Tag Archives: Saleen

SALEEN SIMPLY SUPER

By: N.A. on March 30, 2007
Original Article: RECORD, THE (KITCHENER/CAMBRIDGE/WATERLOO, ON)

Auto expert Mark Perleberg of NADAguides.com, a leading U.S. vehicle pricing and information website, recently tested the 2007 Saleen S281 and the 2007 PJ/Saleen Special Edition in a weeklong, side-by-side and back-to-back comparison.

And now he weighs in on both cars’ features and handling.

“Since 1984, Steve Saleen has been remanufacturing new stock Ford Mustangs with a flare that only a businessman with a racing background could pull off,” said Perleberg. “Saleen has emerged as a leader in squeezing the most out of new stock Ford Mustang GTs, giving them near Super Car qualities at a relatively low price.”

Perleberg says the 2007 S281 features more of what all great performance cars need, more horsepower.

Up an additional 30 hp from 2006, the S281 now musters up 465 ponies, and according to Perleberg, acceleration that keeps the car’s passengers pinned to the back of their seats when the supercharger kicks in.

Along with this power, the car features a race-craft suspension that virtually eliminates the loose rear end feeling you typically find in stock Mustangs, with a confidence the car will go anywhere you point it at high speeds.

Perleberg says the 2007 Saleen S281 also features a comfortable day-to-day ride for a car of this nature.

Combined with a tail extension, body cladding and an upgraded interior in the mid-$50,000 US price range, Perleberg says the 2007 Saleen S281 has all the makings of a Super Car with the roots of a Mustang.

Next up, Perleberg tested the 2007 PJ/Saleen Special Edition, a high-performance 302 cubic inch V8-powered car with 370 hp and 370 ft/lb of torque.

Perleberg says the 2007 PJ/Saleen Special Edition is a modern-day rendition of the Boss 302 that raced in the SCCA Trans Am Series in the early 1970s, with less horsepower than its S281 sibling, but it feels quicker due to the normally aspirated engine with a torque that chimes in at 4,000 rpms.

“The 2007 PJ/Saleen Special Edition gives you truckloads of pull when you mash the throttle down in any gear,” Perleberg said.

“Handling is confident and very predictable with a somewhat lighter feel than the S281.”

RARE SALEEN MUSTANG FOR SALE IN CLINTON

By: MICHELLE KOETTERS on March 28, 2007
Original Article: PANTAGRAPH, THE (BLOOMINGTON, IL)

Mar. 28–CLINTON — A rare version of an American automotive icon is for sale at a Clinton car dealership. Anderson Ford Mercury has a Parnelli Jones Boss 302 Mustang in its showroom — one of only 500 that specialty vehicle manufacturer Saleen built and released for public sale.

The car honors Parnelli Jones, a legendary race car driver from the 1960s and 1970s.

The Central Illinois dealership expects a serious collector eventually will purchase the muscle car for about $60,000, co-owner Randy Anderson said.

The dealership received the car last week because of its reputation for selling high performance vehicles and parts, said Anderson. The company’s Anderson Ford Motorsport division specializes in designing and building high performance parts for Mustangs; clients come from throughout the world.

Meanwhile, the Boss 302 is an exact replica — but with all new technology — of the Mustang Jones used to win the Trans Am Series racing event in 1970, Anderson said.

“It is one of the most breathtaking, gorgeous cars out there right now. It’s a showstopper,” Anderson said.

The Mustang’s orange-yellow color makes it stand out, Anderson said. In addition, it has a modified engine with 400 horsepower, customized black and orange leather interior, special breaks for fast stops, as well as a suspension that makes it drive like a go-kart, he said.

Mustangs are a popular car right now because people love the look and comfort of the sports car, Anderson said. The dealership’s Mustang sales are up about 30 percent from five years ago.

“What has increased the most is the exotic Mustang,” Anderson said. The dealership has 10 of the exotics, including the Shelby GT 500, the Shelby GT, Roush and Saleen, all priced from $30,000 to $60,000, Anderson said.

“It’s just a gorgeous car to look at,” Anderson said. “No matter if you’re a Ford fan or not a Ford fan, everyone loves the look of a Mustang.”

