All posts by David Bruno

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

HAGERTY: CLASS OF 2019 – TOP 10 CLASSIC CARS TO BUY

January 10, 2019 David Bruno

Class of 2019
Hagerty’s Top 10 Classic Cars to Buy This Year

By: AARON ROBINSON on January 7, 2019
Original Article: HAGERTY.COM

When the gavel came down on lot number 372 at the Barrett-Jackson auction in Las Vegas this past September, it smashed any remaining illusions that modern mass-produced cars will never be collectible. The 1997 Acura Integra Type R with 1191 miles showing hammered at $63,800, a startling figure for what is basically a gussied-up Honda hatchback. Indeed, the Integra outperformed a bumblebee yellow 1970 Dodge Charger 440 and a Highland Green (of course) 1968 Mustang 289 fastback, two collectible-car perennials that went across the same block that weekend. What, you might ask, is the world coming to?

Well, the world seems pretty much the same, meaning that values are still rising on some special cars that were once thought commonplace. However, the era of those cars keeps shifting forward as the clock on the wall keeps spinning. Your high-school dream machine may have had a big-block and a shaker, but the guy next to you at the bar might have wanted VTEC and an 8000-rpm redline. And if he graduated high school in 1997, he’s no kid anymore; he’s pushing 40 and perhaps ready to purchase a time machine with whatever cash it takes.

In this, our second annual Bull Market roundup, we have again pulled together a list of mostly later-model cars and trucks that the Hagerty valuation team believes are on the move. These 10 vehicles have slid the usual slope of depreciation and attrition, and the higher-quality survivors are ready to start climbing. Or they have already started climbing and are now poised to launch.

As we did last year, we reached out to our Hagerty membership for owners of the cars on our list. And as happened last year, they astonished us with their willingness to take time off from their lives and troop out to the storied Lime Rock Park circuit in Connecticut’s pastoral Berkshires to be a part of this event. It couldn’t have happened without them. And one of Lime Rock’s favorite sons—racer, author, and TV commentator Sam Posey—dropped in to tell stories, such as that time in 1971 when he was burning down Le Mans’ Mulsanne Straight at 248 mph in a Ferrari 512M. Posey recalled, “I was passed by Pedro Rodriguez in a longtail 917, and he was as white as a sheet.”

So if you’re wondering what the collectible-car world is coming to, take heart. From our vantage point, it looks pretty darn healthy.

1972-1975 BMW 3.0CSL

So much of BMW’s celebrated iconography is rolled up in this one big 1970s coupe. It launched BMW’s M motorsport division. It was part of a family of vehicles that introduced the upturned stop to the rear quarter-window line, the Hofmeister kink, that has been used by BMW for decades and relentlessly copied by others. It pioneered the use of BMW’s tricolor racing stripes, the blue representing the Bavarian flag, the red honoring an early racing partnership with Texaco (bet you didn’t know that), and the purple wedged between them as a bridge. In 1975, the avant-garde painter and sculptor Alexander Calder went to town on one, establishing BMW Art Cars as a thing. Just 1265 3.0CSLs were made, making it as rare as many vintage Italian exotics. On the blue-spinner hierarchy, BMW collectors have recently started valuing them only below the illustrious 507 roadster, the M1 supercar, and the 503 coupe.

The scarcity of CSLs in America is driven by the fact that of the several iterations made—from the earliest 180-hp, 3.0-liter carbureted model that debuted in mid-1971 to the final 206-hp, 3.2-liter injected version that closed out production in late 1975—none was officially imported to the U.S. It was a European homologation special, assembled under contract by Karmann, with thinner steel and several aluminum panels to shave more than 400 pounds from the standard 3.0CS. A warbling inline-six tuned for racing turned the wheels, Bilstein shocks augmented the revamped suspension, and winglets and dams shaped the airflow. One version even came with a big wing tossed in the trunk but not factory fitted because such things were technically illegal for the road—all so BMW could enter the car in the German Touring Car Championship.

If you swear you’ve seen one before, it was probably a BMW 3.0CS, a lovely autobahn eater that went on sale in the U.S. in 1970. Its four round, 5.5-inch headlights, another BMW hallmark introduced by this model, made the car federally compliant, and it became the face of the twin-kidney brand for two decades. So many firsts and so few examples—that is the essence of a collectible car.

1973 BMW 3.0CSL
Engine inline-six, 3153 cc
Power 206 hp @ 5600 rpm
Torque 211 lb-ft @ 4200 rpm
Weight 2800 lb
Power-to-weight 13.6 lb/hp
0–60 6.5 sec
Top speed 137 mph
Price when new $10,214
Hagerty value $218,500–$264,700

THE HAGERTY VALUATION TEAM SAYS:

These cars aren’t common, and their values are up 10 percent in the past 12 months. Even though #2 cars are valued at $250,000, we think there is room to grow. BMWs saw the second-highest insurance-quote increase over the past year (after Jeep), and many of the quotes are for people under 55 years old. BMW and Porsche draw many of the same buyers, and as Porsche values grow and price people out, BMWs get more attractive.

2003 Porsche Boxster S, photo by DW Burnett

1997-2004 Porsche Boxster

The recession of the early 1990s had been hard on Porsche, and the nearly bankrupt company was in survival mode. Determined not to be so vulnerable again, Porsche hired a team of former Toyota consultants to help streamline production and rationalize the product line, introducing an SUV and relaunching an entry-level mid-engine volume model akin to the old 914. From the windshield forward, the ensuing 1997 Porsche Boxster was nearly identical to the 996-generation 911, which was released almost at the same time. Jointly developing the two cars drastically cut Porsche’s engineering and production costs, helping loft the company to the exalted position it enjoys today as the industry’s most profitable company on a per-unit basis.

Although that first Boxster may have benefited from the advice of the makers of soulless Japanese appliances, it is hardly without a soul. Low, curvaceous lines, a wailing flat-six, and highly organic handling made the Boxster an instant car-magazine favorite, moving one jaded journalist to declare it was “so much fun that it’s gotta be a sin.” The demand for those early cars was so strong that Porsche shelved plans for the more powerful S model until 2000, as the assembly lines in Germany and Finland were already strained to capacity.

The large number of cars built and some known quality issues mean the values for this genuine son of Stuttgart have depreciated into widely affordable territory. You can be lapping up the top-down delights of a Boxster while enjoying nearly perfect ergonomics and carving your favorite road to ribbons—all for $15,000 or less. The Boxster is everything a Porsche should be: luxurious, thrilling, and above all fun.

