏁
So you can eat there too?
Love it had an 86 9000T another 869000t lowered on Koni shocks, then a 93 9000 CD then a 91 9000 NA still have dreams about those cars I love them just no body to work on them where I live
Oh shoot, The Drive is back!
oh shoot!
I have one and love it❤❤❤❤
Everyone said I bought a Saab story when I got my 07 93 convertible. It’s been almost 10 years and I’ve never had anything bad happen and I have loved this car more than my Camaros, malibus etc. I will always have a special place in my heart and am glad I didn’t listen to the haters for my Saabrina.
keep it going!!
Very cool car(s).
As a Swede I approve this ❤
1985 Anchorage, Alaska. Bought a Silver Saab 99 EMS for $1200
Awesome. I have many Saabs!
My 1976 SAAB 99 is the best ❤
Had two 9000s in the 90s and forty some cars later the 87 manual is the car I'd like to rebuy most
My first car was a 99EMS horribly resprayed in my dad's garage with black matte paint originally for excavators, and it was so durable that when rust took the side panels the paint made it still look good,, 😂 ever since then i owned 6 or 7 saabs,,,
Great specimens! Love the combi coupe/"wagonback", but I think the "notchbck " is better proportioned for the short hood of the 99. Either model, turbo, on Incas is my dreamcar.
you have excellent taste
Heated seats in the 70’s 😮
they actually debuted in 1966!
Oh Saab ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
9000s easily make 300-450whp with tuning and mods they also do it reliably.
That 99 is SO lovely!! It's the star of this video in my opinion. The 9000 always reminds me of the Fiat Croma and Lancia Thema. Not sure it was SAAB's masterpiece to be honest.
Seeing that red 9000 would stop me in my tracks. So few left in any condition.
I have always been intrigued by Saabs. Is there anything I should know before buying one? Preferably, I want the late 70s/ 80s fastback.
I live in Toronto ohio,
Just south of wellsville. Great to see someone interesting, from my area. What suburb are you from?
Still have my 2001 Viggen )
Never seen an orange EMS before. They were not available in Sweden.
I have 94 9000, and had to go to Armondos in boardman for parts