Saab B engine

Saab began to phase the engine out in 1981. In the early 1960s Rolf Mellde, Per Gillbrand and Karl Rosenqvist began work on a new 1.2 L inline four for the upcoming Saab 99. UK engineering and consultancy company Ricardo was involved in the project, and were also aware that Triumph in the UK were working on a similar engine. When Saab determined that developing their own engine would be too expensive and too risky, Ricardo put Saab in contact with Triumph. Triumph agreed to supply Saab with 50,000 engines for the new 99. Displacement was 1.71 L at first, and was increased to 1.85 L later. Saab had exclusive use of the slant-four for the first several years of production.