2003 PORSCHE BOXSTER S
Engine flat-six, 3179 cc
Power 258 hp @ 6200 rpm
Torque 229 lb-ft @ 4500 rpm
Weight 3000 lb
Power-to-weight 11.6 lb/hp
0–60 5.3 sec
Top speed 162 mph
Price when new $51,600
Hagerty value $13,800–$17,200

THE HAGERTY VALUATION TEAM SAYS:

Why this car got cheap: It has the early ugly headlights, the intermediate shaft bearing problem, and a reputation for poor build quality. But 15 years after production ended, there’s a fix for the bearing, and most survivors will have had it done. Many people who could buy a $50,000 car new are the kind who do the maintenance and keep records.

1989 Saleen Mustang, photo by Sandon Voelker

1984-1993 Saleen Mustang

One thing you can say about Steve Saleen is that he’s no quitter. The local Southern California car geek rose from a young club-racing greenhorn all the way to IndyCar and went from repainting Mustangs in his backyard to being Ford’s selected contractor to build the 2004–6 Ford GT. He started Saleen Autosport in 1983 as a Mustang modification house and was recognized by the federal government as a specialty-car manufacturer, eventually producing his own supercar, the S7. Along the way he saw the rights to his own name snatched away by boardroom wrangling, reemerged with a new company called SMS Supercars, regained his name, and today has new projects including an exotic called the S1, performance-tuned versions of the Ford F-150, and a showroom in Shanghai, China. Set the rewind button to 1989, when Saleen Autosport was turning stock 225-hp Mustangs into SCCA club racers for the street, with firmer shocks and springs, larger brakes, and a variety of cosmetic and functional exterior and interior bits, including Flofit bucket seats and a Momo steering wheel. The cars retailed for about $25,000, a significant bump from the stock Mustang LX but at the time the ultimate tuned Mustang with a warranty.

Behind the wheel, the time trip took some of us straight back to high school as we faced the geometric dash that was a hallmark of the Fox-body Mustangs of the era. The simmering V-8 doesn’t make the thunder and lightning of today’s muscle cars, but it can spin the tires and pitch the car sideways, as editor-in-chief Larry Webster demonstrates in the photo above. Owner Donald Carter, Jr.’s, father found this Saleen, which had been in the collection of a Ford dealer, in 1993. He bought it not for himself but for Donald’s mother, who at the time was in her 80s. “Elsa always wanted a sports car,” says Carter. The Saleen became her weekend toy. Her daily driver remained a ’71 Chevy Impala. Today, Carter is a full-blooded hot rodder and engine builder, and he keeps the Saleen under a sheet in the garage, there to remind him of his gear-jamming mom.

1989 SALEEN MUSTANG
Engine V-8, 4942 cc
Power 225 hp @ 4000 rpm
Torque 300 lb-ft @ 3200 rpm
Weight 3000 lb
Power-to-weight 13.3 lb/hp
0–60 6.0 sec
Top speed 149 mph
Price when new $25,500
Hagerty value $26,400–$32,500

THE HAGERTY VALUATION TEAM SAYS:

Fox-body Saleen Mustangs are the early Shelby GT350s of the 1980s. Similarities include being created for SCCA competition by a famous driver and incredibly low production numbers. Bone-jarringly stiff, unapologetic, absolute race cars for the street, these early Saleens are still trading for not much more than a garden-variety Foxbody Mustang GT. For now. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

1996 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport

Old names carry big weight in the Corvette world, mainly because Chevrolet, wisely, has never tossed around badges such as Z06, ZR1, and Grand Sport lightly. When you laid out for one of the special Vettes, you truly got something for your money: substantially more horsepower, for one thing, plus exclusive trimmings and maybe a pleasing retro paint scheme. People who buy Corvettes tend to like the fact that they’re joining an old and illustrious family, and the 1996 Grand Sport plainly evokes the model’s racing heritage.

A one-year gift to the Corvette faithful to celebrate the close of the C4’s 12-year production run, the RPO Z16 Grand Sport option was collectible the minute the first of the 1000 examples—810 coupes, 190 convertibles—hit showrooms. Yes, for another $3250 above the Corvette coupe’s $37,225 base price, you got more power, as the placard on the center console next to the six-speed shifter proudly proclaims. Besides calling out the LT4’s 330 horsepower and 340 pound-feet of torque, the placard tells you in large type that the 5.7-liter engine has a 10.8:1 compression ratio, not a common stat found on an interior car badge.

After building Corvettes for four decades, the Chevrolet of the mid-1990s knew that its Vette customers like to quote figures because they get asked a lot.

You could have any color as long as it was Admiral Blue with an Arctic White “skunk stripe” down the center and twin red hash marks on the driver’s front fender. The majority came with black interiors, but a few years ago, John Crynock—who owns two Vettes, this GS and a ’98 Indy Pace Car Replica—pounced on one of the 217 Grand Sport coupes delivered with red seats. The C4 will rocket you back in time in terms of interior electronics and GM build quality, but the rumbling LT4 can still rocket you forward with equal ferocity. The view over the wide bat-wing hood has been and will remain a Corvette trademark, at least until the mid-engine Vette arrives next year to once again evolve the Plastic Fantastic.

1996 CORVETTE GRAND SPORT
Engine V-8, 5733 cc
Power 330 hp @ 5800 rpm
Torque 340 lb-ft @ 4500 rpm
Weight 3400 lb
Power-to-weight 10.3 lb/hp
0–60 5.2 sec
Top speed 168 mph
Price when new $37,225
Hagerty value $36,100–$49,500

THE HAGERTY VALUATION TEAM SAYS:

Just 1000 examples built in one year means these cars are rare, fast, and distinctive. In a Corvette—in fact, in most cars—those factors add value. Plus, most Grand Sports were treated as collector cars from new, which means lots of low-mileage choices out there.

2004 Subaru WRX STI, photo by DW Burnett

2004-2007 Subaru Impreza WRX STI

A whole generation of drivers learned the letters STI through video games. Before then, the vehicles produced by Subaru Tecnica International, the company’s racing division, were obscure Japanese home-market homologation specials built to support Subaru’s efforts in international rallying. By the early 2000s, however, buyers in North America, familiar with cars like the WRX STI from Gran Turismo and other games, were demanding to be let in on the fun. The first U.S.-legal WRX turbo appeared for the 2002 model year, followed shortly by an even heavier-breathing STI version, and Nipon nerds delighted in the brief turbo-tech war that ensued between Subaru’s all-wheel-drive hot rod and the similarly exotic Mitsubishi Evo.

