Tag Archives: S281

LEMAY SPOTLIGHT: 2007 S281 SUPERCHARGED “BARRICADE”

From our friends at Saleen Automotive

In 2007, Hollywood contacts Saleen for his expertise to produce movie vehicles for the upcoming “Transformers” movie. They request a really mean cop car that can live up to its “To Punish and Enslave” moniker. Saleen produces “Barricade” using his S281 Mustang and outfits it with the necessary law enforcement accouterments.

Unlike many movie vehicles, “Barricade” is a fully functional and drivable vehicle. This is one of two vehicles specially built for the “Transformers” movie, the other being “Bumblebee” the Camaro. Steve personally picked the shade of yellow for Bumblebee, which was not a GM color at the time.

[Source: Saleen Automotive]

LEMAY SPOTLIGHT: 07-0001 S281 SUPERCHARGED “MOLLYPOP”

From our friends at Saleen Automotive

With the release of the fifth generation Mustang “S197” in 2005, Saleen takes his styling to another level.

Dramatic innovations such as HID headlights and a unique new scenic glass roof developed in-house at Saleen, along with new aerodynamics and engine modifications prove popular with the public, setting new sales records.

Steve’s daughter, Molly, had this custom 2007 Saleen Mustang colored candy pink, specifically mixed to her liking. The reaction to this one-off color was so popular, we now offer it as a special order color.

[Source: Saleen Automotive]

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

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

LeMay Museum, overhead
LeMay Museum, overhead

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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LEMAY: AMERICA’S CAR MUSEUM OPENS STEVE SALEEN RETROSPECTIVE

LEMAY: AMERICA’S CAR MUSEUM OPENS STEVE SALEEN RETROSPECTIVE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

About Saleen Automotive, Inc.

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

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

About LeMay – America’s Car Museum

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

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

Click here to participate in the discussion.

[Source: Saleen Automotive]

HOT ROD: A SALEEN MUSTANG COLLECTION TO DIE FOR

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1993 SC #02

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

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

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

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

1993 SA10 #01

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

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

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

The Non-Saleen: 1993 SAAC MKII #01 Convertible

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

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

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

1997 S351 #026R

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

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

1997 S281 Cobra #173

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

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

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

2011 Black Label #01

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

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

Factoid

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

[Source: Hot Rod Network]

PRE-PRODUCTION S281 EXTREME (05-0001E) TO HIT BARRETT-JACKSON, LAS VEGAS

Lot #645
2005 FORD MUSTANG SALEEN EXTREME PROTOTYPE #001
Auction: Las Vegas 2019
Reserve: NO RESERVE
Status: Available
Price Request Bidder Info
Lot: 645
Year: 2005
Make: FORD
Model: MUSTANG SALEEN
Style: EXTREME PROTOTYPE

Details
VIN: 1ZVFT82H755131288
Exterior Color: SPEEDLAB YELLOW
Interior Color: CHARCOAL
Cylinders: V8
Engine Size: 4.6-LITER SUPERCHARGED
Transmission: 6-SPEED MANUAL

Description
Lot #645 – This is a fully documented 2005 Saleen Extreme S281 R&D Prototype finished in Speedlab Yellow over a Dark Charcoal leather interior with black graphics. It’s a true one-of-one car with 21,727 actual miles, most of which occurred during factory testing, and is powered by a 4.6-liter V8 engine backed by a 6-speed manual transmission.

Saleen did not release the Extreme model to the general public for purchase until 2006. This Saleen was used as the promotional Extreme model, which was unveiled at the Chicago and New York auto shows, generating pre-orders for 2006 production. This exact car can also be found within factory promotional literature. The 2005 Extreme Prototype story is very unique. In the Saleen production logs there were three prototypes set for production in 2005: #0001E, #0002E and #0003E. In reality, the #0003E car was never actually produced. The #0002E car, Sonic Blue in color, was purchased by an R&D employee and totaled while driving in the rain a short time after. This #0001E car is not only the first 2005 Extreme prototype but also the only remaining prototype in existence for the ’05-09 lineage. Many components on the car are hand-built and first of their kind, from the quarter-window deletes and carbon diffusers to a host of custom Saleen internal engine components.

In 2018 the 05-0001E was shipped to Corona, CA, not only for firsthand factory authentication, but to attend the Saleen World Car Show. For the show, the Saleen family selected one car from each production lineage to be parked in front of headquarters on display, and the 05-0001E was selected to represent the ’05-09 lineage. Ultimately, the one-of-a-kind 05-0001E was selected to receive The Best of Show award. While at Saleen Headquarters, Steve Saleen personally signed the dash with the #1 designation, and signed the engine compartment as well. Molly Saleen also signed her picture endorsing the 05-0001E at the show. All documented signatures, video of Steve Saleen signing 05-0001E, signed Factory Authentication Letter, processed Saleen Best of Show Award check, Saleen World Car Show numbered vehicle entry pass, and a factory brochure with 05-0001E featured will accompany the car. CARFAX shows Ford Motor Company manufacturer safety recall issued on 01/27/2019: Passenger airbag inflator replacement.

Click here to participate in the discussion.

[Source: Barrett-Jackson]

BERYLLIUM S281 EXTREME (06-0019E) HITS eBay

Price: $55,770.00
VIN: 1zvft82h265200180
Vehicle Title: Clear
Year: 2006
Make: Ford
Model: Mustang
Sub Model: Saleen S281 Extreme
Body Type: Coupe
Number of Cylinders: 8
Engine: 4.6L 281 Cu. In. V8 Supercharged
Fuel Type: Gasoline
Transmission: Manual
Exterior Color: Beryllium
Interior Color: Charcoal
Mileage: 2,300
For Sale By: Hardee Auto Sales
eBay #: 202692592498

06-0019E S281 Extreme
06-0019E S281 Extreme

According to the Dupont Registry and other Saleen resources this $15000 Beryllium paint option was only offered on 3 cars in 2006. The Original MSRP was nearly $87k. Any mustang museum would love to have this super rare starburst Saleen. Please call with any questions. Thanks 8434578989

RARE 2005 S281 SC CONVERTIBLE (05-1072) HITS eBay

Price: BID
VIN: 1ZVFT85H655177402
Vehicle Title: Clear
Year: 2005
Make: Ford
Model: Mustang
Sub Model: Saleen S281 Supercharged
Body Type: Convertible
Number of Cylinders: 8
Engine: 4.6L 281 Cu. In. V8 Supercharged
Fuel Type: Gasoline
Transmission: Manual
Exterior Color: Screaming Yellow
Interior Color: Charcoal
Mileage: 2,116
For Sale By: Hardee Auto Sales
eBay #: 192897206344

05-1072 S281 Supercharged
05-1072 S281 Supercharged

I am helping a friend liquidate his collection. This will be a NO RESERVE auction. The local Ford dealer knows about this car so there is a chance that it may sell locally before the auction ends. He would like to get $40,000, but he will sell it to the highest bidder at the end of the auction. I am the owner of a local dealership and we sell over 200 units a month. We have all the connections for trade-in valuations, financing options, and transportation assistance. This car will be located at my residence inside of a climate controlled garage. Please text or call if you would like to inspect it. It is brand new in every way. It even still smells new. I can be reached at 8434578989.

PARCHMENT INTERIOR S281 SC (06-1084) HITS eBay

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

06-1084 S281 Supercharged
06-1084 S281 Supercharged

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!