Tag Archives: S351

LEMAY SPOTLIGHT: SALEEN/ALLEN SCCA T1 MUSTANG, COMPETITION MODEL

From our friends at Saleen Automotive

The Saleen/Allen “RRR” Speedlab racing team with comedian/actor Tim Allen forms and competes in the SCCA World Challenge against the likes of Porsche, BMW, Corvette.The team takes a big win at the final race of the 1995 season in Sonoma and goes on to take the Manufacturer’s Championship trophy the following year.

In 1997, the team travels to France and competes in the 24 Hours of LeMans.This marks the only time a Mustang competed at LeMans since 1967. The team also wins the SCCA Manufacturer’s Championship title for the third time in 1998 and continues to win the championship in 1999 in GrandAm racing.

[Source: Saleen Automotive]

18 REASONS TO VISIT THE SALEEN EXHIBIT AT LEMAY – AMERICA’S CAR MUSEUM

18 Reasons to Visit the Saleen Exhibit at LeMay – America’s Car Museum

LeMay Museum, overhead
LeMay Museum, overhead

As you read this, many of you have seen coverage from last weekend’s grand opening of a new year-long exhibit honoring the racing and business achievements of Steve Saleen; witnessed through numerous videos and photos shared via social media from the LeMay Automotive Museum. If you were fortunate enough to attend the “Intimate Dinner with Steve Saleen” or “Saleen and Caffeine” or both, then you observed first-hand this impressive presentation of historic Saleen vehicles and vintage memorabilia collected under one roof. Steve, Liz and Molly were also in attendance and warmly greeted owners and fans throughout the two-day affair. If you did not go, don’t fret, I will convey why you should make plans to visit this “must-see” destination very soon.

Steve & Liz Saleen with March race car
Steve & Liz Saleen with March race car

As you walk towards main entrance of the LeMay Museum, you are dazzled by a 2019 Saleen S1 painted in signature Lizstick Red, glowing in its red with orange hues inside the main lobby. As you journey into the start of the main floor display area, be prepared to be instantly taken back by the Saleen Exhibit. In front of you and lined up to your left are some of the most iconic Saleen street vehicles ever built organized by their generation. Meanwhile lined up to your right are a few of the most historical and famous Saleen competition vehicles that have graced racetracks around the world. A lot is represented here, all in one place, from the very first Saleen Mustang ever made to the current Saleen 1 Cup racecar. Ornamenting the museum walls are a selection of important Saleen memorabilia that is gloriously displayed behind glass.

If you’re not impressed yet, then chew on this. Where else can you view some of the most iconic/historical Saleen vehicles and memorabilia all gathered in one accessible place? This exhibit is a cooperative effort through Steve Saleen as well as private owners and collectors across the USA to bring together this fantastic display of irreplaceable and priceless pieces of Saleen history. The kind of history that is interwoven into every Saleen’s (vehicle) DNA.

Still not convinced? Here are the 18 reasons why you should see the Saleen Exhibit:

  1.  1984 Saleen Mustang, the first Saleen vehicle ever built. On loan from Stu Akers.
  2.  1995 Saleen S-351, this Speedster was a corporate demo and famously used to promote the national Mcdonald’s Monopoly sweepstakes. On loan from the PAS collection.
  3.  2003 Saleen SA-20, to celebrate the company’s 20th Anniversary. On loan from Debbie Blaylock.
  4.  2007 Saleen S281 SC “Molly Pop” custom colored “candy pink” for Molly Saleen. On loan from Molly Saleen.
  5.  2015 Saleen S302 Black Label, custom colored “California Sunset” as a tribute to Paul Walker. On loan from David Weiner.
  6.  2007 Saleen S281 “Barricade” specially built for the “Transformers” movie. On loan from Robert Rendon.
  7.  2020 Saleen Sportruck XR, Baja capable, but daily driveable. On loan from Saleen.
  8.  2014 Saleen SA-30, to celebrate the company’s 30th Anniversary. On loan from Tim Anderson.
  9.  1996-1998 Saleen/Allen Racecar, “RRR” Speedlab racing team, with comedian/actor Tim Allen. On loan from the PAS collection.
  10.  1990 Saleen Race Truck, which competed at Des Moines, Road Atlanta, Colorado National Speedway, and Las Vegas. On loan from Mike Charles.
  11.  1988 Indy Car 88 March, in 1989, Steve Saleen enters the PPG Indy Car World Series. On loan from Saleen.
  12.  2001 Saleen S7, the first S7 manufactured and featured in the movie, “Bruce Almighty.” On loan from Bob & Linda Yallen Intermedia Racing.
  13.  2005 Ford GT, Saleen is awarded two contracts to build the new Ford GT for Ford. This vehicle’s VIN# is “1966” coinciding with Ford’s win at Le Mans. On loan from Saleen.
  14.  1976 March 76B Formula Atlantic, Steve sets 13 track records and ultimately wins the 1977 Pacific Coast Championship. On loan from Saleen.
  15.  1987 Saleen Mustang Racecar, competed in the 1987 – 1988 SCCA Escort Endurance Championship, winning the Driver’s Championship as well as the Manufacturer’s Championship. On loan from Dave Frezza.
  16.  2020 Saleen 1 Cup Racecar, 1 of 20 race cars built for tine inaugural Saleen Cup Series. On loan from Saleen.
  17.  2019 Saleen S1, Lizstick Red promotional car. On loan from Saleen.
  18.  Rarely seen collection of Saleen racing and manufacturing memorabilia.