The STI had big wheels, a big wing, big suspension upgrades, and a big engine. The 2.5-liter flat-four munched on 14.5 psi of boost to make 300 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque in a car weighing 3300 pounds. It’s worth noting that, 15 years later, the 2019 model makes 310 horsepower and 290 pound-feet of torque, and the base STI now weighs about 200 more pounds. In other words, unlike many long-running models, that first STI was in some ways the best.

Owner Rich Schaars bought a new WRX in 2002 and in late 2003 tried to trade it in for an STI, but the dealers wanted huge markups. He waited them out over the winter, and by the spring of 2004, dealers were ready to sell at list. More than 100,000 miles and a full engine rebuild later, Schaars’s STI is otherwise remarkably well preserved, accelerating and steering as fiercely as it did when new while evoking Subaru racing glory with its gold wheels and British American Tobacco blue paint.

The years have passed, Mitsubishi has faded, and Subaru no longer wants to talk about its rallying days, somehow believing that creates a hooligan cloud over a brand that is trying to move upscale to become a sort of discounted Audi. You couldn’t even get blue paint over gold wheels on an STI for a while, and now only the limited-edition $50,000 WRX STI Type RA offers the combo. So, although you can buy a new STI, you can really no longer buy a car as weirdly special as that first one.

2004 SUBARU WRX STI
Engine flat-four, 2457 cc
Power 300 hp @ 6000 rpm
Torque 300 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm
Weight 3300 lb
Power-to-weight 11.0 lb/hp
0–60 4.9 sec
Top speed 155 mph
Price when new $32,000
Hagerty value $25,700–$33,700

THE HAGERTY VALUATION TEAM SAYS:

The real-life versions of the cars we played in Need for Speed were too expensive for the kids who wanted them. But as those kids became adults and made money, the cars got older and cheaper. Good examples are hard to find today, but they are that much more valuable.

1988 Toyota MR2 S/C, photo by DW Burnett

1985-1989 Toyota MR2

The House of Camry isn’t really known for its sports cars, but Toyota has produced a few gems, including the 2000GT and lesser known Sports 800, both from the 1960s. It was the memory of the tiny Sports 800 plus the 1970s energy crisis plus the rapidly growing North American market that inspired Toyota to launch the lightweight (and lightly powered) MR2 in 1985. The odd name equated to “midship-engine runabout two-seater.” The MR2 may have been a 1970s idea, but it was fully teased-hair, floppy-disk, boombox 1980s when it arrived priced around $12,000 and shaped like Tron’s door stop.

A 1.6-liter, twin-cam, 16-valve four producing a mere 112 horsepower growled behind the seats of this junior Ferrari. But the car weighed a mere 2400 pounds, and the engine could zing to 7500 rpm, which ensured that even the dullest commute would have its moments. Everything was light, from the flickable five-speed gearbox to the two-spoke steering wheel that worked the 185/60-14 tires to the way it pranced through corners.

Almost immediately after introducing the MR2, Toyota started piling on features: first, optional T-tops and monochromatic side skirts, then a 145-hp supercharged engine in 1988. The 0-to-60-mph time dropped from about eight seconds to 6.5, but the price jumped to almost $20,000. The MR2 was moving uptown, and a 1990 redesign rounded off all the edges and significantly increased the size, weight, and horsepower.

Owner Jeff Miller was born after his MR2 Supercharged was made and says he had no particular interest in them or in cars in general until playing a video game that included the original MR2. Now Miller owns two of them. A Toyota that converts young people into car collectors? Domo arigato, Mr. Roboto!

1988 TOYOTA MR2 S/C
Engine inline-four, 1587 cc
Power 145 hp @ 6400 rpm
Torque 137 lb-ft @ 4400 rpm
Weight 2600 lb
Power-to-weight 17.9 lb/hp
0–60 6.5 sec
Top speed 130 mph
Price when new $19,750
Hagerty value $10,800–$14,100

THE HAGERTY VALUATION TEAM SAYS:

A car-magazine favorite when new that represents all the cool design things about the 1980s. Clean #2 cars are still less than $15K, but values are up 25 percent. Millennials make up 45 percent of our quotes, which is insane; they were toddlers when the MR2 was introduced. These are people just getting into the hobby, so there’s room to grow.

2004 Dodge Ram SRT10, photo by DW Burnett

2004-2006 Dodge Ram SRT10

Bold, brash, and more than a little bizarre, the Dodge Viper was the American Lamborghini, a wholly unapologetic gas-guzzling, two-seat screw-you to the presumed responsibilities of adulthood. Likewise, the Dodge Ram SRT10 was a kind of American Lamborghini LM002, another truck with a ridiculously overcompensating engine that served no purpose other than to make people giggle. It took Chrysler 13 years after the Viper’s debut to answer this absurd “what if” question by shoving the Viper’s 500-hp, 8.3-liter V-10 and a big red “start” button into its regular-cab, short-box Ram pickup. The result was a 5100-pound keg hauler that roasted 60 mph in under five seconds while slurping up the juice at the rate of 12 mpg.

During the brief years of production from 2004 to 2006, a four-door variant appeared, offering an automatic transmission and a 7500-pound tow rating (the original had no tow rating owing to the lowered ride height and worries about clutch life). Weighing more than 5600 pounds, the SRT10 Quad Cab was a $52,115 hulking hunk of high-caliber freedom that could at least perform some of the duties of an actual pickup truck. The factory built nearly 10,000 SRT10s of two- and four-door variety, as well as a few special editions such as the Yellow Fever and the Night Runner.

Car and Driver magazine summed up the SRT10’s behind-the-wheel experience as follows: “Cement-truck ride, cement-truck noise, fuel mileage worse than a cement truck’s.” We would only add that the combination of the heavy clutch and lanky shifter, plus the typically slushy pickup-truck steering, makes navigating a twisty road feel like performing spinal surgery with a CAT excavator. Yet listening to that V-10 make its distinctive syncopated roar as it roasts the rear meats (our photo truck had nonfactory side pipes) is a hilarious joy. A hot-rod pickup seems an anachronism today when factory performance trucks such as the Ford Raptor are really about off-road prowess, but that is part of the Ram SRT10’s brutish charm. It apologizes for nothing.

2004 DODGE RAM SRT10
Engine V-10, 8277 cc
Power 500 hp @ 5600 rpm
Torque 525 lb-ft @ 4200 rpm
Weight 5100 lb
Power-to-weight 10.2 lb/hp
0–60 4.9 sec
Top speed 150 mph
Price when new $45,000
Hagerty value $26,700–$35,000

THE HAGERTY VALUATION TEAM SAYS:

Our insurance quotes are up 40 percent, and 61 percent of those are from Gen X and millennials, meaning the interested parties are under 55. Auction sale prices are up 15 percent. At the Mecum sale in Monterey, a 1500- mile truck went for $56,000, 10 grand over the original MSRP. They’re really hot right now, they’re moving, and there really isn’t a substitute. A pickup with a V-10 and six-speed is an uncommon combination.

