Well. I guess you could consider mine a "fake saleen." However, the only way it's not real is that is has no bumper serialization. So to call it fake may be a stretch.
Another thing is...as far as modifications/speed go...in my opinion you can get more out of an engine and have the Saleen look without spending the money they want.
I for one did't have the money, but does that mean I couldtn have the Saleen look and I was out of luck? No, instead I took it into my own hands and bought the things to make it look the same...I saw nothin wrong with doin this.
that makes it ALL fake. no bumper serial number means no entry in the saleen registry
By definition, isn’t a Saleen Mustang built by Saleen. If it’s built by any other entity it is simply not a Saleen, but a look-alike. Having a specific part, such as a serial number decal, does not make it a Saleen. Being built by Saleen makes it a Saleen.
“The only way it's not real” is in the entirety of the look-alike car. It is simply a Mustang modified using Saleen parts.
If you have a Saleen look-alike be proud of it, I'm sure it's beautiful, but present it as such with integrity.
OK, lets suppose you have a Mustang GT that Saleen uses as a prototype car that THEY build At Saleen on their assembly line, but it does not get a serial number since it was not bought as a Saleen. Then what? If Saleen built it with all Saleen parts, at Saleen in Irvine, is this not a true Saleen? Let me guess, the serial number right?
Of course it’s a real Saleen – it was built by Saleen. It is simply what it is: A Saleen prototype using a GT without a serial number, nothing more, and nothing less.
The serial number is one of many ways that Saleen identifies its product. Not having a serial number on the bumper makes it no less a Saleen built product. It would simply be an authentic Saleen built prototype that Saleen chose not to put a serial number on.
OK, lets suppose you have a Mustang GT that Saleen uses as a prototype car that THEY build At Saleen on their assembly line, but it does not get a serial number since it was not bought as a Saleen. Then what? If Saleen built it with all Saleen parts, at Saleen in Irvine, is this not a true Saleen? Let me guess, the serial number right?
LOL
Actually the prototypes are serialized, you'll find that they end up as an employee car, usually Steve Saleen's and they tend to be the 01 or 02 bumper number. Just a FYI in general, with the exception of special production models, SA's etc., anything numbered 1-10 are employee or demo cars, with the exception of #6 which is never made.
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03-011 Lizstick Red Saleen Cobra Speedster some other cars with a horse theme (Prancing) a car from a ex-blue oval owned company a few German cars a couple from the land of the rising sun crossing over to the dark side, ordered a blue devil
Posts: 3890
Joined: 3/31/2005 From: Indianapolis, IN Status: offline
This is true - and I'm sure Birdieman can chime in if he knows more for sure, but a good source of mine has told me that Saleen has only built ONE Saleen since 1984 (for sale, prototype, and what-not) that did not get a bumper number. That car was a 1984 (maybe and 85??) and it was a special order for some guy that did not want the number. So that means there is ONE car out there that IS real that many would think to be fake.
Well, would it be possible to feel too much pitty for anyone who could come up with enough money, but too little sense to actually buy a fake without knowing it? If the car is actually close enough to fool a sensible person, it would be because a lot of $$$ was spent to get it that way. It may not be a "S-a-l-e-e-n", but it could be better. Fakes can be better. Many women have purchased a better "pair". Wow...I'm getting deep...
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1st Stang: '66 289 auto with fact. A/C, console and PS 2nd: Dk blue metallic '98 Prmium GT, 5spd 3rd: gotta06! V6 w/Pony Pack/leather/5spd/Shakr Canuck springs, GT takeoff muffs, black calipers, Spohn panhard & soon dual exhaust, CAI, sub/amp, shi
ORIGINAL: s281cobra Actually the prototypes are serialized, you'll find that they end up as an employee car, usually Steve Saleen's and they tend to be the 01 or 02 bumper number. Just a FYI in general, with the exception of special production models, SA's etc., anything numbered 1-10 are employee or demo cars, with the exception of #6 which is never made.