If you close your eyes for a moment, you can picture a Mustang, a Bronco, a Model T, a Thunderbird, and yet year after year we attend car shows to see these cars with our own eyes. This Saleen Exhibit hosted by the LeMay Automotive Museum is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to feast your eyes on a selection of Saleen vehicles and memorabilia that you may never be able to see again.

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LEMAY SPOTLIGHT: 95-0008, S351 SPEEDSTER

From our friends at Saleen Automotive

In 1994 Ford debuts its new fourth generation Mustang “SN-95.” We uppped the ante by transplanting a naturally aspirated 351-cid engine, pumping out an impressive 371HP. For 1995 we created the S-351 Speedster with its custom tonneau cover. The vehicle on display was used in a national McDonalds sweepstakes where they gave away six S-351 Speedsters to the lucky winners.

[Source: Saleen Automotive]

LEMAY: AMERICA’S CAR MUSEUM OPENS STEVE SALEEN RETROSPECTIVE

LEMAY: AMERICA’S CAR MUSEUM OPENS STEVE SALEEN RETROSPECTIVE

Renowned Tacoma, Wash. automotive gallery unveils a year-long exhibit celebrating a legacy of racing and road cars by acclaimed racer-turned-automaker Steve Saleen

“Saleen: A Journey from the Heart of a Racer to America’s Supercar” features 17 historic vehicles, including early race cars, Saleen Mustangs, S7 supercar, S1 and more

TACOMA, Wash. (Nov. 20, 2019) — For the next 12 months, racing fans, high-performance car buffs and other automotive enthusiasts can get up-close and personal with historic vehicles and articles from a true American automotive legend – all at a world-class museum facility in the Pacific Northwest.

On Saturday, Nov. 16, LeMay: America’s Auto Museum (ACM) in Tacoma, Wash. opened the facility’s first year-long lifetime retrospective dedicated to a single automotive personality – internationally acclaimed racer-turned-vehicle manufacturer Steve Saleen, and his Corona, Calif.-based company, Saleen Automotive.

The exhibit, “Saleen: A Journey from the Heart of a Racer to America’s Supercar” offers visitors a unique display of Steve Saleen’s rich automotive history, spanning over four decades. Visitors can enjoy a variety of historic vehicles on display, including Steve Saleen’s personal racing machines, early Saleen Mustangs, the Saleen S7 (considered America’s first supercar), and examples of the company’s new Saleen 1 midengine turbocharged sports car and recently unveiled Saleen 1 GT4 concept race car. The exhibit initially features 17 Saleen vehicles, with additional cars rotating into the exhibit throughout the year-long display.

  • 1976 March B Formula Atlantic race car driven by Steve Saleen
  • 1984 Saleen Mustang
  • 1987 Saleen Mustang race car
  • 1988 March Indy Race Car driven by Steve Saleen
  • 1990 Saleen Race Truck (winner of the SCCA RaceTruck
  • Challenge)
  • 1995 Saleen S351 Mustang
  • 1996 Saleen Mustang SCCA T1 race car
  • 2003 Saleen S7 supercar featured in the film “Bruce Almighty”
  • 2003 Saleen SA-20 Mustang
  • 2005 Ford GT (engineered and manufactured by Saleen under contract to Ford)
  • 2005 Saleen Mustang featured as police Decepticon Barricade in “Transformers” (2007)
  • 2007 Saleen S281 Mustang in “Molly Pop” hot pink
  • 2014 Saleen SA-30 Mustang
  • 2015 Saleen S302 Mustang “Black Label”
  • 2020 Saleen Sportruck XR
  • 2020 Saleen 1 sports car (street version)
  • 2020 Saleen 1 GT4 concept race car

The Saleen exhibit at ACM officially opened to the public on Saturday with a ‘Saleen and Caffeine’ event that invited visitors to meet Steve Saleen and enjoy a guided tour of the display. The exhibit opened to record attendance on Saturday morning, with Saleen owners and enthusiasts across the Pacific Northwest gathering for the event.

“It’s an honor to stand here in America’s Car Museum’s beautiful facilities with vehicles representing over four decades of my life and career,” said Steve Saleen, founder and CEO of Saleen Automotive. “I’m proud of our past achievements, but I also look forward to continuing our legacy into the future with unique new Saleen vehicles and a global presence in motorsports.”

In addition to showcasing the uniquely American automotive brand, the “Saleen: A Journey from the Heart of a Racer to America’s Supercar” exhibit aims to inspire the public with Steve Saleen’s illustrious career in automotive engineering, design and manufacturing.

