98 was in the Ebbs era, SB... given that it was an import it was probably post deregulation, one of the 110 odd plata nuas the Ebbseses took on.
Ebbs had a good few cars with Blues before he bought city. He even had his own garage on Hill St to service them. Mostly white corollas, Pat Claffey (former Blue Cabs Manager/Director) had a fleet of similar cars. All 2/3 man cars.