ALL MUSTANGS, ALL THE TIME: GALPIN FORD DEVOTES ENTIRE SHOWROOM TO CAR

By: JULIA M. SCOTT on March 22, 2007
Original Article: DAILY NEWS (LOS ANGELES, CA)

Mar. 22–NORTH HILLS — On the surface, car dealer Galpin Ford’s decision to devote an entire showroom to a car that has not been selling well seems counterintuitive.

Sales of Mustangs dropped 19 percent in January and February compared with last year as the newness of the latest Mustang model wore off and buyers waited for the next model to come out.

But showcasing the iconic sports car is a smart move, several analysts said.

“You have to look beyond Mustang sales,” said Kevin Tynan of Argus Research Corp. “If you open a Mustang showroom, you become a beacon for Mustang enthusiasts.”

In other words, fans will come to ogle Mustang eye candy, creating the buzz and foot traffic that is the lifeblood of a dealer.

The move already seemed to be working on Wednesday, the opening day of the showroom.

An hour before the start of an autographing session, dozens of Mustang fans had filled up the parking lot with models dating back to 1970. Many said they came for the signature of race car driver Steve Saleen, whose latest design was on display in the showroom.

Saleen and race car driver Parnelli Jones customized the 2007 Mustang that is named after them. It is one of 500 made and sells for $60,565.

Michael Shore came with his father, Allen, from Simi Valley to meet Saleen. Shore, a business major at California State University, Northridge, said he wasn’t going to leave until he had Saleen’s signature.

“It’s kind of inspiring because he started as a race car driver and a car enthusiast,” said Shore, 20, as he snapped pictures of Mustangs parked next to his black 2000 Saleen Speedster. “And he built this whole empire.”

Inside, banners dotted the chrome-laced showroom, which used to house sport utility vehicles and trucks. Three Mustangs were parked in the bright, airy space.

Saleen and Jones were on hand to toot the car’s horn.

“What’s unique about this car is literally everything,” said Saleen as he pointed out dual-colored leather seats, a race car suspension system, and two names scrawled on the dash. Both he and Jones signed each of the 500 cars.

Devoting an entire showroom to a single model is unusual, but not very expensive if you have enough space. All it takes is switching the cars and slapping up a few posters.

“It’s an option that a mega dealer can look at,” said analyst David Healy of Burnham Securities Inc.

Galpin certainly has the space. Its sprawling campus in North Hills stretches across 60 acres.

Galpin is the No. 1 Ford dealer in the country and also sells the most Mustangs, according to George Pipas, Ford’s domestic sales analysis manager. The nationwide decline in Mustang sales, which was similarly felt at Galpin, is part of a bigger trend in the coupe market, he said.

“It’s not just a Mustang thing,” Pipas said. “The whole category was off 38 percent.”

The dedicated showroom will help turn those figures around at Galpin. Aside from attracting potential customers, it will help the dealer hone its sales pitch and focus Mustang hype, said George Peterson, president of the consulting firm Auto Pacific in Tustin.

“Your salespeople can be trained very strongly on Mustang and its basic competition so they can do a more effective sales job,” Peterson said.

The showroom will also increase revenues of aftermarket wheels, stereos, performance-enhancing parts, and paint jobs that Galpin sells at its Auto Sports center.

Total revenues from aftermarket products may not be a significant factor, but the profit margin is incredible, analyst Tynan said.

Mustangs are the No. 1 car Galpin customizes, said Vice President Beau Boeckmann.

“It’s one of those cars that people love to customize and make their own,” said Boeckmann, who appears on MTV’s “Pimp My Ride,” which is filmed at Galpin’s Auto Sports center.

Chris Lawson was looking at the customized Mustangs parked in front of the showroom Wednesday evening. She has had “six or seven” Mustangs in her lifetime.

“I have been in love with Mustangs since I was 10 years old,” said Lawson, a 45-year-old caregiver who lives in Reseda. “Take the rest of them and leave the Mustangs behind.”

FROM NIKE TO BOEING

By: CHUCK CHIANG on January 23, 2007
Original Article: BULLETIN, THE (BEND, OR)

Bend, Ore. Area Engineer Devises Machine Solutions

Jan. 23–For someone who has worked with machines all his life, Wes Hoekstra’s hobby isn’t surprising.

Hoekstra, owner of S & W Engineering Co. located about 10 miles northwest of Bend, recently acquired a 2007 Saleen/Parnelli Jones Limited Edition Mustang, one of only 500 produced by the sports car customizing company.

“That seems to be the weakness for us engineers,” he said regarding his Mustang, the newest in his collection of eight cars.