“This is more than a chance for the community to get up close to some of the most extraordinary cars in the world,” said ACM CEO Jennifer Maher. “This is also an opportunity for young people to see that there’s a clear career path in automotive technology and people like Steve Saleen are the role models.”

For more information on “Saleen: A Journey from the Heart of a Racer to America’s Supercar” and to purchase tickets visit: www.AmericasCarMuseum.org.

For more details on Saleen Automotive and Steve Saleen, visit www.Saleen.com, or follow Saleen on social by using on Facebook at Facebook.com/Saleen , or by using @Saleen on Twitter and @Saleen on Instagram.

About Saleen Automotive, Inc.

Saleen is dedicated to transforming the transportation experience. For over 35 years, the California-based automotive manufacturer has redefined driving through high-performing vehicles that combine championship-winning racing pedigree with innovative technology and distinctive styling.

From the first Saleen Mustang in 1984 to the legendary S7 in 2000 and the groundbreaking new Saleen 1, company founder Steve Saleen has continually set the bar for vehicle design and performance engineering on streets and racetracks worldwide. In addition to its distinctive Saleen Signature and Saleen Original vehicle lines, Saleen offers a wide variety of technical parts, lifestyle accessories and apparel for those with a passion for performance. Learn more at www.saleen.com.

About LeMay – America’s Car Museum

America’s Car Museum (ACM), a member of America’s Automotive Trust, is an international destination for families and auto enthusiasts to celebrate America’s love affair with the automobile and learn how it shaped our society. Based in Tacoma, Wash., the stunning 165,000-sq.-ft. facility has been recognized as one of MSN’s 10 Best Automotive Museums worldwide, USA Today’s 10 Best Museums in Seattle and KING5’s Best Museum in Western Washington. ACM serves as an educational center for students of all ages, features 12 rotating exhibits and hosts AAT’s annual Signature Events. For more information, visit www.americascarmusueum.org.

Contacts
Media Contact:
Saleen PR – Collin Whitley
cwhitley@Saleen.com

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[Source: Saleen Automotive]

1995 RIO RED S351 SPEEDSTER (95-0050) LANDS ON eBay

Price: $27,750.00
VIN: 1FALP45T8SF119679
Vehicle Title: Clear
Year: 1995
Make: Ford
Model: Mustang
Sub Model: Saleen S351 Speedster
Body Type: Convertible
Number of Cylinders: 8
Engine: Original 1995 Saleen S351 V-8
Fuel Type: Gasoline
Transmission: 5-speed Manual
Exterior Color: Rio Red
Interior Color: Black
Mileage: 16,000
For Sale By: Private Seller
eBay #: 183992886192

Seller Notes: “This vehicle is an AUTHENTIC and UNALTERED, extremely low mile, 1995 SALEEN Mustang S351 Convertible Speedster, T-code that is truly one of the few 1990’s collectible High Performance Mustang Muscle Cars. The Saleen Speedster, I is Saleen’s “flagship”. This model, the Saleen Speedster was the representative model on all Saleen Performance Part Booklets and even covered the front and back of the Saleen Book and Owners Registry. Saleen incorporated lessons learned from the track to the street in these mustangs, becoming a four time SCCA Champion by 1998. From original production records at corporate Saleen, the originating dealer was Archway Ford in Baltimore, MD with a manufacture date of May 12, 1995. An authentication letter signed by Liz Summar verifies this Saleen #95-0050 as Rio Red tinted clear coat exterior with black Saleen Recaro leather interior convertible with Silver graphics and Silver Wheels manufactured with the optional Speedster Package and T Code package.”

95-0050 Saleen S351
95-0050 Saleen S351

Vehicle Description & History

A. Vehicle Description

This vehicle is an AUTHENTIC and UNALTERED, extremely low mile, 1995 SALEEN Mustang S351 Convertible Speedster, T-code that is truly one of the few 1990’s collectible High Performance Mustang Muscle Cars. The Saleen Speedster, I is Saleen’s “flagship”. This model, the Saleen Speedster was the representative model on all Saleen Performance Part Booklets and even covered the front and back of the Saleen Book and Owners Registry. Saleen incorporated lessons learned from the track to the street in these mustangs, becoming a four time SCCA Champion by 1998. From original production records at corporate Saleen, the originating dealer was Archway Ford in Baltimore, MD with a manufacture date of May 12, 1995. An authentication letter signed by Liz Summar verifies this Saleen #95-0050 as Rio Red tinted clear coat exterior with black Saleen Recaro leather interior convertible with Silver graphics and Silver Wheels manufactured with the optional Speedster Package and T Code package. Further, this letter indicates that this particular Saleen is 1 of only 3 with these colors and options.

1995 Saleen Production consisted mainly of eighty-nine S351 Coupes and forty-three S351 Convertibles.

Optional Saleen Packages included:

  • the R Code (mainly Vortech supercharger equipment);
  • the T Code (13-inch Saleen slotted racing front rotors, Saleen/Alcon four-piston calipers, 3.27:1 rear axle, and Saleen Recaro Leather interior; and
  • the Spyder or Speedster Package (convertible only, Saleen sports light bar, soft top cover, and hard light weight exterior color matched tonneau).

