Saab
99 Finlandia

Why it matters

The 99 Finlandia was the first stretched executive Saab developed and built by the Uusikaupunki factory in Finland rather than in Sweden, starting a line of long Saabs that continued with the 900 Finlandia and 900 CD. It was aimed at Finnish government, municipal and corporate users and was built in very small numbers by hand.

How rare is it?

Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.

History

The idea followed a one-off stretched Saab 99 built in Sweden for President Urho Kekkonen. In 1976 the Uusikaupunki factory made its own prototype from a standard 99 Combi Coupé, lengthening the body by about 25 cm with an extra section between the doors that carried a small window – hence the nickname 'saunanikkuna' (sauna window). Production started in 1977, when 23 Finlandias were made.

For 1978 the design was revised: the sauna window was dropped and instead the front and rear doors were each lengthened by 10 cm, giving 20 cm more than a standard Combi Coupé. Early cars generally had GLE equipment and automatic transmission; at least two 1978 cars were built with turbo engines. With the arrival of the Saab 900, the Finlandia moved to the new model.

Technical specifications

Engine

Transmission & drivetrain

Chassis, body & dimensions

Performance

“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

1. 1
   SAAB 99 Finlandia and SAAB 900 CD (Tommi's Saab Site) Level D

   • 99 Finlandias made in 1977, the first production year (the 'sauna window' version); the 1978 output is not stated by this source

   Accessed 2026-11-13
2. 2
   Saab Finlandia -rekisteri (Saab Finlandia register, draft text and discussion) Level D Saabclub.fi forum (Saab Club of Finland)

   • generally equipped with the GLE package and automatic transmissions

   Accessed 2026-11-13
3. 3
   SAAB 99 Finlandia and SAAB 900 CD Level D Tommi Järvinen · Tommi's Saab Site (saabisti.fi) · 2013-03-29

   • lengthened some 25 centimetres by adding an extension piece in the middle
   • Both doors, front and rear, were lengthened by 10 cm each.

   Accessed 2026-11-13