1980-1986 Ford Bronco

Of course, the later versions of Ford’s original sport-utility vehicle will be forever associated with the events of June 17, 1994. That’s when retired NFL defensive end Al Cowlings gave his buddy O.J. Simpson a lift down a Los Angeles freeway as 95 million people watched on television. That particular 1993 white Bronco now lives in the Alcatraz East Crime Museum in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, and no doubt aficionados of later Broncos shudder at the connection. Their beloved trucks are so much more than a single tawdry TV moment that must come up in every gas-pump conversation with strangers.

These latter Broncos are everything people love about big two-door SUVs. They’re huge, comfortable, fun in their own easygoing way, and plaid-and-plastic time machines back to the pre-motherboard era. The owners of this particular third-generation example have five Broncos in their fleet, and when the local Bronco club last met, 50 of them convoyed under police escort because “there’s something about a Bronco and a police escort,” said the fellow who brought the car on behalf of the owners. Well, at least they have a sense of humor.

Now that values of the first-gen Broncos have reached the level of surreal, the later full-size ones (as well as the few surviving Ranger-based Bronco IIs) are moving as well. Don’t blame yourself if you can’t picture the second-gen Bronco; Ford only built it for two years, from 1978 to ’79, and finally abandoned its special platform. Like the Chevy Blazer, the Bronco at that point became simply a bobtail version of the contemporary full-size pickup but with a fiberglass cap. The third gen debuted in 1980 with an eggcrate grille and inset headlights—the flush headlights didn’t appear until the fourth gen in 1987—and a range of engines that topped out in 1984 with a high-output (okay, 210 horsepower) 351 V-8. The third-gen was also notable for the adoption of an independent “twin traction beam” suspension, which made the ride pleasantly less agrarian.

With a new small Bronco expected for the 2020 model year, Bronco interest is higher than ever. Perhaps even higher than in the summer of 1994.

1983 FORD BRONCO
Engine V-8, 4917 cc
Power 130 hp @ 3800 rpm
Torque 222 lb-ft @ 2000 rpm
Weight 4100 lb
Power-to-weight 31.5 lb/hp
0–60 14.4 sec
Top speed 86 mph
Price when new $10,858
Hagerty value $13,400–$18,100

THE HAGERTY VALUATION TEAM SAYS:

Just as with later Benz SLs, there’s a strong substitution effect by people priced out of the first-generation vehicles. There wasn’t a big performance difference between all the model years, so there isn’t a big falloff in values from the ’70s to the ’80s. Millennials are twice as likely to quote a third-gen as a first-gen because they’re cheaper; a #2 value of $15K is a lot more accessible. The fact that they are bringing the Bronco back stands to help long-term values.

2009 Pontiac G8 GXP, photo by DW Burnett

2008-2009 Pontiac G8 GXP

The House of Wide-Track was still listing heavily to starboard from the Aztek debacle when the first Australian import, the GTO, arrived in 2004. Life on planet Pontiac was suddenly a lot more interesting, but hip-shooting product planning chief Bob Lutz’s strategy to further cultivate Holden’s rear-wheel-drive catalog didn’t advance again until the G8 sedan—né Holden Commodore—finally sailed in for the 2008 model year. It was a critical time lapse; by then the U.S. economy was in free fall along with the dollar, making the G8 unprofitable to import, and the new-car market had plunged to its lowest level since 1983. The G8 lived for two model years until GM strangled Pontiac as part of its bankruptcy reorganization.

The division went out swinging with the 2009 415-hp G8 GXP, likely the closest thing we’ll ever see to a four-door Corvette and the most powerful factory Pontiac ever made. The 6.2-liter LS3 V-8 could be paired with a six-speed automatic or, blessedly, a six-speed manual. Despite a curb weight of 4000 pounds, the car was good for 4.7-second holeshots to 60.

Owner Terrence Benton didn’t know any of this until his son, who worked at a Pontiac dealership, called and said, “Dad, you just gotta see this car.” Benton saw it, then ordered this silver automatic, then waited a full year to receive it. He put 60,000 miles on it as his daily driver until his son called again and said, “Dad, you gotta get another daily driver and garage that car.” Benton again followed his son’s advice, parking the GXP under a cover from which it emerges only on nice Sundays—and for Hagerty photo shoots. When asked if his car could be used for burnout shots, Benton said, “Sure, that’s what it’s for.”

2009 PONTIAC G8 GXP
Engine V-8, 6162 cc
Power 415 hp @ 5900 rpm
Torque 415 lb-ft @ 4600 rpm
Weight 4000 lb
Power-to-weight 9.6 lb/hp
0–60 4.7 sec
Top speed 146 mph
Price when new $39,900
Hagerty value $40,700–$47,800

THE HAGERTY VALUATION TEAM SAYS:

The last hurrah of the Pontiac brand, the GXP was the only G8 available with a manual trans. Members of the Pontiac fan club are crazy excited about their cars in general, and when the brand was discontinued, they went nuts and became even more enthusiastic. Values are up 10 percent over last year’s. There’s no downside to this car, and it will never get any cheaper.

1994 Buick Roadmaster, photo by DW Burnett

1994-1996 Buick Roadmaster

This elephantine throwback to an earlier age of family wagons with wood paneling and rear-facing kid seats seemed archaic on arrival in 1991, when Buick dug deep into its closet to pull out the Roadmaster name after a 33-year absence from the catalog. It and its considerably rarer Oldsmobile doppelgänger, the Custom Cruiser (there was a cheaper Chevy Caprice wagon, too), were nonetheless streamlined for the modern age, riding on GM’s giant B-body platform and basically being a state police cruiser underneath. Luxury touches for the Roadmaster included pillowy leather sofa seating, acres of faux wood filigree, and the mushy DynaRide rear air suspension.

The first “Roadmonsters” wafted their way up the driveways of the best antebellum estates with a 170-hp, 5.0-liter V-8, but the 1994–96 wagons are the ones to go for, having come standard with the 260-hp LT1 V-8 from the Corvette. Sure, the Roadmaster can shroud a whitewall in smoke—just one, because of the open differential—but the last great American road hog is best when it exudes a certain old-fashioned southern charm (hey, they were assembled in Texas) while lazing down the freeway on a wave of whipped buttermilk. Today’s buyers who want size XXL go for pickups and SUVs, which makes the big American car a rapidly disappearing animal. But a Roadmaster Estate looks far more swish than any pickup while swallowing a four-by-eight sheet of plywood through its tailgate, which folds down and also opens to the side. Not to mention it can tow up to 7000 pounds. Take that, crossover lovers!