Engine: Saleen spec. 351-cid (5.8-liter) Windsor electronically fuel injected V-8 manufactured by engine-builder Billy Wages, Jr. of AER in Texas.

Horsepower: 371@5100 RPM

Torque: 422@3500 RPM

** These numbers were extreme for the 1990s and quite respectable even today for a naturally aspirated engine **

Headers: Saleen ceramic-coated

Transmission: Tremec quick-ratio five-speed manual

Suspension: full Saleen Racecraft suspension – springs, shocks, struts, quad shocks, urethane bushings, G-load brace

Other Performance Enhancements: Saleen high-performance pressure plate and clutch; Balanced and customized driveshaft; three-core radiator; and high perf. (high flow) 2 ½” stainless four-way cat exhaust

Saleen Authenticity maintained by: serialization numbers on front bumper, Saleen console plaque, and Saleen engine bay plaque, and other not so visible locations on the Saleen.

B. Vehicle History

This Saleen S351 Speedster is fully documented and authenticated from Saleen, Ford, and the original dealer.

  • It comes with congratulatory letter signed by Steve Saleen and Team Saleen verification letters signed by Liz Summar;
  • all dealer delivery documents, manuals, Ford and Saleen window stickers;
  • photographs from the original dealership showroom floor, the first owner and myself; and copies of bill of sale, original title, and other purchase transactions between first owner and myself.

If you have been searching for the right Saleen S351 at the right price, this is it! If you research price of Saleens I suggest NADA Classic Car Guides. However, one problem with the Saleen Speedsters is that they are “not referenced or priced as such” only convertibles, so look at the original Saleen MSRP and current retail value as a guide. Just remember, the original Saleen MSRP of this Speedster was $54,534, near that of a Saleen S351SR. This is understandable considering its light weight racing additions.

Should you have any questions call me at (860) 537-9183 to secure this rare find to add to your collection!

Thank you for looking, and good luck bidding!

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HOT ROD: A SALEEN MUSTANG COLLECTION TO DIE FOR

A Saleen Mustang Collection to Die For
Power in the Hands of… One?

BY: MARYBETH KICZENSKI on OCTOBER 2, 2019
Original Article: HOTROD.COM

We’ll wager a bet that you’ve heard the name Steve Saleen, and we’ll bet the farm that every Mustang enthusiast knows the name, as the builder of the infamous Saleen Mustangs. Coming from a Formula Atlantic open-wheel racing background, Saleen began turning out modified Fox-body Mustangs in the 1980s, from 1984 to 1993. Roughly 2,700 of the Saleen Mustangs were built during the Fox era, and a bunch more from ’94 to today. The Saleens were among the first “tuner” Mustangs on the market, and with their modified (sometimes Vortech-supercharged) engines and suspensions, they were a bright spot in the often dismal mid-1980s performance scene.

Saleen’s tagline, “Power in the hands of a few,” definitely means a bit more to Scott Warren of Highland Park, Illinois. As an avid Mustang enthusiast, the performance capabilities of the Saleen-modified ones always peaked (piqued) his interest. Scott’s first Mustang was a black-over-grey 1987 GT that would go on to both fuel his addiction to black cars, as well as the quest for a real Saleen.

For Scott, what stood out about the Saleen cars was their track record. Saleen took home the driver, team, and manufacturer’s championships in SCCA Escort Endurance series in both 1987 and Saleen’s winning continued in 1988, including a 1-2-3 in the 24 Hours of Mosport in ’88 with a three-Mustang team, a first for Ford since the GT40 tromping of Ferrari at LeMans in 1966.

Saleen Mustangs are special in that every vehicle is serialized, like Shelbys were and still are. This appealed to Scott, as well. Not only does serializing make each car unique, they also come with a story that can be tracked throughout a car’s history. Scott used this to his advantage in searching out cars from limited-production runs, super high-performance offerings, press cars, test mules, or Saleen’s personal cars—that unique serial number and bumper number tells the story. Scott learned that the cars with low bumper/serial numbers tend to be these special builds or in-house company demos; the ones sold to the public typically begin at number 10 but the numbers also don’t always follow in sequence.

After nearly 20 years from his first encounter with a Saleen Mustang, Scott purchased his first one, a black 1987 convertible. While this car started his journey into actual ownership, it would be the special ones mentioned above that he would ultimately end up with.

While the core of his collection consists of Fox Saleens, his many years of driving and collecting them have led him to appreciate all the body styles. Scott is also an active member of The Saleen Club of America which, as he says, has brought together so many people from across the country who share a passion for Saleen automobiles. Even though the Fox Mustang started it all for Saleen, there are highly desirable variants spanning across various generations of Mustangs, many of which he has in his collection. Let’s take a look at them, shall we?

