Custom 99

Not your average 99!

Not your average 99! I’ve been following the progress of this 99 ever since I saw the bare metal build photos. It’s finally been finished and it’s owner, Adam Perkins has kindly told us all about his amazing project...

I have always been a car nut. It started at age 14 with my first project car, a 1963 Chevy II Nova. Fast forward 30ish years and having three kids, I had always wanted them to share in my passion and found my daughter had an interest.

We started looking for a project car for her and she wasn’t interested in the usual American vintage cars. We found a 1968 Saab 96 V4 deluxe and she said that was the one. While doing research for her car I quickly became interested in Saab and all of the quirky cool features. So I started to look for a project Saab for myself. Since we were doing a 96 for her, I wanted a different model. After some deliberation I decided on the 99. I hit the internet and found one available in Idaho that was mainly rust free and needing a full restoration. The price was right at $500 so a deal was struck and I had it shipped to Illinois. I decided early, I wanted to convert it to rear wheel drive and build a car that I could use in Auto Cross. With those goals in mind I reached out to my buddy Tavis Highlander and he rendered a digital image of the project for me.

Next was working with a car builder to get the project underway. I reached out to Justin Nichols, owner of Nichols Paint and Fab, and we started the project. This car was also featured on their TV show “Wrench’d” on Motor Trend TV. The project was about 3 years from start

to finish and the car was completed just in time to make the World of Wheels indoor show in Chicago in March of 2020.

We managed to win a couple trophies at the first event. Since then I have been able to use the car as it was intended, at a couple of auto cross events, despite the coronavirus stopping most things over the summer.

With regards to the specs, the 99 runs a Ford Performance 2.3 ecoboost engine. American powertrain Tremec 6 speed transmission, Centerforce twin disc clutch, QA1 carbon fiber driveshaft and a Quick Performance 9” ford rear end. Brakes are Wildwood 6 piston fronts and 4 piston rears on slotted and drilled rotors. Momo steering wheel, Dakota Digital custom gauges, full custom interior from Vos Upholstery. The engine was set back as much as possible to provide even weight distribution on a custom chassis built by Nichols with QA1 double adjustable coil overs. I run two sets of wheels. Billet Specialties 18x10 fronts and 18x12 rears with 265/35/18 & 315/30/18 Falken tires.

When auto crossing I run 17x9 and 17x11 E-T Wheels with 275/40/17 Falken tires front and rear. A few body mods including the chin spoiler, custom bumpers, wheel arches enlarged and flared for larger wheel/tires. This car is a blast to drive!