Owner Jack Thomas’s Roadmaster in Light Driftwood Metallic is proudly unsporty, with doughy tall-sidewall tires that absorb bumps like punches to a fat roll. A retired insurance broker who has driven his Roadmaster daily for years, Thomas’s business card now advertises “used cars, whiskey, land, chicken manure, nails, fly swatters, racing forms, bongos, & oysters.”

Meaning he’s exactly the kind of guy GM had in mind when it built this car.

1994 BUICK ROADMASTER
Engine V-8, 5733 cc
Power 260 hp @ 5000 rpm
Torque 335 lb-ft @ 3200 rpm
Weight 4300 lb
Power-to-weight 16.5 lb/hp
0–60 8.1 sec
Top speed 118 mph
Price when new $26,400
Hagerty value $13,300–$18,300

THE HAGERTY VALUATION TEAM SAYS:

Is this the AMC Pacer of the ’90s? The number of insurance quotes we give on this car leads the overall market by 14 points. The quoted values have pretty much bottomed out, which means they are done depreciating. We don’t see them at the auctions yet, but they have a big cult following on social media, and there’s nowhere for Roadmasters to go but up.

[Source: Hagerty]

Enthusiast News

S7 (05-053) HEADS TO BARRETT-JACKSON, SCOTTSDALE AUCTION

January 3, 2019 David Bruno

Lot #1415 2005 SALEEN S7 TWIN TURBO

Auction: Scottsdale 2019
Location: SHOWCASE b-1
Reserve: NO RESERVE
Status: Available
Price: Request Bidder Info
Lot: 1415
Year: 2005
Make: SALEEN
Model: S7
Style: WIN TURBO

Description
Lot #1415 – This 2005 Saleen S7 Twin Turbo is one of a very limited number produced. Thanks to the two turbochargers delivering cool air into the mammoth 7.0-liter Ford V8 mated to a 6-speed manual transmission, the Saleen S7 Twin Turbo produces 750hp and 700 ft/lbs of torque. Pulling 1.1 Gs in lateral acceleration on a skid pad, the S7 Twin Turbo has achieved some world-class acceleration numbers, reaching 0 to 60 in just 2.8 seconds and 0 to 100 in a mere 5.9 seconds. A standing-start quarter-mile resulted in an elapsed time of 10.5 seconds at 145 mph.

This car was built in February 2005 and delivered in April 2005. This particular car was the very first Saleen S7 Twin Turbo to be shipped by the California company to Europe. The car never even had a Window Sticker, as Saleen hadn’t settled on pricing of its European deliveries when this car was sent overseas. This Saleen S7 Twin Turbo made its public debut at the Top Marks Show in Monaco, where its admirers included Prince Albert of Monaco and actor Roger Moore, who famously portrayed James Bond in numerous films. An Italian company called DR Group then purchased the car, before returning to the United States after Saleen founder Steve Saleen regained control of his company in 2012.

Trimmed out in silver paint over a black multi-toned leather and suede interior, it comes with performance sport seating, a custom-fitted driver’s seat, autoclave carbon-fiber body panels, heat-rejecting tinted glass and an LCD display. This supercar has 240 actual miles on the odometer.

Details
VIN: 1S9SB18175S000053
Exterior Color: SILVER
Interior Color: BLACK
Cylinders: 8
Engine Size: 427CI
Transmission: 6-SPEED MANUAL

www.barrett-jackson.com

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[Source: Barrett-Jackson]

Lifestyle

SALEEN SSC (89-0025SSC)

December 25, 2018 David Bruno

With humble beginnings of long ago Saleen Autosport, it is easy to forget how momentous their achievement was with bringing the 1989 SSC to market. This high-performance 5-liter Mustang was a juggernaut of excitement to 1980s performance vehicle communities. Evidence of this can be seen with the many period cover stories, feature articles and road reviews for Saleen’s new SSC Mustang.

89-0025SSC - Brad Bowling — 89-0025SSC – Brad Bowling

Beyond the infamous 89-0002 (former 01) SSC and Steve’s personal 89-0001 SSC, there were an exclusive number of privately owned Saleen SSC Mustangs running through reviews of supercharger and nitrous kit installations was well as basic performance data collecting for various enthusiast magazines. The Saleen SSC was a media king for 1989.

Many of these print publications would mention or proclaim how Saleen’s SSC was the “unofficial” 25th anniversary edition Ford Mustang. Given how Ford Motor Company lacked offering a special edition of their own. This “media stir” caused superfluous attention from customers towards SSC serial number 25. A new era of modern collector cars was gaining momentum by the late 80s.

Here we are thirty years later. As expected, a few Saleen SSC editions are no longer accounted for and have positively left the earth. Though, 89-0025 SSC still exists. Perhaps the noise of time diluted their fanfare, but this “Super Saleen” broke the obstacles for a continuing stream of exciting product from an intimate Southern California company. -DB

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Continue below for 89-0025 SSC sales details and photos.

1989 Ford Mustang
cylinders: 8 cylinders
fuel: gas
odometer: 18000
paint color: white
title status: clean
transmission: manual

Selling my 1989 Mustang Saleen SSC. This is only 1 in 160 SSCs ever created. This is a early production #25 with only 18k original miles. 5.0 engine and manual transmission are quiet and smooth.

Original paint that still has the pinstripe laser etching. No accidents. Interior is near perfect.

Car is in excellent condition, runs and drives great. Near mint interior. Still has the Saleen installed pioneer radio with eq and speaker box in the backseat.

Well documented as well.

Just ready to move onto something. Asking $35,000. Serious people only.

https://miami.craigslist.org/pbc/cto/6760226177.html

Event Announcement

FORD NATIONALS, CARLISLE, PENNSYLVANIA MAY 31 – JUNE 2, 2019

December 19, 2018 David Bruno

Carlisle Ford Nationals, May 31 to June 2, 2019

SOEC weekend hospitality tent

Vehicle Classes:
131: MUSTANG – 1984 – 1993 SALEEN
133: MUSTANG – 1994 – 2004 SALEEN
135: MUSTANG – 2005 – 2014 SALEEN
137: MUSTANG – 2015 – Present SALEEN
139: SALEEN POWERED (truck, Focus, S7, etc)

CLUB:
Choose SALEEN OWNERS AND ENTHUSIASTS CLUB in the club drop down menu on registration to help us help you.