1993 SC #02

Saleen released its first Mustang in 1984 and to celebrate its five-year anniversary in 1989, produced the Saleen SSC, a special edition of 161 Mustangs with specially modified engines that made 292 hp. The ’89 SSC was the first Saleen to receive full EPA certification. These cars proved popular so in 1990-1993 the model was referred to as the Saleen SC, (for Super Car). The production was skipped in ’92. This car, of which only 26 were built, was designed to showcase how far the Fox platform could be pushed while retaining a warranty, something that’s critically important to anyone purchasing a new car. The production numbers of this top of the line Saleen SC can be broken down like this:

SALEEN SC PRODUCTION
1990 13
1991 9
1992 0
1993 4
TOTAL: 26

All of them, except one, sported unique interiors. They were fitted with unique wheels and a larger diameter exhaust. Engine-wise, Saleen fitted them with a Saleen-specific intake and other engine parts. Some received adjustable suspension bits, and some later models were Vortech-supercharged. In 1990, the SC cars were rated at 315 hp, which was a lot of power for the early ’90s. Saleen offered the package for 1992, but there were no takers. For 1993, four cars were ordered. Of these cars, one was a convertible. What makes this batch special is that they came with a 450hp rating. These cars were identical in performance to the SA-10 models except for paint scheme and interior seat stitching. The ’93 SC cars even had the carbon hood originally offered on the SA-10. Scott’s ’93-’02 SC is the lone hatchback produced with this 450hp combination. What does this equate to in performance numbers? Off the showroom floor the car would bolt 0-60 in 4.8 seconds and cover the quarter mile in 12.9 seconds. Again, for the early ’90s that was fast!

Scott’s 1993 #02SC originally stickered for $39,990 and was used as a daily driver during the first part of its life, where it was traded between collectors. Later it spent several years on display at Performance Autosport in Richmond, VA. Scott was adamant about telling his friend there how much he loved that particular car and this communication proved beneficial when the car came up for sale a few years back. Scott was able to scoop it up with 54,000 original miles.

1993 SA10 #01

The Fox-body Mustang came to an end in 1993 which coincidently was also Saleen’s 10th year of production. To celebrate, the company decided to offer the SA10 model. In order to purchase one of these special edition cars, you had to be a member of the Saleen Owners and Enthusiasts Club. What makes the SA10 models special was that these were the first cars to use sequential serial numbers from Ford. All 10 of the black LX hatchbacks came off the line in order and were shipped to Saleen for the conversion. Exterior wise, the black cars were marked with yellow and white accent decals, a carbon fiber hood, and flat-lipped Stern wheels. Scott notes that these wheels are often copied, and stresses that only 10 or 11 Saleens ever came with them. Interior wise, all but one car received Recaro leather seating. From this point, the customer could pick and choose his/her vehicle’s options from the Saleen Performance Parts catalogue and as such, no two cars are exactly the same. The SA10’s base car, a supercharged Saleen but not an SC, came with 325 hp. Obviously, based on which additional performance goodies were ordered, the car could leave with 450 hp. Less than 10 Fox-body Saleen Mustangs with 450 hp were ever produced—four were the Saleen SC flavor, and the remainder were the SA10 cars.

SA10 #01 was originally built for John McCauley, President of the Saleen Owners and Enthusiasts Club. Like all original purchasers of these special cars, John met with Saleen to discuss the additional details of the build. John enjoyed racing so he wanted this to be a race car. While some collectors would frown upon this decision, others would applaud it—after all, these cars were born from a racing heritage. SA10 #01’s performance story began with a balanced and blueprinted engine fitted with ported cylinder heads. This is the only SA10 with a Saleen-specific intake for more horsepower. From there, a Tremec five-speed and a 3.55 gear with an Auburn differential transferred that horsepower to the ground via heavy duty racing springs and shocks at all four corners. Interior wise, John had the rear seat deleted, and a four-point roll cage installed. A custom Pioneer stereo with a 10-disc changer rounded out the build because, you know, street car! Because of the racing intent for this particular SA10, it would become the most-optioned build, and was built by Joe Gosinski and his team at Saleen. Joe, for those not up to speed on Saleen history, was the man behind the infamous 1994-1999 S-351R but met a tragic end a few years ago—more on that later.

Being the first prototype build, SA10 #01 has a few other details that make it different from the reminder of the SA10s. The graphics are slightly different and the wheels have unique polished center caps. The car also spent time on the show circuit, including being Vortech’s booth car at SEMA. What was the original cost for this special Saleen? MSRP was over $50,000 for this race-ready Fox. Gosinsky would later open Chicane Motorsports in California, A subsequent owner of #01 took the car to Joe’s shop where he refreshed the entire drivetrain and brought the car back to collector-original quality. Scott eventually purchased the car from Mark LaMaskin who owns Performance Autosport in Richmond VA (and helped us with some technical information on this story). The car had been in the Roger Rodas’ collection. Roger was a good friend and client of Mark’s, after Roger’s death Mark helped the family place all of his collectable Mustangs. The SA10s, due to their storied history and performance prowess, firmly place them as one of the most sought-after Fox-body Mustangs. Of the 10 offered, only nine were ultimately built due to a customer backing out on the deal. This car is one of Scott’s most prized possessions, the other being the aforementioned legendary S-351.