Hoekstra’s affinity to moving metal is understandable. For 30 years, he has designed and produced intricate machines — some as large as a cube 7 feet tall and 7 feet wide — capable of producing anything from firearms engravings to airplane brakes.

The machines take roughly three months for Hoestra’s permanent staff of three to complete

from scratch, and are used by manufacturers mainly for cutting material into specific shapes, which would then be combined with other components for an end product.

Last year, S & W produced 21 machines for Beaverton-based Nike Inc. at roughly $200,000 each. The machines produce the nitrogen air-bubble soles used in the company’s new Air Max 360 line of shoes.

“We had to make sure we can make parts for shoes that would fit (Miami Heat all-star basketball center) Shaquille O’Neal, whose shoe size is 24,” said Hoekstra, 69.

The machines, which helped Nike streamline its manufacturing operations, have garnered attention for Hoekstra and his company. Industry news source Sporting Goods Intelligence ran an article on S & W in December, and Hoekstra is now talking with The Boeing Co. about making machines for the Chicago-based aerospace giant.

Hoekstra, a native of Minnesota, credits his father for the career path, which led to S & W Engineering and the products, which have been nicknamed “incredible machines.”

“My dad was a master machinist,” he said. “I guess I’m just in that image.”

QUESTION: How did you start working with Nike?

ANSWER: What happened was, Nike found me. They said they’ve been looking for about a year for someone who can work on a concept of a new shoe that they are about to do, and the parts involved cutting out materials ultrasonically.

When Nike came to me, I gave them a lecture on the machine design I had in mind, and they called me two days later, saying that I won (the contract). It was a big job to get, and these machines are the most state-of-the-art, sophisticated ones Nike now owns.

Q: You started S & W 30 years ago. Why?

A: At the time, I was in the aerospace industry, and the (sector) was on a downswing. I had a lot of ideas (about manufacturing machines) that I wanted to develop, so I began making them.

Someone started calling them “incredible machines,” and that’s where the name came from.

I’ve done this for 50 years.

It’s my niche. It would take hours for me to get through all the processes involved in making machines with such high levels of precision, and for operations as complex as this, it usually takes a large team (to develop these machines). The advantage I have is that I can do it all.

Q: What’s driving you to produce these machines, besides your expertise for electronics and mechanical engineering?

A: My whole emphasis is that I am a big proponent of keeping manufacturing jobs in the United States. Had Nike not have ordered these machines, the job (of making these components) would have gone overseas to China, and it would have taken 150 Chinese workers to replicate the work being done by one of my machines, operated by one person.

To me, (keeping manufacturing in the United States) is extremely important. It’s imperative that American manufacturing increases its efficiency, because we’ll lose it if we don’t. We have to be competitive in the global market, and if we don’t take some labor-intensity out of the jobs, they’ll go overseas where labor is cheaper.

Q: Is Central Oregon’s location a problem, since many of your clients are not local?

A: I personally drive the machines over to Beaverton, so it isn’t a problem. We can go anywhere (with the machines).

When we lived in Santa Barbara, (Calif.), 15 years ago, (Central Oregon) was where we vacationed, and we knew that Bend was going to get discovered one day. Everything’s here. You have the rivers and the lakes for fishing and white-water rafting, and you have the mountains for hiking, biking and skiing. That’s why we bought 49 acres of land out here 15 years ago.

Q: What’s next in S & W’s plans?

A: Right now, we’re in the process of getting the certifications done for Boeing, because we’re getting ready to make some machines for them. The machines will make components for their 787 Dreamliners, and that’s huge. They already have 500 planes sold, and their manufacturing has to get up to 10 planes a month.

But what we’re really trying to get into is in-factory automation. It’s heavy in specific designs because every step of a manufacturing process is different, depending on the application.

I don’t care to get (S & W) huge, but we may have to.

And if we that happens, we may have to move to a larger commercial space, probably something in the area’s three cities (Bend, Redmond or Sisters).

A JONES FOR A MUSTANG

By: MARK VAUGHN on January 22, 2007
Original Article: AUTOWEEK, VOL. 57 ISSUE 4

Parnelli just wanted a paint job for his ’70 ‘Stang, instead he got 500 new ones with his name on the side

You could count the American racers with the credentials of Parnelli Jones on one hand (assuming no band saw accidents): Dan Gurney, Mario Andretti, A.J. Foyt and Carroll Shelby. They are an elite bunch, with championships in diverse arenas as well as enough engineering smarts to start their own car companies, which a couple of them did.

