MEET THE OWNER: MIKE STEWARD AND HIS SAAB 99 TURBO FIVE-DOOR

Whenever Mike displays his 99 Turbo at shows, he frequently hears comments along the lines of ‘Never seen that before’ or despite the Saab’s very formidable presence, ‘it does not exist’. One probable reason for such reactions is that the three-door model is one of the few cars that genuinely merit the term ‘iconic’; a Saab of world renown. Yet, a handful of five-door versions also left the factory, while a rather special client commissioned Mike’s car.

The original 99 Turbo made its bow at the Frankfurt 1977 Motor Show, and to state the motoring press was amazed would be an understatement. One famous British road test stated, “very occasionally a car comes along which shocks the seen-it-all, driven-them-all staff of Autocar out of their complacency”. Across the Atlantic, Car & Driver thought, “One heroic blast down the highway is enough to convert anybody”.

At £7,950, the ultimate 99 was not cheap, but by the end of 1978, over 600 found a home in the UK. On the 13th of October of that year, Saab GB informed its 130 specialist Turbo dealers that the company planned to produce a limited run of five-door models. The letter also anticipated ‘they are, and will become, “collectors’ pieces”’. Unlike the EMS based three-door version, their specification was essentially the GLE augmented by alloy wheels, a sliding roof, a stereo radio cassette and spoilers fore and aft.

Saab made some 100 Cardinal Red five-door Turbos. However, Mike’s car is quite possibly unique; a black five-door Turbo with EMS trim registered in the spring of 1978. “Ours is a car ordered for the then MD of Saab GB who wanted a five-door. I have a letter confirming this from Saab. However, no one seems to know exactly, but only three or five black five doors came to the UK”.

The MD ordered his 99 via a Marlow dealer in May 1978, and Mr. Steward acquired it in 1979. “It was done through a local South Wales dealer who knew it was for sale direct from Saab GB as it was a year old”. Three years later, a 900 Turbo replaced it, but in 1988 Mike decided to trace the 99. At that time, it was languishing in Bristol, having just failed its MOT, but fortunately, he saved it from being scrapped.

Mr. Steward carefully restored the 99 over the next two years, and today it is regularly used. He notes, “It is heavy on steering, especially when parking, but I have added power steering for my comfort. My Turbo keeps up with everyday driving, and it is allowed into clean air zone in Birmingham, which my other Saabs cannot do”. In 1978, Autocar believed the 99 Turbo would appeal to those ‘who value engineering quality rather than style’, but Mike’s Saab possesses both elements.

With Thanks To: Mike Steward