Ok Kevin, how do you explain the 2F2F Saleen's and the Hollywood Homicide cars Saleen made for the movie production company's??? Ed's 2F2F Saleen was built by Saleen Inc in Irvine on the assembly line for the movie studio. It was one of five cars Saleen built for the shooting of that movie. Were all those cars suppose to go to the crusher after the movie was made?? It's not serialized and Liz said they can't add it to the Saleen Registry because it's not an authentic Saleen. Yet every Saleen piece was bolted onto the car just like your SaleenCobra or my S351's. Is it a real Saleen? Should it be in the Registry?? It was a new car straight from Ford in MI. It wasn't a used car that some one brought in from tne street and paid Saleen to add all the goodies to it like they use to do back in the 80's and 90's.
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ORIGINAL: gettna05! why not #6?
In 1985, the order placed for car 85-0006 was canceled before the car was built. Saleen Autosport continued the consecutive number sequence and didn't realize until later in the year that #06 was never built. They didn't want the production date of the #06 car to be later then higher number cars. They decided to begin a tradition that no #6 car would ever be built. Kinda fun though, the following year 86-01 was skipped and wasn't even built until 1989!! Go figure that one out. Also, my 97 S351 #01 was actually the last 97 S351 built. It was used as the press car for all of 1998 being temporarily number 98-01 until its service was complete. They then slapped the 97 badges on it and let Tony Johnson (steve's old business partner) use it as his California car until it was sold to the public in 2000.....
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Power in the hands Tiny :-p A "Sayleen" or two in the stable.....
Why buy a original saleen if there no way you can find a part from it. If your cluster gauges don't work you will need to be a pain in the ass calling saleen to change it. aLSO TRY CALLING SALEEN THAT YOU LOST THE DASH PLAQUE of your authentic car.
This is true - and I'm sure Birdieman can chime in if he knows more for sure, but a good source of mine has told me that Saleen has only built ONE Saleen since 1984 (for sale, prototype, and what-not) that did not get a bumper number. That car was a 1984 (maybe and 85??) and it was a special order for some guy that did not want the number. So that means there is ONE car out there that IS real that many would think to be fake.
Well you are about to hear about another. I have a 2005 White Mustang GT Auto (my Wife's). I was at the Knott's Ford show a few months ago, and met a great guy from Saleen. They were at that time looking for an AOD 2005 GT to use as a prototype for the Series VI Supercharger. They have had the car plugged into to a host of computers, dyno time, and testing as you can imagine not only for the S281SC car you will be able to get in AOD, but the aftermarket of their blower sales with Saleen computer burn. We agreed to let them have the car to develope the ECU profile, and they agreed to install the parts make make her car into a S281SC. In all fairness, this is still costing us a lot of money, but far less than a S281SC would. We also had to rent a car for quite a while, but we get the car back VERY soon. So yes, there WILL be S281SC's available in Automatic (maybe not 2005, but probably 06 Models as 05 production is almost done). You will not find a S281SC in auto today, they simply do not exist. We have the first. We will have the suspention, body kit, exhaust, gauges, SC hood, and much more. Will I get a number? Maybe not. So I ask you, is it a "real Saleen" if Saleen built it at Saleen, with all Saleen parts? Obviously, this is one rare car, and very unusual circumstance, but no doubt there will be snobs that will say "it's not real". I will post pics for any non-believers, and you can see the car in person if in So-Cal.
< Message edited by trmn8er -- 7/14/2005 2:24:52 AM >
By definition, isn’t a Saleen Mustang built by Saleen. If it’s built by any other entity it is simply not a Saleen, but a look-alike. Having a specific part, such as a serial number decal, does not make it a Saleen. Being built by Saleen makes it a Saleen.
“The only way it's not real” is in the entirety of the look-alike car. It is simply a Mustang modified using Saleen parts.
If you have a Saleen look-alike be proud of it, I'm sure it's beautiful, but present it as such with integrity.
ORIGINAL: s281cobra Actually the prototypes are serialized, you'll find that they end up as an employee car, usually Steve Saleen's and they tend to be the 01 or 02 bumper number. Just a FYI in general, with the exception of special production models, SA's etc., anything numbered 1-10 are employee or demo cars, with the exception of #6 which is never made.