It’s not necessary to review Jones’ accomplishments, but just in case you were born in the video-game age, here we go: He won the Indy 500 in 1963 in a car called “Old Calhoun” and almost won it again in 1967 in that whooshing-cool turbine car; won the Trans-Am championship back in 1970 when it was a bigger deal than NASCAR, by only a single point over the formidable Mark Donohue; won the Baja 1000 twice in that wild “Big Oly” Bronco with the huge wing on top; and took a class win at Pikes Peak in 1963 driving a Mercury stock car. That’s in addition to numerous sprint car titles, USAC championships and a career begun as a jalopy driver on the dirt tracks of Southern California.

He was even more successful as a team owner with business partner Vel Miletich, winning 53 Indy car races and the Indy 500 twice with Al Unser driving. He ran his own Formula One team from 1974 to 1976.

His business sense, with that of Miletich, meant most of Southern California at one point drove around on the Firestone tires he sold. (“Get Your ‘Stones From Parnelli Jones,” the bumper stickers said.)

So last year, when Jones inquired at Saleen about getting his personal 1970 Mustang repainted, it wasn’t like just your average 5.0 reader had wandered into Saleen Inc.

Steve Saleen, meanwhile, is no slouch, with a long racing resume of his own that includes nine championships and an even longer carbuilding CV, first as a “tuner” (a word Saleen now abhors), then as an increasingly bigger manufacturer of everything from S281 Saleen Mustangs to Ford GTs and the all-conquering street-blaster twin-turbo S7.

So when these two automotive forces came together, they almost had to produce more than just paint.

“At first I just wanted a paint job,” said Jones. “Then we got to talking.”

Long story short, since we only have two pages, they made the Mustang you see here, a car inspired by Jones’ Trans-Am championship-winning Boss 302 of 1970.

“The whole purpose is really a tribute to Parnelli,” Saleen said. “We tried to capture all the things that were memorable in that period of time.”

Those memorable things come in cues both subtle and obvious from front to rear on the car, including, Saleen said, “…the stylized headlights with that ’70s slant, the chrome detail that was so popular at the time, the sports slats on the rear glass, the wing, and the big number 15 on the side.”

The cosmetics are just the beginning.

“To be authentic, it had to have an honest-to-goodness 302 motor.”

That motor starts as a 4.6-liter modular three-valve sohc V8. Saleen strokes and bores it to 5.0 liters, adds 24 pounds/hour injectors, ported aluminum heads, performance camshafts and dual exhausts. The engine management is recalibrated to make the most of those improvements, and then the stock internal parts are replaced with forged-aluminum pistons, forged-steel con rods and a forged-steel crank so the whole thing doesn’t blow up.

“That’s an honest blueprinted engine with 400 hp and 390 lb-ft,” Jones added.

The transmission is a five-speed manual with a short-throw shifter routed to an 8.8-inch differential with a 3.73 final drive.

To get all the power to the ground and be able to drive around a corner with it, the Saleen crew went to work on the suspension. The heart of the setup is the Watts linkage in the rear, which replaces the Panhard rod found in the stock ‘Stang.

“A Panhard rod works well for NASCAR where you’re always going left, but it’s not real good for going over bumps and transitioning,” said Bill Tally, vp of engineering at Saleen.

While the Parnelli/Saleen rear is still built around a solid-beam axle (an IRS would have been too complicated and expensive), it is kept on the ground by two cleverly placed Watts links on each side, swiveling from outboard body mounts directly onto the back plate of the diff.

It allowed a stiffer rear antiroll bar and a generally stiffer setup without any great compromise to ride quality.

The rest of the setup includes RaceCraft Suspension pieces like stiffer springs, shocks and bushings front and rear, none of which is shared with any other Saleen Mustang.

We drove a short route with Jones himself over the twisting hills of the Palos Verdes Peninsula where he lives.

The car is smoothly improved over the stock ‘Stang in every department. You feel the extra power and torque, naturally, but you also get much better steering feel and quicker cornering. The whole thing works together well; it’s not like a crude aftermarket setup with a monster blower and no brakes.

“I call the car ‘happy,'” said Jones. “It’s a lot of fun to drive, it’s a real balanced car, exceptionally balanced.”