Carlisle Events Website:
www.carsatcarlisle.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Carlisle Holiday Sale November 23rd – January 2nd

This year the sale returns and kicks off on Black Friday, November 23; running through Wednesday, January 2 at 5 p.m. For more than one month, fans of Carlisle Events and the 10 events produced by the company (plus four auctions backed by Carlisle Auctions) can secure all types of access at a 20% discount. This 20% discount includes season passes and showfield registration; again all at a 20% discount.

https://store.carlisleevents.com/

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Enthusiast News

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

December 14, 2018 David Bruno

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

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.

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.

Enthusiast News

PARCHMENT INTERIOR S281 SC (06-1084) HITS eBay

December 12, 2018 David Bruno

Price: $32,500.00
VIN: 1ZVHT85H765228657
Condition: Used
Vehicle Title: Clear
Year: 2006
Make: Ford
Model: Mustang
Trim: S281 Saleen
Engine: 4.6 L, 3V, SOHC V-8
Transmission: Automatic
Drive Type: RWD
Mileage: 66,500
Body Type: Convertible
Exterior Color: Laser Black
Interior Color: Tan
For Sale By: Private Seller
eBay #: 302992731538

Seller Notes:

“Supercharged Mustang that runs beautifully! Pros: 1 of a kind Saleen Mustang supercharged convertible -documentation from Saleen that this is the only black and tan Saleen mustang supercharged convertible with an automatic transmission built in 2006 -1640 Saleens produced in 2006. Only 416 were convertibles and of which only 203 of them came with a supercharged engine. Of that this is the ONLY black and tan automatic, supercharged convertible. Drives amazing, tons of power. No problems with transmission. Cons: A few (2-3) door dings, previous owner backed into the bumper/light. I had to repaint bumper and replace light. Clear title so no accident reports documented on Carfax.”

2006 Saleen Mustang Supercharged Convertible
Original MRSP $55,989
Engine: 4.6L, 3V, SOHC V-8
Horsepower: 435bhp@5800 RPM
Torque: 425lg-ft@4000RPM

Saleen Intercooled Supercharger: Saleen Series VI integrated Twinscrew Supercharge with Two-stage water-to-air intercooler system: Cast 356-T6 aluminum alloy construction

Saleen Management Design: molded front fascia, front grille, spoiler, body panels, turn signals…

Front Suspension: MacPherson strut with lower control arm; Saleen Racecraft system including N2 struts with linear-rate coil-over springs, 1.38 in tubular stabilizer (anti-roll bar)

Rear suspension: Saleen Racecraft system

Runs amazing, drives great

Clean history with no accidents per VIN history but the previous owner had bumped the front bumper which caused the paint to peel. I had to have bumper repainted and the front left light replaced.

Free shipping to lower 48 contiguous US states.

Contact me for more information, pictures or any questions regarding the mustang or shipping. Thanks for looking!

Enthusiast News

SALEEN MUSTANG (90-0030) WITH BLEAKLEY FORD ‘IMPRESSOR’ PACKAGE

December 3, 2018 David Bruno

During the third generation Mustang era, which saw the first production wave of Saleen Mustangs; US Ford dealers from coast-to-coast were analyzing and researching their ability to standout in the marketplace. From 1985 through 1993 a new Saleen Mustang could be ordered through any Ford dealer willing to submit the paperwork, but there were a select number of dealers who took on the role of becoming an “Authorized Retailer” for Saleen vehicles and product.

90-0030 Saleen Mustang — ‘Impressor’ Saleen Mustang

Across the country, Saleen dealers sprout to life offering this blue oval “halo car” to a re-energized high-performance hungry audience. A few prolific Saleen Authorized Dealers would go beyond stocking the minimum units, becoming a regional (if not national) hub for Saleen vehicle sales. These large Saleen dealers would be the genesis for a number of ‘special order’ and oddly equipped vehicles built for an enthusiastic customer base seeking Fox-era super Mustangs from Saleen.

One such dealer is John Bleakley Ford of Lithia Springs, Georgia. From 1987 through 1993 it is estimated Bleakley Ford ordered 100 Saleen Mustangs for both dealer stock and customer orders. A few highlights were: Receiving six 1989 SSC models, seven 1990-93 SC Editions, three 1992-93 Supercharged cars and delivering three SA-10 models.

To the best of our knowledge, the Bleakley Ford “Impressor” dealer package began during the 1989 model year and was offered as a possible option for new Saleen Mustangs orders/sales through Bleakley. This equipment package presented a number of engine and chassis modifications not unlike what Saleen Autosport had created with their new SSC model. The main difference with the Bleakley Impressor, it allowed for buyers to customize their equipment while costing less than the $36,500.00 retail price for an SSC. The basics of this dealer package continued through the 1990 model year.

As of this writing, we do not know of a 1991 or 1992 model year Bleakley Impressor equipped Saleen Mustang. We cannot help to think the lessons learned with the Impressor project lead to the 1993 Mustang GX model by Bleakley Ford. -DB

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Continue below for 90-0030 sales details and photos.

Vehicle Specifications
Price: $25,000.00
Year: 1990
Mileage: 97,000
VIN:
Condition: Excellent
Exterior Color: Black
Interior Color: Grey
Transmission: 5 Speed HD T5
Final Drive: 4:10 with LSD
Engine: 5.0L
Drivetrain: RWD

From my personal collection comes this very special, and very menacing, 1990 Saleen Mustang. It is Saleen serial #30, and 1 of just 173 Hatchbacks built for the 1990 model year. It is also one of just a few original black cars.

But beyond all of that #30 is also one of just a few documented original Bleakley Ford “Track Impressors”, also known simply as “Impressor” cars. For a little background on all of this in the Fox Body years John Bleakley Ford of Lithia Springs, Georgia was the #1 Saleen Mustang dealer in the USA, and also an epicenter of Fox Body Ford Motorsport and JBA performance upgrades. Bleakley Ford was to Mustangs in the 80s and 90s what the original “Supercar” dealers like Yenko Chevrolet and Mr. Norm’s Dodge were to their respective makes in the 1960s. Most telling is the fact that Bleakley helped develop the 1989 Saleen SSC in house. The following “Impressor Stage 1″ and “Impressor Stage 2″ packages incorporated much of the SSC upgrades but also gave the ability for owners to go one (or more!) steps beyond SSC spec with “off-road use only” equipment from the JBA and Ford Motorsport catalogs.

