triumph agreed to supply saab with 50,000 engines per year 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. saab retained its existing transaxle, which was configured to be driven from the front of the engine. this required that the triumph engine be turned 180° so that the clutch and flywheel were in the front. a consequence of this is that the "front"-mounted water pump would be facing the firewall/bulkhead and be inaccessible, prompting it to be relocated to the top of the cylinder block.