Your checkbook better be exceptionally balanced if you want to buy one, though, since the price is $59,015. There will be only 500 made, and more than half of those are already ordered. If you want one, you’d better log onto www.saleen.com pronto.

Or maybe there’s no rush. Saleen points out that Jones’ teammate on that 1970 Trans-Am team was George Follmer, who drove an almost identical Boss 302 Mustang and has indicated he is not averse to a commemorative Mustang of his own. So you never know.

SALEEN/PARNELLI JONES LIMITED EDITION MUSTANG
ON SALE: Now
BASE PRICE: $59,015 (plus $1,300 gas-guzzler tax and $1,550 transportation)
DRIVETRAIN: 5.0-liter, 400-hp, 390-lb-ft V8; rwd, five-speed automatic
CURB WEIGHT: 3550 pounds
FUEL MILEAGE: n/a
0 to 60 MPH: 4.5 seconds (est.)

TEXAS HOT RODS THR MUSTANG PARTS PERFORMANCE ANNOUNCES SPECIAL INCENTIVES FOR SALEEN SERIES IV 99-04 MUSTANG AND SERIES VI 05-06 MUSTANG SUPERCHARGERS

Texas Hot Rods THR, the first authorized Private Dealer of the complete Saleen line of Mustang parts and accessories, has announced special discounts on Saleen Superchargers through the end of the year.

news_2005_THR_logo

El Paso, TX (PRWEB) December 21, 2006

Texas Hot Rods (http://www.texashotrods.com) THR Mustang Parts Performance, the first authorized Private Dealer of the complete Saleen line of Mustang parts and accessories, has announced special incentives on Saleen Series IV and Saleen Series VI superchargers before December 31st.

THR is offering incentives as an introduction to the all new Saleen 475HP upgrade kit, a kit which improves the performance of the Series VI 05-06 Mustang Supercharger by 50 horsepower. This new innovation directly from Saleen includes Saleen air box cover with 98MM equivalent mass air flow sensor, fresh air tube, 39lb injectors, 3.87-inch pulley, and a Saleen Powerflash.

“Our focus is on the customer. We install what we sell, so we have the expertise to guide our customers through the whole process from purchasing the right parts to installation assistance”

The Saleen 475 Upgrade Kit has been a long awaited improvement to the Series VI Supercharger. With a few easy bolt ons, it allows the Supercharger maximum power to significantly improve the performance of the Mustang Supercharger. The Saleen Series VI Mustang Supercharger retails for $5699 and the upgrade retails $999.

THR is offering additional incentives for customers who purchase before the last week of December. For more details, contact THR direct at 877-50-STANG (877-507-8264) or visit http://www.texashotrods.com.

As a complete mustang parts aftermarket dealer, THR offers a low price guarantee and top rated customer service. “Our focus is on the customer. We install what we sell, so we have the expertise to guide our customers through the whole process from purchasing the right parts to installation assistance,” says THR President Brian Metzger.

Saleen’s Series IV and Series VI Mustang superchargers are some of the most well receive superchargers to have come out. With Saleen quality engineering, these superchargers provide the power and look that the Mustang enthusiast is looking for in a bolt on. Saleen Enthusiasts and Mustang Enthusiasts alike will appreciate the easy bolt in installation, quality, and power that Saleen Mustang Supercharger provides.

Whether it’s for performance, looks, or speed, THR is a one stop shop for Mustangs. With 24/7 hour ordering at http://www.texashotrods.com , a low price guarantee, installation, and tech support, Texas Hot Rods THR mustang parts performance is a quickly becoming the place to shop for Mustang Parts.

# # #

Liz Metzger
TEXAS HOT RODS
915-593-6225

JDM ENGINEERING TEASES NEW SPEEDLAB DRAG CAR

From Jim D’Amore III and our friends at JDM Engineering in Freehold, NJ.

Saleen Special Vehicles of Troy Michigan under guidance from General Manager Bryan Chambers recently completed a repaint and re-body of last years JDM race car.

Some of the special features include:
* Prototype Saleen carbon fiber hood and trunk lid
* Beryllium Copper Saleen custom color
* Complete S281 exterior and interior conversion
* Saleen exterior model designation
* 06-0009 honorary Saleen serial number

Driveline specs are as follows:
* 5.4 Ford GT short block
* CNC ported 3 valve heads
* SALEEN Series VI 5.4 liter S331 Supercharger Kit
* 9 secend ET’s

Read more at: http://www.modularfords.com/

Click here to participate in the discussion.