And such is how #30 came to be one of the baddest 1990 Saleens to ever roll out of Bleakley Ford. It’s original owner, Rob Boetger II, went all-in with the Impressor options list when he spec’d it out in early 1990. #30 would be fitted with the full Stage 2 package that consisted of:

-Deleted intake silencer
-K&N air filter
-JBA long tube “big bore” headers”
-Full Dynomax exhaust
-Polished valve covers
-160 degree thermostat
-Computer reset and timing re-curved
-65MM Throttle body
-Ported EGR spacer
-1.72 ratio SVO roller rocker arms
-Champion plugs and wires
-P245 rear tires
-SSC-style Roll Bar

This package cost $2,595 on top of the base price of $25,440 of the car from Saleen.

#30 was also equipped from new with the following additions to the Stage 2 package:

-Chrome aluminum valve covers
-Subframe connectors
-Ford Motorsport “Z303″ camshaft
-HD “World Class” Tremec T5 transmission replacing the standard duty one from Ford
-4.10:1 ring and pinion
-Auburn HD limited slip differential

Out the door, after negotiating, #30 cost a staggering $30,021, or roughly twice the cost of a new 1990 5.0L LX Hatchback.

The original paperwork, much of it pictured here, documents all of this and is quite extensive. It includes the original Saleen window sticker, a copy of the original Ford MSO, an original Impressor brochure and price sheet, Saleen owner’s kit, warranty card, purchase contracts, application for title, letters from Bleakley Ford and more.

Today #30 is in excellent condition with 97,000 miles. During my ownership #30 has been thoroughly serviced including all new fluids, a full tune, new BF Goodrich G-Force tires in the correct staggered 225/245 sizes, restoration of the original Saleen wheels, a full wheel alignment, new brake rotors and pads front and rear, a new Ford Racing aluminum drive shaft, new Eibach progressive rate front coil springs to improve ride quality (the original Racecraft springs are included), and more.

Cosmetically the car has been repainted at some point in the past and the paint is exceptionally nice. There is one piece of the plastic body side molding on the left quarter panel where the black paint has flaked off of an edge. The body and chassis are clean with zero rust noted anywhere, however the JBA headers and exhaust have surface rust, as well as some of the suspension components that started life as bare metal from Ford. I have a clean CarFax in hand showing no damage history. The plastic lever from the recline lever on the driver’s original Flofit seat is missing, a common issue. The car also has no catalytic converters or smog pump just as it has been since the conversion to an Impressor Stage 2 + car in 1990.

As you can see from the video the car gets up and goes and makes a sound that is out of this world! I’ve driven it frequently during my ownership and it is very strong and a blast to drive. The A/C blows cold, all of the power accessories work as they should, and it needs nothing to hop in and enjoy. It is also the perfect car to show up with at any Cars & Coffee, SOEC meeting, or even be the star of any Radwood show! No matter the venue people love it when this car comes rumbling in.

The similarities between 1965-1967 Shelby Mustangs and these early Saleen Mustangs are many, and with good reason. But the one similarity that stands out is that in the future people will also say “why didn’t I buy a Fox Body Saleen when I could?” And of the Fox Body Saleens it would be really hard to go wrong with #30, or beat it in the “bang for the buck” category.

[Source: Colin’s Classic Auto]

Lifestyle

HEMMINGS MUSCLE MACHINES: 1993 SALEEN RRR ‘CASPER’

November 30, 2018 David Bruno

Dream Come True
A once-in-a-lifetime chance to own a celebrity Mustang

By: LARRY HAUGER & TERRY MCGEAN on April 2018
Original Article: HEMMINGS MUSCLE MACHINES

1993 Saleen Mustang RRR "Casper" — 1993 Saleen Mustang RRR “Casper”

Since I was a young boy, I have been a fan of Ford cars. In the early 1980s, I focused primarily on Mustangs. I purchased a ’65 coupe with a 289 in 1980 and owned it for a number of years. In fact, my three kids learned to drive on that car.

In 1997, Kevin Hauger purchased a specially built 1993 Saleen Mustang from comedian/actor Tim Allen. Kevin and his wife took delivery after a taping of Allen’s show Home Improvement.

Then, in 1986, a coworker said her father was going to be selling an old Mustang, which turned out to be a 1964½ convertible with a 289 four-barrel, power top, and more. I wound up buying the car sight unseen, and then made the decision to fl y out and drive it home to Arizona all the way from New Jersey. I took a friend, and soon after we headed out in the Mustang, it started breaking down. In fact, I think we had a breakdown of some sort in every state we traveled through. The radiator blew up, we cooked the heads, the distributor shaft broke, and on it went. Plus, the car was pretty rusty, and had holes in the floor and a heater that didn’t work. This was in November, so we were freezing. By the time we got to Oklahoma, my friend was ready to fly home, and was trying to hire someone to haul the car the rest of the way. But we kept going. In 2001, I started a restoration on that car. I still have it, and the friend—we laugh about the trip now.

By the late 1980s, I had discovered the Saleen Mustang, and became an instant fan. By the early 1990s, I began watching Tim Allen and his hit show, Home Improvement, and soon became a big fan. In February of 1994, I received the March issue of Mustang Monthly magazine, and there on the cover was a dream that I did not realize I had: A Saleen Mustang custom built for Tim. What a beauty.
test

The vanity plate is a reference to the car’s nickname, “Casper” (i.e., the friendly ghost), bestowed by Tim Allen and the Saleen crew during the build, thanks to its all-white color scheme.

Fast forward to August or September of 1996. I was thumbing through a Mustang magazine and there was Tim’s Saleen for sale. I thought, “Wow, someone is going to buy a great Mustang.” Actually, I quickly realized that what I really meant was that someone probably already bought that great Mustang. I felt that way because, generally, by the time a magazine reaches your mailbox, the articles in it are already several months old. But, after about two weeks of the magazine laying on the coffee table, curiosity got the best of me, and I called the phone number listed in the ad for the Saleen.

To my surprise, it was still available. I introduced myself, and I was told I was speaking to Brett Gregory, the technical assistant to Tim. Within a few days, my wife and I were standing next to Brett and the Saleen at Tim’s shop in North Hollywood, California. We talked for several minutes, and then Brett asked if we wanted to go for a ride. Duh! We headed out with Brett driving, my wife in the backseat, and me riding shotgun. Brett hit the gas and my head hit the head rest. I had to buy this car. We pulled to the curb and Brett said, “You drive.” Really? Heart be still, oh yeah, I am going to buy this Saleen.
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In addition to the usual Saleen upgrades, this car features a special tool belt (upper left) for Tim “The Tool Man” Taylor, Allen’s TV character.

