Saleen Mustang

In the early 1980s, Trans-Am and SCCA Formula Atlantic driver Steve Saleen decided to open a business that would modify production vehicles for high performance street and track use, and in 1984 Saleen Autosport opened their doors for business. Much like the famed performance car builder Carroll Shelby, Steve chose not an entire market which to modify, but instead, one car. A car with a fabled history for racing excellence as well as a long history of positive public approval, and that car was, of course, the Ford Mustang. The Mustang, although having had some rough years with the Mustang II, had always been known for their high performance capabilities, and it was Steve Saleen's vision to take the Mustang, and make it even better. It was later in 1984 that the first ever Saleen Mustang was offered, and with that first car (only three were produced), Saleen Autosport was well on it's way to becoming one of the most well known names in performance cars here in the US, and around the world.

1984-1993

The original Saleen Mustang received only modifications to the exterior, interior, and suspension, making the car more accepting of the hard corners found in road racing. The 1984-1993 models were typically made from LX hatchbacks or convertibles, but there were some LX coupes made into Saleens, but they are very rare. While these dressed up Saleens were nearly impossible to come across in 1984, 1985 saw 128 Saleen Mustangs built, with a steady increase in production numbers over the next few years until a drop in production, to only 17, in 1992. The Saleen Mustang remained as an appearance and handling package until 1989, when Saleen Autosport released the first Mustang with a modified engine. This new Saleen was named the SSC. The output of the SSC was increased to 292 horsepower, and in comparison to the stock 225 horsepower of the Mustang GT, it made quite a big difference and of the 895 Saleen Mustangs made in 1989, 161 were SSCs.

1990 brought about a Saleen Mustang with similar modifications as the 1989 model. One "S" was dropped, and the high horsepower Saleen was now the SC and in the place of the additional "S", the SC received a boost in horsepower to 304. A lower horsepower Saleen was still offered, and although the models were similar to the previous model year, production numbers dropped to 243 for the low horsepower model, and only 10 of the SC's were sold. Virtually nothing changed for the 1991 model year, aside from the fact that production numbers dropped again, this time to 92 of the base model Saleen Mustang, and only 10 of the SC were produced.

1992 marked the lowest production numbers of any year since the inception of Saleen Autosport due to a working restructuring during the year. There were only 17 Saleen Mustangs made, and no SC's were made.

Sales numbers were back up in 1993 for the last year of the long running Fox body style. There were 87 Saleen Mustangs made, 5 1993 Saleen SC's, and 1993 also brought about two special edition Saleen Mustangs. The SA-10 was developed to celebrate the 10 years of Saleen Autosport, and they were all black with yellow hood stripes, and each car was made separately, and were custom made, making all nine of them different in some way. Also, in 1993, Steve Saleen made one special Saleen Mustang, named the RRR for actor and automotive enthusiast Tim Allen. The drive train, from engine to rear differential, is heavily built, and has far more work into it than did any other Saleen product at this point, and the end result is a brutal 576 horsepower and 527 lb-ft of torque. This RRR is nothing more than a street legal race car, and was very expensive to build (around $50,000), hence the production number.

1994-1998

The 1994 Mustang got a complete new look, and Saleen followed suite by re-thinking the Saleen Mustang. There was no longer just a suspension and appearance package, as all of the Saleens in 1994 received engine modifications as well. The "entry level" Saleen Mustang was named the S-351, and as opposed to the prior Saleen Mustangs which used modified versions of the stock Mustang GT engine, the new 371 horsepower S-351 used a different engine, measuring 351 cubic inches, while the stock GT engine was only 281 cubic inches. The bigger news of the Saleen stable for 1994 was the SR, which also had the 351, and offered the driver 480 horsepower. Only two of the SR's were built, with 44 S-351s made in 1994. There was a very small collection of V6 powered Saleens built in 1994, which received the appearance and suspension upgrades, but they did no receive the numbering or dash plates, so they are hard to differentiate from a dressed up 1994 V6 Mustang.

The 1995 Mustang Saleen remained relatively the same as 1994 using the name "Speedster". Offering a range of 371 to 480 horsepower, depending on the amount of boost run, and the tuning, the Saleen was, by this time, becoming well known as a car NOT to mess with on the street or track. 126 S-351's were made, and 7 SR's were made in 1995.

