THE LETTERS ON THE BOOTLID.

The very first year there was only one badge: SAAB 99.

E AUTOMATIC was optional from 1970.

1,85 = One houndred and fifty cubic centimetres advantage over the base model.

As of 1972 Saab started throwing additional letters on the lid:
99 L = Basic car with nothing. No halogen headlights. Not even carpets or a cigar lighter. Switch-holes in dash blanked out. (There is a light switch, though)
2, 3, or 4-door.

99 X7 = If you thought the 99L was stripped, try this one! A low cost entry model for Europe. (73-74). Take a 99L, remove the passenger grabhandle, the glovebox lid, the rear window demist, throw out the front seats and borrow a pair from a Saab 96 (no el-heat). Unbolt the wheels and attach discontinued m71 wheels with skinny 155x15 tires. Ditch the self-repairing rubber bumpers for the older ones -but without the chrome, and there you have it! I'm surprised it had a steering wheel! Oh, by the way, no 2,0 Litre engine either.
2-door only.

99 GL = Nicer interior, (carpets) clock

99 GL 5speed = Yup! A GL with five sets of cogs to swap!

99 GLs (super) = GL-trim, S-engine. (Twin carburettors, 108 Hp)

99 GLsA = Same car, only two pedals. All automatics had twin carburettors, or injection.

99 EMS = Elektronik Manuell Special. (The sporting Saab) Injection, quick steering rack (3,4 turns, lock to lock, mated to a three spoke steering wheel), even nicer interior (some think), headrests in backseat, tinted windows, front spoiler, metallic paintwork, alloy wheels (soccer-wheels), rev-counter, and (prepaired for) intermittent wipers. The first EMS's (m72-m74) had Bosch D-jetronic electronic fuel injection (hence the "E") giving 110 Hp, but later (m75-m79) they got the Bosch K-jetronic mechanical injection (118 Hp). MMS must have sounded too daft, so they kept the EMS badge. 2-door only, for m72-m79. (3-door available for m78-m79)

99 GLE = Same trim as EMS (sans rev-counter, spoiler, and the three spoke steering wheel), plus: POWER STEERING (halleluja), auto-box, intermittent wipers, and electric mirrors. Both front seats were heated. Aux driving lights were standard equipment, and so were (shitty) door mounted speakers. 4-door only for m76 and m77, 5-door only for m78. (P.S. not available as RHD)

99 GLi = Poor man's GLE. It has the injection, tinted glass, and el-mirrors, but no power-steering or auto-box. m80 and m81, 2-door only.

99 LE = A GL with injection.

99 TURBO = Well, er…oh, a turbo! (145 Hp, Europe. 135 Hp SAE, USA) And EMS trim. (Instead of the ghastly "soccer wheels", it had nice "inca-wheels" which gave a wider track) And a sunroof. 3-door only for m78, 2-door only for m79 and m80. Australia and UK seems to have got 5-door turbo's. Pity they're RHD-only.