Love in the Ruins of SAAB: 1974 99 EMS // CARISMA

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! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnR5imD-Png]

“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: https://www.instagram.com/zurichclassicmotors/

Produced, shot, and edited by: https://www.instagram.com/tomgorelik/

Previous episode: https://youtu.be/1XkrP4wtbHc?si=44Ura8XSa1kFzzMl

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