This car is truly unique—it is the only one that Saleen built with the custom carbon-fiber front end that features the narrower Thunderbird headlamp assemblies, along with some other custom body alterations. The drivetrain consists of a modified Ford 5.0 engine that uses a supercharger and makes 576 hp. It is backed with a Tremec five-speed and has 3.55 gears in the rear axle. The car does have a roll bar, though you can’t really see it— Saleen custom fabricated it to fit tightly to the inside of the interior’s contours. Later, when I visited the Saleen facility, they told me they’d never do another one like that.

When this car was being built, it got a fair amount of coverage in enthusiast car magazines, and Tim included it in some promotional press material at the time. There was a segment on Entertainment Tonight that was filmed at the Saleen facility with Tim and Steve Saleen, showing the car under construction; a follow-up had the car making laps on a road course. Despite the big deal made around the building of this car, Tim barely ever drove it—when I went to look at it, five years later, there were only 347 miles showing.

Kevin and his family own numerous other Fords, too.

Back at Tim’s shop, I proposed a deal to Brett. He ran it by Tim, and we reached an agreement. We would be back in January to pick up the Tim Allen, one-ofa- kind, Saleen Mustang.

So, in January of 1997, my wife and I drove to Tim’s shop. Tim graciously invited us to attend a taping of his TV show. Early in the afternoon we watched a rehearsal, and then afterwards, Tim took us out to the parking lot, where the “RRR” Saleen was parked next to Tim’s latest project, a black 1996 Chevy Impala SS with Corvette running gear.
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This Saleen’s most distinctive feature is its custom front end, featuring Thunderbird headlamp assemblies in a one-of-a-kind carbon-fiber fascia. This car also features a specially built supercharged 5.0 engine making 576 hp.

Tim talked about the Saleen, and we took pictures. After the pictures, we talked more about the car and then headed back into the studio for the live taping of the show. After the taping, Tim invited us up to his dressing room. We passed all the other stars of the show along the way. Several people were there, and Tim was kind enough to talk with us some more and autograph a few personal items that we brought along. One of those items was that 1994 Mustang Monthly magazine with the Saleen on the cover and a great spread of the car on the inside. He signed the cover page!

Kevin has taken the one-off Mustang to Saleen’s facility in Southern California for car shows on several occasions. There he met Steve Saleen himself, who signed the car’s dash.

A great night was had by all. The next morning, we loaded the Saleen Mustang on the trailer and brought it home to Phoenix. We stayed in contact with Brett over the years and made a few more trips back to the studio to watch the taping of Home Improvement. Brett has shown us around Tim’s shop, letting us check out Tim’s very cool collection.

Since then, I’ve driven the Saleen sparingly, and have taken it to some local shows where it has taken some trophies. I did drive it back to southern California a few times to attend shows held at Saleen’s facility, most recently last September.

The Saleen now has about 2,700 miles on it, and always draws a crowd whenever it is out, along with a lot of questions. But, recently I decided it was time to hand it over to my daughter and her family. They are all drag racers—my daughter, her husband, and even their two kids, who run junior dragsters. The Saleen won’t be raced, of course, but I know it’s in good hands and, in time, it will go to my grandson.

Do you have photos from “back in the day” of your muscle car(s) and an interesting story to write? It’s high school English class assignment time: Submit your images, memories and contact information to Muscle Car Scrapbook, c/o Hemmings Muscle Machines, attention: Terry McGean, P.O. Box 2000, Bennington, Vermont 05201, or email tmcgean@hemmings.com.

Steve Saleen adding his signature to Casper.

[Source: Hemmings Muscle Machines]

Enthusiast News

RARE YELLOW S351 SPEEDSTER (98-0022S) APPEARS

November 26, 2018 David Bruno

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]

Enthusiast News

2007 GT500 COUPE BY SPEEDLAB IRVINE, AGAIN OFFERED BY MOTORCARS OF JACKSON

November 21, 2018 David Bruno

Editor Note: This 2007 GT500 Shelby Mustang was never a serialized Saleen vehicle. It was a post-title custom created by Saleen Speedlab in Irvine (Parts Department) on owner request.

Previous For Sale Ad.

2007 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 ** The Lucky 1- Unit # 01/01 **

Price: $79,900
Type: Used
Year: 2007
Make: Ford
Model: Mustang
Body: Coupe
Transmission: Manual
Stock: 75245752
Mileage: 2,658
Engine size: 5.4L 32-Valve Supercharged V8 Engine
Ext color: Performance White
Int color: Charcoal
VIN: 1ZVHT88S875245752
www.motorcarsofjackson.com

2007 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 SALEEN
PLEASE READ THE WHOLE DESCRIPTION!

Specialty Collector Car #01 of One!

2007 Shelby Saleen … What??
Only 2600 Original Miles

The #01 and Only Shelby GT500 sent to Saleen Speedlab

Exclusive Offering from the owner’s personal collection.

This Mustang is pure automotive history … documentation from day 1!

*** Serious Inquiries Only ***

This Shelby was ordered over 2 years before production began on the much anticipated 2007 Shelby GT500s. It was sent to Saleen Speedlab right after it arrived.

From what we understand:
The owner knew Steve Saleen personally and Saleen did the work on this Shelby GT500 in order to get the specifics to make the parts that would fit on the Shelby GT500s. Carroll Shelby found out that Saleen did this vehicle .. words were exchanged (to put it nicely) .. and an agreement that no other Shelbys would go to Saleen was made.

The dash plaque is signed by Carroll Shelby. Steve Saleen personally signed the vehicle along with every crew member from SALEEN SpeedLab that built it

Build Sheet:
* SVT 5.4 Supercharged … 550hp
* 6-Speed Tremec Transmission
* GT500 Leather Interior
* Short Throw Shifter
* 35% Custom Window Film
* SALEEN SpeedLab Equipment
* Shaker 1000 Sound System w/ Subwoofer
* SALEEN Tuned Power Programmer
* SVT Peformance Pkg
* Performance White – Blue Stripes
* Custom Rear View Mirrors
* Special Order Cobra

100% CARFAX Certified! — 100% Autocheck Guaranteed!

Included:
This SALEEN Shelby GT 500 comes with all books, manuals, floor mats, 2 keys, and all documentation from SALEEN SpeedLab, and the magazine it was featured in.

Delivery:
We offer complimentary airport pick-up or can help you arrange shipping/delivery directly to your door for a stress free internet buying experience.

Fees:
We do NOT charge any type of fees. No dealer fees, prep fees, temporary tag fees ….. NO HIDDEN FEES. (We only collect sales tax for Mississippi residents.)

Contact Chip @ 769.243.8568 to schedule a showing, inspection, or answer ANY questions you may have. Thanks for viewing this www.MotorcarsofJackson.com vehicle.

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