The Non-Saleen: 1993 SAAC MKII #01 Convertible

Scott may be a die-hard Saleen owner but that doesn’t limit him from appreciating special cars built by other notable builders. Carroll Shelby, as everyone knows, made history with some of the most incredible Mustangs ever to grace the planet. The SAAC MKI and MK2 cars of the early 1990s have an interesting history due to the fact Shelby was under contract with Chrysler at the time, building the crazy pocket rockets for Dodge. This project was a secret between a few Ford engineers and Shelby, so secret that the first few cars were built in the garage of one of the original people involved in the program. Production was eventually moved to Watson Engineering in MI. Scott’s car was the last one built, and it was assembled at Kar Kraft (home of the Boss 429 Mustangs). The goal was to create a modern day G.T. 350 and they almost pulled it off, but right around the launch of the MK1, Chrysler issued a cease and desist order against Shelby. The cars were quickly rebranded as SAAC (Shelby American Automobile Club) instead of Shelby. Production-wise, 37 white-with-blue-stripes MK1 cars were built. MK2s saw a mix of hatchbacks and convertibles and the colors were expanded to include red and black. Out of the approximate 21 cars made, 12 were convertibles.

The MK cars came with nearly 300 naturally-aspirated horsepower with the GT40 package that consisted of different heads, larger throttle body, and a tubular GT40 intake. The brakes were upgraded to four-wheel discs and three-piece Simmons wheels finished the look. In order to assist with brake cooling, the fog lights were removed in favor of air ducts. Interestingly enough, some believe that without this secret project the 1993 Cobra would have never happened. Ford sold some back-room parts to get the cars built and also used it as the test bed for EPA certification. Also note the lack of fake air scoops that the GT body had.

Scott’s ownership of this car came through an eBay auction—goes to show that sometimes you really can find awesome things on the site. Sitting at around 10,000 original miles, this drop-top Fox is a wonderful example of this complicated three-way relationship that left a sour taste in one manufacturer’s mouth.

1997 S351 #026R

The “R” designation on any Saleen means something special. The S351 series was built from 1994 until 1999, and these legendary cars were the first ones in which Saleen changed out the entire driveline. There were less than 300 produced throughout the entire production run. Some of these cars started out as basic V6s while others were V8s and after Saleen’s swap, power output ranged from 371 hp on the naturally aspirated models to the 505hp fire-breathing supercharged variants. Again, this is the mid- to late-’90s so that kind of power for a car with a warranty was incredible at the time.

Scott acquired S351 #026R after the untimely murder of Chicane Motorsports owner Joe Gosinski in 2010. The car found its way to Joe’s shop with intentions of being turned into a track car. The customer ran out of money, so Joe acquired it as a personal project. A Maximum Motorsports suspension and Global West subframe connectors were installed just prior to Joe’s untimely passing, so when Scott took possession his job was to reassemble and install the original drivetrain and Tremec six-speed. Currently sitting at 15,000 miles, this was one of four cars built with every available option. Those options were the 10-inch rear wheels, 3.55 rear end, two-point chassis brace, and the Recaro leather interior. All S351s received Alcon brakes as a standard feature in 1997. S351 #026R is Scott’s favorite car to drive on the street. He said that the combination of the chassis and suspension work with the sheer power from the supercharged engine make it an absolute beast. Because of his connection with Joe, this car holds a special place in his heart and he never plans on selling it.

1997 S281 Cobra #173

The Supercharged Extreme Rainbow Cobra Speedster Saleen is a mouthful to describe. It is one of 182 cars built on the Cobra chassis and the only convertible ever painted this color—less than 20 Saleens in total were painted this color. Often confused with Ford’s Mystic, this is a completely different color as BASF was a partner of the Saleen/Allen racing team and manufactured the paint for them.

The story of S281C #173 began as a custom build for a customer in Colorado. He insisted on a white top, and the only way to get one was to order a red car, so this car started life as a red cobra convertible. Why is this significant if the car needs to be repainted? Well, Saleen preferred black cars because then they didn’t have to paint the engine bay. A bill for an additional $4,000 for labor was added to the customer’s build in order to remove the drivetrain to paint the engine bay. With an original sticker price of $58,287 and the additional labor costs, plus $4,286 for the supercharger install, this car topped out at $66,573! The original owner supplied a disposable camera to document the build and some photos are said to show the test-fitting of the Vortech supercharger at Saleen’s production facility but Saleen records show that the car was shipped off to a dealer for the supercharger install.

This was another eBay score for Scott. He came across the auction 12 years ago and immediately called the seller to end it. This was his second Saleen and the one he has owned the longest. As it sits today, the car only has about 4,000 miles on it. With the eye-catching paint and unique build details, the car remains one of the most recognizable Saleens out there.