Ok Kevin, how do you explain the 2F2F Saleen's and the Hollywood Homicide cars Saleen made for the movie production company's??? Ed's 2F2F Saleen was built by Saleen Inc in Irvine on the assembly line for the movie studio. It was one of five cars Saleen built for the shooting of that movie. Were all those cars suppose to go to the crusher after the movie was made?? It's not serialized and Liz said they can't add it to the Saleen Registry because it's not an authentic Saleen. Yet every Saleen piece was bolted onto the car just like your SaleenCobra or my S351's. Is it a real Saleen? Should it be in the Registry?? It was a new car straight from Ford in MI. It wasn't a used car that some one brought in from tne street and paid Saleen to add all the goodies to it like they use to do back in the 80's and 90's.
Umm Robert, reread my post I didn't say anything about those cars just about the test mules and prototypes, and I don't consider them prototypes since there was nothing really new done differently on them.
As for those cars you mention they might have been built by Saleen for a specific purpose, Movies, but as I understood it they weren't to be sold, and as you recall Ed has had a hard time getting paint for that car since as you put it, it's not and will not be listed as a serialized Saleen.
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03-011 Lizstick Red Saleen Cobra Speedster some other cars with a horse theme (Prancing) a car from a ex-blue oval owned company a few German cars a couple from the land of the rising sun crossing over to the dark side, ordered a blue devil
If it looks like a saleen then i consider it to be nothing other than HOT SEXXXXX!!!
Hell yeah!
I think that if it's done right, then why not? As long as someone doesn't go around telling everyone they paid all that money and have a real saleen, when they infact don't, then I don't mind. I hate when people say they have something that they really truly don't.
ive only owned a saleen for about 3 weeks and the first question everybody asks me is "so is it a real saleen?". that pisses me off. if you like the way they look & perform then buy one. i dont see any problem with saleen upgrades cause they look great and saleen performance parts are high quality. but a saleen clone? its a lot of money and effort to be a poser.
Hi, Ive had my 94 GT/Saleen for about 4 years now. It was originally a gt, until i got the saleen kit. I turned it into a S-351, with every saleen decal, most performance mods, ect.. Im only a senior in high school so i cant really work on my that much because i dont have money I do get asked quite often if it is a real saleen, i wish i could tell them yes because i just plain love saleen's but since it was a GT, I tell them no, and they looked shocked! My car looks exactly alike a real S-351 except i dont have anything by Steve Saleen, like the vin/pin number or signature. I have done mods on the exterior to make it more different than original slaeens. I have a Black Widow hood that makes my car look pretty aggressive and..yes..double stack wing. its not ricer!! it looks pretty good. But to the point I think that all Saleens, Real or Not should get some credit, if you buy a real saleen its the top of the line in performance and looks sick! and if u have a fake one you put alot of effort and time/money into it and you should give people credit for that aswell.
B-rad *pics coming soon* more mods, cant put them in signature
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1994 Mustang GT/Saleen Mods - K&N CAI, 3' Flowmaster, Hooker shorties, MAC cam, eibach springs Exterior - 17'' Cobra Rs, Saleen body kit, Double stack wing, Black widow hood, projector headlights, euro taillights, 20% tint all around
Printable Version
RE: Saleen Clones... - 
. Wow...I'm getting deep...
RE: Saleen Clones... - 
RE: Saleen Clones... - 
I do get asked quite often if it is a real saleen, i wish i could tell them yes because i just plain love saleen's but since it was a GT, I tell them no, and they looked shocked! My car looks exactly alike a real S-351 except i dont have anything by Steve Saleen, like the vin/pin number or signature. I have done mods on the exterior to make it more different than original slaeens. I have a Black Widow hood that makes my car look pretty aggressive and..yes..double stack wing. its not ricer!! it looks pretty good. But to the point I think that all Saleens, Real or Not should get some credit, if you buy a real saleen its the top of the line in performance and looks sick! and if u have a fake one you put alot of effort and time/money into it and you should give people credit for that aswell. 