All posts by David Bruno

Former club archivist as well as lead SOEC creative director, 2005-2018.

UPDATE: 07-0022H SPEEDLAB 302

Update from Bob.

Dave,

I have managed to get to two Saleen events at dealerships; one in Niles, MI where they had the S7 and S5 on display as well as the New Hudson, MI event. The only car show I have managed to get the vehicle in was the Carnival of Cars at the Packard Proving Grounds in Shelby Township, MI. I received an award/placard for “most outstanding vehicle” in my class.

I have attached some photo’s taken just before and most recent (two of which are at a classic show at Coyote Joe’s Friday event). I also included a “spy” photo of my car while in Troy. You can see the corporate Parnelli car next to mine. On the other side was a red S7 under a plastic cover.

I know it’s late, I will still send you two or three “quality” photo’s in a nice spot with proper lighting. I was hoping to have the Nitto’s with stretched Heritage rims on for them as well. This is due to be complete on Wednesday.

Ps. Since I have also met three additional Saleen enthusiasts with vehicles and hope to attend an event with all present (2 SN95 bodies both SC’s and one 2005 S281SC)

Regards,
Bob McQueen

DON’T CALL IT A SALEEN

By: DALE JEWETT and BOB GRITZINGER on May 26, 2008
Original Article: AUTOWEEK, VOL. 58 ISSUE 22

700-hp Dodge Challenger Is Steve Saleen’s Latest Project

Steve Saleen, whose name has been synonymous with go-fast Ford Mustangs for nearly two decades, is launching a new customizing business with the reborn Dodge Challenger.

His new company is SMS, of Anaheim, California, which plans to start limited production of the SMS 570 Challenger and the SMS 570X Challenger in the fourth quarter of this year. Both are based on the 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T.

The difference between the 570 and the 570X is engine output. For the 570 Challenger, SMS bolts its own-design supercharger onto the 5.7-liter V8 to produce about 500 hp. Output of the 570X Challenger is expected to hit 700 hp. In that case, SMS will keep the 5.7-liter V8’s block but will completely rework the rest of the powertrain, including the SMS supercharger.

Chassis, wheel and interior upgrades are also part of the makeover. Each will be signed by Saleen.

Pricing is expected to start in the mid-to-high-$50,000s range for the SMS 570 Challenger.

SMS sees its products as an alternative for a buyer who can’t wait for — or can’t get his hands on — a Dodge Challenger SRT8. Although SMS has sent ordering information to Dodge dealers, the automaker is not working with SMS, a Chrysler spokesperson said.

Chrysler is “always flattered when a customizer chooses one of our cars to work with,” the Chrysler official said. The company makes engineers available to talk with customizers who work on Chrysler products.

SMS officials say that the choice of the Challenger for Saleen’s first product after leaving his eponymous company, Saleen Inc., of Troy, Michigan, makes a point: He aims to work with more than one automaker. Steve Saleen says that SMS enables him “to do what could not be done at Saleen Inc. due to their heritage with the Ford dealer network and Ford vehicles.”

Another reason to move from Mustang-based products: to avoid confusion with the high-performance Saleen Mustangs being built by Saleen Inc., his former company. That company owns the brand name for automotive applications; the trademarked name cannot be used on any other vehicles (even by Saleen himself), said Marques McCammon, general manager of Saleen Inc.

Steve Saleen resigned from Saleen Inc. in mid-2007, about three and a half years after it was purchased by investment firm Hancock Park Associates. After adding Michigan-based American Specialty Cars, HPA merged the two specialty manufacturers. Saleen Inc. now produces Saleen Mustangs, Saleen F-150 pickups and other automotive products.

Steve Saleen’s first post-Saleen Inc. foray back into the car business was with the ill-fated Chamco Auto, a firm that planned to build Chinese cars and trucks in Mexico. That company is mired in a legal tangle as all involved try to determine who owns what and who may or may not have defrauded whom.

SALEEN-ASC COMBINE MOTOR CITY GRIT, CALIFORNIA GLAMOUR

By: JOSEPH SZCZESNY on May 13, 2008
Original Article: EDMUNDS.COM

TROY, Michigan — Behind the introduction of the Saleen S5S Raptor at the New York International Auto Show in March is the story of a corporate reorganization that blends two companies previously struggling on their own.

The new Saleen Inc. combines Motor City grit of the former ASC and the California glamour of the former Saleen operations in finely calibrated balance, said Paul Wilbur, CEO of the new Saleen.