CARMAKERS SHOW OFF

By: HUBBLE SMITH on November 23, 2006
Original Article: LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL (NV)

Nov. 23–Southern Nevada automobile dealers could use a push. Maybe they’ll get it from the Motor Trend International Auto Show that runs Friday through Sunday at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

It gives consumers the opportunity to compare hundreds of new models from 30 manufacturers at one location without feeling the pressure to buy, show spokeswoman Lauren Holzman said.

Sales of new cars, trucks and vans depend on changing consumer tastes, popularity of the manufacturer’s vehicle models and the intensity of competition with other dealers.

At the auto show, prospective buyers can feel the performance and handling of new Ford models, such as the Ford Edge and Expedition EL, at the Ride and Drive sponsored by Southern Nevada Ford dealers. Ford is also bringing two concept vehicles — the F-250 Super Chief and Ford Mustang GT-R.

“This show is for people who are either in the market for a new car or they want to see the concepts and exotics. They’re really the crowd-pleasers,” Holzman said.

The exotic car collection, displayed by Lamborghini Las Vegas and valued at more than $1 million, features the $600,000 Saleen S-7, Lamborghini and Spyker.

Another popular component of Motor Trend International Auto Show is Aftermarket Alley, a mix of power, performance, parts and accessories vendors. On Saturday, a team of automotive specialists will spend six hours tricking out a 2007 Mustang GT convertible, transforming it from “stock to ‘Stang,” Holzman said.

“It’s cool because nobody is driving stock any more. There’s such a trend for cars really to say who you are,” she said.

Sales of new vehicles declined 2.4 percent in the 12-month period through June, the U.S. Census Bureau reported. Automobile manufacturing product shipment fell from $93.2 billion in 1997 to $85.8 billion in 2002, according to the latest bureau statistics.

Automobile sales are certainly affected by economic cycles, increasing when consumers feel financially secure and decreasing when the economy softens and buyers postpone purchases, said Keith Schwer, director of the Center for Business and Economic Research. Still, automobile production accounts for less than 4 percent of gross domestic product, he said.

Consumers are highly sensitive to prices, Schwer said. Automotive dealers are more likely to offer generous incentives, rebates and financing deals during slow periods to maintain high sales volumes and to reduce inventories.

“I heard a guy in Michigan talk about price concessions and excess capacity in the industry. You’ve got a problem between domestic and foreign (imports). And the labor market challenge … what percentage of that is to pick up health care costs? That’s part of the bigger issue,” Schwer said.

According to the National Automobile Dealers Association, new vehicle sales account for more than half of total sales revenue at franchised new vehicle dealers. These sales generate additional revenue in other departments of new car dealers. By putting new vehicles on the road, dealers can count on aftermarket additions, repair and service customers and future trade-ins of used vehicles.

Justin Findlay, general manager of Findlay Volkswagen, said he usually goes to the Motor Trend International Auto Show to check out the competition.

“We don’t see a ton of immediate sales from it, but we do see some,” Findlay said. “A lot of times, it gives people a chance to look at all of our models.”

Findlay will be moving to general manager of Findlay Automotive Group’s new Chevrolet dealership opening in December at Las Vegas Beltway and South Rainbow Boulevard, one of several new dealerships in Las Vegas. He said Las Vegas has always had fewer dealerships per capita than other major cities around the nation.

Automobile dealers provided about 1.3 million wage and salary jobs in 2004, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Sales, installation, maintenance and repair workers accounted for 63 percent of wage and salary employment. Management, office and administrative support and transportation and material moving occupations made up another 35 percent.

Average weekly earnings of nonsupervisory workers in automobile dealers were $634 in 2004, substantially higher than the average for retail trade ($371), as well as that for all private industry ($529).

Earnings vary depending on occupation, experience and the dealer’s geographic location and size. Average wages range from $9 an hour for a cleaner of vehicles and equipment to $31 an hour for first-line supervisors and managers, according to the BLS.

Wage and salary jobs in automobile dealers are projected to increase 12 percent from 2004 to 2014, compared with projected growth of 14 percent for all industries combined.

Motor Trend International Auto Show hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for senior citizens, $4 for active and retired military and children ages 7-12.