Speedlab / BullyDog / Performance Autosport AI Mustang
It was a great weekend for the Speedlab BullyDog Performance Autosport team. Chris Cobetto piloted his Saleen Speedlab 01-R Mustang to two pole positions and two podium finishes, including the team’s first win. The win was sweetened post impound when the team found that they had smashed the American Iron class record by more than one second, turning those strong, light HRE wheels over quicker than anyone else for a lightning fast 2:07.36, a time nearly four seconds faster than the cars initial outing in February.
Speedlab / BullyDog / Performance Autosport AI Mustang
Extreme Rainbow became the first optional Saleen custom color to capture both media and enthusiast attention. Developed by BASF, a partner in the Horse of a Different Color contest of 1996 that produced a one-off Extreme Mystic S351, Rainbow took a baton from Ford Motor Company by continuing to offer color changing pigments for mass consumption.
Introduced through BASF’s Extreme Colors line, Rainbow would become a long running staple in Saleen’s custom color chart. From late 1996 through 2009 Saleen produced 19 vehicles in this retina blasting hue.
One such vehicle is 00-0387, a unique S281 Supercharged Speedster loaded to the gills with optional equipment. Current owner, Johnny Elias, located 00-0387 by way of a popular internet auction site this past winter. No stranger to New Edge Saleen Mustangs, Johnny captured 00-0387 with much anticipation.
Produced in May 2000 and delivered to Marietta Ford, #387 features a laundry list of optional Saleen equipment. Beginning with an S281 Supercharged convertible, #387 hosts the following: Heat extractor hood, 10″ rear wheels, tire upgrade, chrome wheels, 13″ front brake upgrade, Saleen/Recaro leather seating, Saleen floor mats, carbon fiber accent trim, and Speedster package.
For the 2000 model year Saleen produced 974 Mustangs, 203 were Supercharged convertibles, 178 featured 5-speed manual transmissions and 94 were Speedsters. Of those, 19 had Saleen/Recaro leather seating with four featuring carbon fiber trim.
Of the 974 street Mustangs produced for the model year, eight were painted a Saleen custom color.
Photos: “Bottlefed83” via Photobucket
Original Post: November 16, 2008 at 10:28 PM
Original Thread: FOUREYEDPRIDE.COM
89-0348 Saleen Mustang
The 1987 through 1993 Saleen Mustangs based upon 2-door “coupe” bodies (aka: hardtops, notchbacks) are a fairly uncommon sight. These coupes were never produced in large quantities and were never marketed or advertised on a national, mainstream channel. The “coupes” were mainly side-note and news brief articles for enthusiast publications during 1987 and 1988.
When we look back at 1987-93 coupe production, the estimated tally equaled 65 units of Saleen Mustangs that were once roaming the streets with their funky square roofs and trunk lids. Two of the more famous examples were the Scarlet Red 87-0068 coupe for Austin Craig and the not-so-controversial run of fourteen white 1988 SSP coupes for Damerow Ford of Beaverton Oregon.
The rarity of these coupes did not translate to kid glove care. When you examine the individual histories and lives of these rare Saleen Mustangs, a range of use and abuse comes to the surface. Yes, there were thefts that were never recovered, other cars were stolen and stripped of all their equipment, a few were damaged and scrapped, while some were used as “normal” vehicles and treated as such.
When we review 1989 vehicle production, Saleen Autosport shipped out about 900 serialized vehicles to dealers. When you take into account the unnumbered 1989 California Sport GT and “other” dealer specials, 1989 was the most prolific year for the 6-year-old company.
89-0348 Saleen Mustang
Over the 1989 model year, Saleen produced an estimate of 26 Saleen Mustangs on the 2-door coupe body. Of those 26, 11 are believed to have been painted Oxford White. When we view those 11, Smoke Grey interiors were in 10 units while one featured Regatta Blue interior appointments with custom Saleen/FloFit seating. Production number 89-0348.
89-0348 was delivered through Burch Ford, a source known for oddly ordered Saleen Mustangs, with a stereo delete and leather Ford SVO shift knob as options. This car is the only known ’89 Saleen to have the “SVO Knob” note and is one of six serialized Mustangs for the model year to have a stereo delete.
We don’t know much about the life and times of 89-0348. There was speculation the car was once hit hard in the rear and repaired. Years later it was hit on the driver’s side bending the roof. Eventually these remains were used to create a tribute car while the bent body became home to overgrown brush and forest creatures. -DB
Back from PRI, big things in the works including a new American Iron race program with the help of Performance Autosport and Cobetto Racing. Saleen Speedlab, Bully Dog, HRE Wheels, Sparco, Exedy, Hawk Pads, American Racing Headers, Transzilla, Grassroots Motorsports and others are all on board to make this happen. More details and a full race schedule to be released soon!!
Artist Concept
Artist Concept
Here is a sample of what we are working on for the American Iron Race car
Here is a sample of what we are working on for the American Iron Race car
“Brawn and fun combined in one,” is how Mark Oldman describes both his orange muscle car (“El Tigre”) and the high-horsepower wine Petite Sirah, both bucking with intensity and usually of Californian origin. Mark explains why Petite Sirah is perfect for winter months or whenever you “want a lot from your wine,” even if it’s a little John Mellencamp-style pain with your pleasure.