Wilbur told AutoObserver that the Raptor is the first project in which both sides of the house have contributed. It combined the efforts of Saleen engineering and ASC’s creative team, which usually labors in anonymity for big clients such as General Motors.

About half of the company’s $180 million to $200 million in revenue comes from the specialty car business nurtured by Saleen; the other half comes from making convertible tops for Toyota, Chrysler, General Motors and Mitsubishi, business developed by ASC.

Hancock Park Associates, a Los Angles-based private equity basically created the new company when it first bought out founder Steve Saleen’s remaining interest in Saleen itself and then picked key ASC assets in bankruptcy court, said Wilbur, an executive at ASC prior to the reorganization in the summer of 2007.

ASC, or American Specialty Cars Inc., which was based in Southgate, Mich., and traces its roots back to the old American Sunroof Co. founded in the 1960s. Businessman and racecar driver Steve Saleen founded the original Saleen Inc., in Irvine, Calif., in 1984 to build what he described as an American super car.

Specialty Cars for Big Automakers

Chris Theodore, a former Chrysler and Ford executive credited with being the father of Ford’s GT, serves as the combined company’s chief technical officer. He said the Raptor, with its aluminum space frame, sleek design and 650-horsepower engine designed to run on cellulosic ethanol and with a price tag of about $185,000 is a glimpse of things to come from Saleen.

Theodore said the reorganized company is already in discussions with big carmakers, looking to add some specialty cars spice to their product lines. “There is a lot of interest,” he said.

Design and engineering of concept cars like the Raptor, which Theodore and Wilbur estimate Saleen could build in about two years once financing and business case are approved, is only part of the company’s story.

Wilbur said Saleen has concentrated its vehicle-making operations just outside of Detroit. “Our (Michigan) facility has one of the most sophisticated low-volume, paint facilities in North America. When you combine that with the phenomenal automotive talent pool that is available in Michigan, it’s a natural step,” Wilbur said.

The paint system, the heart of the Michigan operation, was installed earlier in the decade when Saleen had a contract to paint Ford GTs before they went back to Ford for final assembly. Since last fall, the system in the Troy, Mich., plant has also painted the Dodge Viper for Chrysler, Theodore said.

Building a New Saleen Brand

Marques McCammon, Saleen’s marketing chief who came from Chrysler’s performance SRT group, said his mission is to take the Saleen brand into a new era, following the departure of the company’s founder in the spring of 2007. Under Saleen, the company had produced more than 12,000 vehicles, including the S7, as well as the S281 Mustang, S331 Sport Truck and Saleen/Parnelli Jones limited-edition Mustang. A limited edition Dan Gurney Mustang is also in the works.

The new company already is taking orders for the Sterling Edition Mustang, which creates from a stock Mustang “a completely different car,” as McCammon describes with a 620-horsepower engine, new suspension, steering gear and transmission. The buyer receives a company-paid trip and guided tour of the plant that builds the $100,000 car, dinner with company executives, a photo album, letter of authenticity and a serialized car cover. “We are a vehicle manufacturer, but we take it to the next level,” McCammon said.

Steve Saleen Moves On

Meantime, Steve Saleen recently founded a new company in Southern California, SMS, as a niche manufacturer of lifestyle ultra-high performance vehicles, technical performance parts, lifestyle accessories and apparel. Just this week the new company introduced the first in a line of Signature Series ultra-high performance vehicles, the SMS 570 Challenger and SMS 570X Challenger. The street legal cars are based on the 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T with a 5.7-liter Hemi engine rated at 500 or 700 horsepower. Steve Saleen signs the limited edition cars.

[Source: Edmunds.com]

A LOOK AT 07-0022H SPEEDLAB 302

A note from Bob McQueen regarding his recently delivered Speedlab modified 2007 Heritage Edition.

Dave,

I just got the car back and have not had an opportunity to take any “quality” photos; but I do have some.

The car is a 2007 Heritage bumper #22. It was purchased from Russ Milne Ford with the side window delete, rear window sport louver, 373 rear gear, and the 475hp supercharger was added before I took delivery. After driving the car it did not take long for me to realize that I was into the rev limiter extremely fast and although the car was extremely nimble I missed the higher torque range I had been accustomed to with vehicles previously owned.