In 1996, another new 'entry level' Saleen came out of the Saleen Autosport shop, and the name of this new Saleen was the S-281. This new low-end Saleen came equipped with the standard 215 horsepower 4.6L engine found in the Mustang GT's, and this proved to be a sort of every-man's Saleen thanks to the price. The stock horsepower of the S-351 jumped to 495 for 1996, but production of the S-351 dropped to just 20. However, with the more affordable S-281 being offered, sales numbers were way up. The S-281 was offered as either a GT or Cobra, and either a coupe or convertible. The production numbers for 1996 S-281s are as follows:
Coupe-191
Cobra Coupe-5
Convertible-234
Cobra Convertible-6

1997 and 1998 saw little change for the Saleen stable. The trim lines offered remained steady with the different variations of the S-281, and the rare S-351. 1998 would mark the end of the SN95 body style, and in 1998, another anniversary edition of the Saleen was offered, this one being named the SA-15. Based off of an S-281, there were only 10 made, and like the SA-10, the SA-15 stands out thanks in part to their bright yellow paint scheme. Production numbers for 1997 and 1998 are as follows:
1997
S-281
Coupe-113
Cobra Coupe-13
Convertible-196
Cobra Convertible-5
S-351
Coupe-21
Convertible-19
1998
S-281
Coupe-59
Cobra Coupe-14
Convertible-91
Cobra Convertible-21
SA-15-10
S-351
Coupe-10
Convertible-12

1999-2004

1999 brought about another change in the overall look of the Mustang with the introduction of the "new edge" body style. However, the Saleen stable remained the same, although using the new body style. Production numbers were up across the board with 418 Saleen Mustangs produced in 1999. The power ratings and trim lines were the same as with the SN95 body style, and production numbers by trim line were as follows:
S-281
Coupe-183
Cobra Coupe-8
Convertible-170
Cobra Convertible-12
S-351
Coupe-19
Convertible-26

2000 brought about a change, but not for the better according to most Saleen and Mustang enthusiasts, as it was the first year since 1993 where there was no S-351 offered. The S-281 was the only model offered, and with 365 horsepower. 2001 would follow the same trend, and with only the variations of the S-281 offered, sales numbers were way up. However, with the introduction of the 2002 Saleen models, horsepower junkies had their prayers answered with the release of the S-281 E (extreme). There were 54 S-281E's made, and with 425 horsepower, they were no S-351, but they were very healthy, and were a welcome entry to the Saleen lineup.

2003 was another big year for the Saleen Autosport company, and it was commemorated with the SA-20. It was an S-281 with some minor upgrades to increase the power output to 375 horsepower, and it received some of the appearance items of the Extreme models, such as the rear wing and fascia. There were ten SA-20s made, all convertibles, and all pearl white with white 5-spoke 18 inch wheels. One of them was custom ordered with an automatic, and the rest were 5-speed manual transmissions. The S-281 and S-281E models were still offered, building 365 and 425 horsepower respectively.

2004 was very similar to the 2003 year in regards to the models offered by Saleen, with the S-281 and S-281E making their returns with the same engine offerings and appearance packages. This would be the final year for the New Edge body style, and the following year would bring about some changes, and a sort of return to old for the Saleen Mustang.

Modern Day Saleen Mustangs

When Ford Motor Company released the design plans for the newest model of the Mustang, the world was alive with interest unseen since the introduction of the original in 1964. It was a full retro design, and sales were expected to be astronomical. Saleen responded with a collection of available packages for this slick new Mustang, and like the Saleen Mustangs of the early years, there was an entry level, mid level, and high end; all offered as either a coupe or a convertible.

The "entry level" is the S-281 3V. This model, like the entry level and original Saleen Mustangs features an aerodynamic upgrade package and interior upgrade package, as well as suspension upgrades, and for good measures, 30 extra horsepower are added on to give this model 330 horsepower. Base price: coupe= $42,814 convertible= $47,634.

The mid-level Saleen is the S-281 SC. This model features the same suspension, aerodynamic, and interior upgrades as the S-281, but this model, like the SC's old the older generations, comes equipped with a supercharger upping the horsepower to a beefy 435. Base price: coupe= $51,691 convertible= $56,535... However, it should be pointed out, that a fully loaded, custom painted S-281 SC will run you between 85,000 and 90,000 American dollars.

The high end model of the new style Saleen Mustang, the S-281E, is the big dog of all of the Saleens ever, with the possible exception of the 1993 RRR. While not yet released, is estimated to come with an impressive 550 horsepower. The styling will be typically Saleen, but will have an appearance to help it stand out from the other 2005 and up Saleens. While there is no price or horsepower rating offered yet (possibly waiting on Ford Motor Companies official announcement of the price and power of the GT500 Cobra) it is likely that this will very easily be the most expensive OE modified Mustang ever built for street use, but with the projected power output, much like the 1993 RRR, this new Extreme will be nothing more than a street legal race car.