The seller of today's Nice Price or No Dice Saab describes it as a fun, funky Swedish car that draws stares and comments wherever it goes. We will examine whether its asking price matches that appeal.

In cattle-raising parts of the U.S., people use a saying for those seen as posers: all hat and no cattle. That phrase does not quite fit the 2002 Dodge Ram 4x4 reviewed on Thursday, though its pristine state and low mileage suggested it had never seen real work.

Being the automotive version of a flashy belt buckle is not the worst fate. Yet an overpriced version of that buckle adds extra shame. At $28,500, the Ram failed to impress as a deal, a view shared in comments that produced a 96 percent No Dice result.

A Saab story

The 1976 Saab 99 GL offered today is a model rarely encountered now. Launched in 1967 as an executive car, the 99 topped Saab's lineup until the 900 arrived in the late 1970s. Due to limited resources, the 900 was not entirely new but a revised 99 with a longer hood, updated dashboard, and other small tweaks. The shared heritage between the two remains clear.

This example is an upscale GL in the era's common two-door form. Designed by Swedish industrial designer Karl-Erik Sixten Sason, it features a wraparound windshield for great visibility, a forward-opening clamshell hood, and a scooped rear window above a sloping trunk lid. Finished in a classic 1970s Sienna Brown, it sits on matching gold-painted Panasport-style wheels. Beyond those wheels, the car stays largely original.

The Triumph of partnership

Power comes from a 1985cc SOHC inline-four. This engine shares its basic design with the unit in the Triumph TR7 reviewed on Wednesday. During development, Saab sought an engine from other makers and chose a new four-cylinder from Triumph, also used in the Dolomite and later the TR7. As half of the V8 meant for the Stag, it could mount at a 45-degree angle for a lower hood line and better aerodynamics.

True to its independent spirit, Saab installed the engine backward in the 99, above the transmission, with drive through a drop-down chain. Early engines came from Triumph and used carburetors, but by the time this 2.0-liter version appeared, Saab produced the engines itself and added Bosch fuel injection.

The seller reports that this 99's engine was fully rebuilt in December 2021, along with a refreshed clutch, cooling system, brakes, and suspension parts. The four-speed manual was also rebuilt then, giving the car renewed vitality.

Soccer balls

The car now shows 155,000 miles on the chassis, and age and use appear inside. Despite small issues, the wide, flat seats look inviting in beige broadcloth. Most plastic trim remains intact, and the dash holds what seems a correct-period AM/FM/cassette stereo. In typical Saab fashion, the seatbelts use a center-mounted receiver with a locking finger rather than a standard latch. The ignition switch sits ahead of that, just behind the shifter.

Some wear shows in the cabin. Both front seats have fraying at the shoulders. The rear bench is mostly sound except for a tear in the vinyl at the base. The right-side armrest on the back seat also shows age-related damage. On the positive side, the seller will include a factory service manual, three boxes of parts, and a set of four desirable soccer-ball alloys. The title is clean, and the car carries what the seller calls that lovely vintage wool smell.

Slowly selling

The seller appears to be a Saab enthusiast who is gradually reducing their collection. That explains why this rare 99 is listed on Craigslist. The parting seems bittersweet, as the owner notes having kept the car for 42 years, a lengthy span for any relationship.

For the Saab to find a new, preferably long-term owner, the $14,900 asking price must be addressed. That sum raises a question: while it is not a small amount, locating another classic 99 in comparable condition and with similar history would be difficult.

What is your view on this Saab and the $14,900 price? Does it seem reasonable given the car's rarity, mechanical condition, and overall state? Or does it exceed what most would pay to add this collectible to a garage?

You decide!

Denver, Colorado, Craigslist.

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