After reviewing information with Keith Batko the General Manager of Russ Milne Ford (I call him Mr. Mustang as he not only has vast knowledge of Mustangs and Saleen products but has one of the larger collections in Michigan) I decided to have the car sent back to Saleen for the engine to be pulled and stroked to the H302 specifications with forged internals, increased intercooling capacity, additional fuel delivery, and performance clutch. Saleen recommended that I upgrade to the 6 speed Tremec transmission but I was already beyond my budget so I chose not to opt for that this year (I had also added the front brake system, Watts Linkage at the rear, Rockford Fossgate sound system and painted valve covers with Saleen logo for the shows, H302 hood for added cooling, and Saleen gas door). For this reason the motor is not tuned to capacity as Saleen did not feel comfortable with the stock transmission.

With the changes made all I can say is that this car is wicked. It handles better than I could have imagined and the power is phenomenal. Next year I will certainly add the Tremec, tune, and some tires that will handle the power and suspension! This car offers the best of two worlds; style and handling; Muscle and power!

Bob McQueen

APTERA MOTORS TAPS NEIL HANNEMANN AS SVP OF PROGRAM MANAGEMENT & MANUFACTURING

Accomplished Automotive Industry Veteran to Manage Product Development of Ultra Green Vehicle; California Rollout to Begin in Q4, 2008

April 23, 2008 09:05 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Neil Hannemann
Neil Hannemann

CARLSBAD, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aptera Motors announced today that the ultra-green auto company has hired niche automotive industry veteran, Neil Hannemann. He joins the Aptera Family today as SVP of Program Management and Manufacturing.

“Neil is a major piece of the puzzle for Aptera”

“Neil’s career spans more than 30 years including specialty vehicle development positions with GM, DaimlerChrysler, Saleen, Ford, and McLaren. He has successfully launched half a dozen limited production cars. That is an amazing track record and one Aptera looks to leverage as we prepare for consumer rollout in Q4, 2008,” says Aptera CEO and co-founder, Steve Fambro.

Hannemann, a GMI grad (BSME), started early in his career at GM, where he worked at the assembly plant. He then assembled and directed an engineering team responsible for the aerodynamic development of the NASCAR Winston Cup cars, including the design and manufacture of stamped steel racecar body panels, composite front and rear fascias, and Lexan windshields. From there, Hannemann did a stint in a crash sled lab and went on to spend many years with DaimlerChrysler, where he focused on hard-core product development in chassis, suspensions, powertrain, and body structures. During his time there, Hannemann also held the Viper and NASCAR program manager posts.

“While most engineers would consider the Viper and NASCAR manager positions the culmination of a career, Neil took his life’s work to new heights at Saleen, where he managed the development of the S7, a limited-production, 200mph American Supercar—one of the most extraordinary cars the world has ever seen,” added Fambro.

Next, Ford Motor Company hired Hannemann to run its supercar GT program, where he choreographed vehicle design and resolved many integration issues in association with Lear Corporation and other leading suppliers. Upon completion of the GT, Hannemann moved on to McLaren Automotive—another household name in the niche car industry—overseeing all aspects of engineering and technical integrity for products, including a new mid-engine sports car for Mercedes-Benz. He has since been consulting on race vehicle engineering and low-volume, niche vehicle design.

“I’m so pleased to join the Aptera Team,” said Hannemann. “The major difference between the Aptera and most of the other vehicles that I have helped to develop is that the other vehicles—Viper, Saleen, Ford GT, McLaren—are exotic cars that are luxury goods for affluent folks. The Aptera is a vehicle that could change the face of personal transportation for almost everyone. It can provide affordable personal transportation that has a very low impact on our planet. I look forward to contributing my expertise to day-to-day operations and putting the company’s groundbreaking green vehicle on the road.”

“Neil is a major piece of the puzzle for Aptera,” said Aptera co-founder, Chris Anthony. “His extensive experience in successfully bringing high-performance niche vehicles to market is second to none. Neil’s breadth of knowledge in aerodynamics and alternative materials were also huge selling points. We are thrilled for him to join the Aptera Family.”

About Aptera
Aptera makes the most efficient passenger vehicles in the world. Their first production model, the Typ-1, will be available in December 2008 at a cost of about 30K. The all-electric version gets 120 miles per charge, while the hybrid version gets 300 MPG. With these results, Aptera aims to change the way the world thinks about transportation. And with its commitment to efficiency and safety, the company is poised to lead a new era of vehicle design. California residents can reserve a vehicle now by placing a fully refundable $500 deposit at www.aptera.com.

Contacts for Aptera
Tisha Doré, 760.505.9676
tisha@szpr.com