2011 Black Label #01

With all these rare and special Saleen vehicles, what does Scott drive daily? Why a Saleen, of course! True to his collector roots, this also isn’t just “any old Saleen.” The 2011 Black Label (2011-01BL) that serves daily duty started out as a car for Liz and Steve Saleen to use as a commuter for work. At some point, the car was then used as a test mule for what was going to be “George Follmer” editions. A modified engine in addition to suspension tweaks were installed and tested at the track. The car was then shipped to Charlotte to celebrate the Mustang’s 50th anniversary where Steve Saleen gave test rides in the car on the track. Then in 2014, the Black Label body kit was installed and the car was shipped to China as a marketing tool to help launch the brand there. When the Mustang switched body styles in 2015, Saleen sold it to Scott with 26,000 miles on it. Modern Saleens use a “label” to designate the trim levels: White Labels are base models, Black Label is the top trim, and Yellow Label is a White Label with a supercharger. As a true daily driver, Scott has driven this car to over a dozen states and has taken it to two different Saleen Nationals plus Ponies in the Smokies.

There we have it! A somewhat brief history into Saleen as told through the stories of one dedicated owner and his collection of rare and unique Mustangs!

Factoid

In 1985, Steve Saleen’s secretary miscounted the vehicles produced that year, omitting vehicle number 6. Since 1985, Saleen has had the tradition of not issuing the #6 bumper number on any of its vehicles. And now you know.

[Source: Hot Rod Network]

1995 S351 R-CODE (95-0095) HITS “RACING JUNK”

1995 Saleen S351 Mustang

1995 S351 R-Code, 95-0095
1995 S351 R-Code, 95-0095

Price: $35,000.00
Private Seller: jimbos
Location: Burke, VA
Contact: (703) 728-0404

Item Details:
Ad Number: 183955623
Condition: Used
Mileage: 18,000

Description
1995 Saleen S351 R code. #95. White/Blue saleen stripe. excellent original condition. Documented in Saleen Registry. Saleen Black Leather. Magnesium wheels. other options.

Click here to participate in the discussion.

[Source: Racing Junk]

VINTAGE S351 (95-0075) SPOTTED ON eBay

Price: $32,500.00
VIN: 1FALP42T1SF254720
Vehicle Title: Clear
Year: 1995
Make: Ford
Model: Mustang
Sub Model: Saleen S351
Body Type: Coupe
Number of Cylinders: 8
Engine: 5.8L 351 Cu. In. V8 Naturally Aspirated
Fuel Type: Gasoline
Transmission: Manual
Exterior Color: Rio Red
Interior Color: Black
Mileage: 26,500
For Sale By: Private Seller
eBay #: 133020019436

95-0075 Saleen S351
95-0075 Saleen S351

If you are looking at this auction, then you know what you have just found …. If you don’t, you are looking at 1 of 89 Saleen S351 coupe’s produced in 1995. There were a total of 139 units produced in 1995, this is one of those …. This is Saleen Serial #95-0075 …. Please see all pictures ….

*** There are no issues with the mileage of the vehicle. There was an error made at the DMV back in 1998 when the mileage was recorded. As you can see in the AutoCheck report, the mileage is noted correctly and sequentially and I have the registration document from the previous owner when he purchased the vehicle in 2002 showing the correct mileage of 12,177 noted in the report. ***

95-0075 Saleen S351
95-0075 Saleen S351

Everything works; A/C, cruise control, wipers, washer, power windows, power door locks, radio and CD player, power trunk release, etc. …. Vehicle comes with three factory Ford keys as well as two remote key fobs ….. Just get in, fire up that 371 hp 351, put it in gear and go!

The vehicle turns heads wherever it goes and it always takes me just a little bit longer to leave the gas station due to curious on lookers wanting to talk about the car….

Vehicle has been owned by adult Saleen enthusiast owners and they can all be traced back to the original owner. The vehicle is well known in the Saleen community, as are the owners (as I mentioned)…..I will include all parts that were replaced due to age as well as parts that were replaced due to upgrades that I think make the car stand out, e.g. Cobra style head lights, which change the front look of the vehicle …. I will also include a myriad of receipts of the work that has been performed by me and previous owners.

Also included in the sale are parts that are brand new and have never been installed…..I will also include trophies that the vehicle has won at various area car shows…..Vehicle has been signed by Steve Saleen in the engine compartment as well as on the dash, along with the company trademark line “Power in the hands of a few” that can be found on the Monroney as well…..In addition, the vehicle has been signed by Steve Saleen’s long time in house vehicle designer, Phil Frank.

Vehicle is equipped with and comes with the following:

1) 351 cubic inch, 371 bhp (5.8L) naturally aspirated V8 engine.
2) Tremec 3550 5-speed transmission with Pro-5.0 short-throw shifter.
3) Saleen shorty headers.
4) Saleen 13″ rotors and Saleen/Alcon 4 piston calipers.
5) Racecraft suspension components.
6) Complete Bilstein struts, shocks, quad-shocks.
7) Saleen aluminum differential cover.
8) Kaenan Saleen style heat extractor hood.
9) 18″ x 8.5″ and 18″ x 10″ chrome Italian Saleen Speedline wheels.
10) Extra set of gray Saleen/USA LeMans 18″ x 8.5″ wheels.
11) Saleen/Recaro full leather front/rear seats.
12) 3.73 rear gear ratio.
13) Correct speedo gear for 3.73 gear ratio.
14) Saleen S351 front/rear floor mats.
15) Brand new unused S351 front/rear floor mats.
16) Brand new unworn Saleen Owners jacket (M).
17) MOMO correct leather shift knob.
18) Maximum Motorsports caster/camber plates.
19) Battery Tender battery charger.
20) Custom NOAH car cover.
21) Borla exhaust with correct “machine gun” tailpipes and chrome tips.
22) Original Monroney and add a tag (window sticker) from 1995.
23) Newer style Monroney that Saleen graciously made custom for me.
24) Saleen serialization engine bay plaque, dash plaque and bumper number.

95-0075 Saleen S351
95-0075 Saleen S351

There are a couple of windshield chips, I took a picture of the one that has a “star”….. There are a couple of small rock chips here and there but they don’t photograph well as they have been touched up with correct Ford E8 paint ….. The car is in fantastic shape for a 24 year old vehicle and that is a testament to the owners, (including myself), that have all taken excellent care of this rare beast.

The only reason for selling is that I am trying to purchase a different year Saleen and need to sell this one to make room, that’s it …. If I could keep it, I would.

Stand out at your next car show or cruise in ….. I would venture to say that there will most likely not be very many Saleen’s and much less a 1995 S351 in this condition!

Please ask any and all questions prior to bidding….The car is for sale locally and I reserve the right to cancel the auction early if car sells locally.

For serious buyers, I have many more pictures that I can’t upload here. Please get in touch with me and I will send you a link to the host website. In addition, I also have a video that I can send you the link to.

Mileage is approx. as it may change due to showing vehicle at a few car shows and cruise in’s coming up in the next few weeks.

Thank you for looking and good luck…

S351 SPEEDSTER (98-0016S) HITS eBay, AGAIN

Price: $27,000.00
VIN: 1FAFP444XWF137713
Condition: Used
Vehicle Title: Clear
Year: 1998
Make: Ford
Model: Mustang
Trim: Saleen S351R
Engine: 5.8L 351W Supercharged 5.8
Transmission: 6-speed Manual
Drive Type: RWD
Mileage: 19,650
Body Type: Convertible
Exterior Color: Laser Red
Interior Color: Black
For Sale By: Owner
eBay #: 132886190897

98-0016S S351 Speedster
98-0016S S351 Speedster

Up for sale is a very clean and low mile 1998 Saleen S351 Convertible. Yes it’s a real Saleen! 1 of 1 car as you can see in the letter of authenticity I bought from Saleen. Super low miles as you can see.

The car runs and drives perfect. I just had the engine and trans pulled and had it completely resealed. It had some oil leaks when I acquired the car. Convertible top is in great condition, and the motor for the top works great. The car has been under a car cover in a temperature controlled garage for the last two years and driven a couple times a month to keep all the fluids moving.

98-0016S S351 Speedster
98-0016S S351 Speedster

Recaro cloth seats on the interior. I purchased a complete decal kit from Saleen when I got the car so all the decals are brand new. OK! so what isn’t perfect. The Speedster cover was not with the car when I acquired the car. Nor the roll bar. Last thing is the rear wing. Its not the S351 wing that is commonly seen on these cars. I called Saleen and spoke with Molly Saleen for about an hour and a half. She verified that the spoiler that is on the car is the one the customer ordered when she personalized the car. Original owner was named Beatrice. If any of you have a Saleen Registry you will be able to find this information.

If you have any questions please feel free to reach out. Title in hand. Don’t waste your time or mine with low ball offers. I will entertain any reasonable offers. No trades. Just looking to sell the car. Thank you for taking the time to check out the car. Happy Bidding!

Please keep in mind the car is for sale locally. I can end the auction early if the car sells locally.

Click here to participate in the discussion.

RARE YELLOW S351 SPEEDSTER (98-0022S) APPEARS

The powerful and exotic S351 Mustangs offered during the 1990s were a serialized series of unique and complex vehicles by Saleen Performance. These Saleen Mustangs were twice (or three times) as powerful as their Ford produced counterparts of the same era.

For the 1998 model year Saleen produced 205 street Mustangs; 183 were S281 models while 22 were S351 editions. Of those 22, 12 were produced on the convertible body style. Of those 12, 10 were optioned with the Speedster package with 6 having the Leather Saleen Seating equipment. In addition to those statistics, 98-0022 was the lone Chrome Yellow S351 produced for 1998.

If we look at the production run for yellow exterior paint from 1994-98 on the SN95-styled S351, we see Saleen Performance produced 14 units of 351 powered Mustangs in this color. -DB


Price: $28,900.00
Type: Used
Year: 1998
Make: Ford
Model: Mustang Saleen S351 Supercharged Convertible
Body Style: Convertible
Stock: # 3801
Mileage: 42,518
Engine Size: Supercharged 5.8 Ltr.
Transmission: T56 6-speed
VIN: 1FAFP4449WF186367
Website: www.uniquemankato.com

[Source: Unique Specialty & Classics]