New York Auto Show: Saleen and Parnelli produce Best Mustang of Show
While we wouldn’t necessarily call the 2007 Saleen/Parnelli Jones Limited Edition Mustang the Best of Show overall at the NYIAS, it has easily nabbed the title of Best Mustang of Show. That’s not an insignificant feat considering Ford itself let two new ponies out of its corral – the “California Special” and the GT350H – and had the Shelby GT500 on display.
Following Ford back into the past, Steve Saleen and Parnelli Jones have faitfully recreated the 1970 Boss 302 Mustang that Parnelli himself piloted back in 1970, right down to Grabber Orange paint, shaker hood and Watts linkage rear suspension. (You engineers out there should appreciate the effort that must have went into putting that last item on the list.)
As we said in our earlier post, the Parnelli LE Mustang pumps 370 hp and 370 ft-lbs. of torque out of Ford’s modular V8. We also told you it would cost somewhere in the $50,000 range. Now we know that Steve and company only plans to build and sell 500 units, and Parnelli has dibs on the first one.
Follow the jump for more live detail shots of the Parnelli Mustang.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Richard Warren 8:03AM (4/14/2006)
Sweet
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Kamil 8:40AM (4/14/2006)
Nothing original.
Give me 350WHP (NA, not S/Ced), 200-300 lbs less, light weight wheels, and a well tuned street/track suspension/chassis.
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Howard Kerr 9:32AM (4/14/2006)
You have to wonder if somewhere, deep inside FoMoCo, people aren't screaming and pulling their hair out while shouting " damn those SOBs, that was going to be our next "limited edition" cash cow".
I'm glad I don't have a mountain of money, because choosing between this and a GT350H would be next to impossible.
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Crusin' 10:20AM (4/14/2006)
Though nice, I'll gate a GT500 KR instead!
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saimin 12:31PM (4/14/2006)
Given the reasoning behind making this car, originality wasn't a goal of the project. Also, this car isn't supercharged. I like the Old-School Mach-1 feel, but I just can't stand window louvers =
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km 1:20PM (4/14/2006)
well, the window louvers do suck, but at least it doesnt have fake air scoops like so many other ford special edition Mustangs do.... How can any company with self respect put fake air scoops on a car ?? anyway, thank god this one doesnt have'em...
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JayP 2:22PM (4/14/2006)
Hey PJ- Let's see the 2007 Oly!
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Rjo 5:52PM (4/14/2006)
Nice but its a carbon copy of the Mustang GT-R the front end is the same as the new shelby GT-500
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Darren Thompson 9:55AM (4/15/2006)
WOW!!!!What a blast from the past.As a 1970 boss 302 owner(grabber orange) by the way.I like how the rear louvers/spoilers favor the originals.1/4 glass scoops are a must because I've never seen a boss with a 66 shelby 1/4 glass!!!Great job. Now only if I can get my hands on one with out all the ford dealership's GREED!
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Bimmer_Lover 2:17PM (4/15/2006)
It takes many of its styling cues from the previous generation Mach 1. There are no new ideas here.
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Dennis 11:44AM (4/22/2006)
ugly..
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Nethead 3:35PM (4/26/2006)
Fabulous! It's about as true a replica of PJ's '70 Boss 302 as you could legally sell (emissions, safety, ride height, yada yada yada) in 2005. And 370 HP always goes good with Valencia Orange and Black. I can't stand ANY of the dorky covers that tuners love to lavish onto the C-pillar windows of the new Mustangs, although someone before me made the valid point that the '70 Boss 302s & other '70 Mustangs never had the Shelby C-pillar windows--only the pre-'67 GT-350s had those. Rip off those covers, replace the scooped hood with a regular hood, remove that retro wing, and trash that stainless "rim" that encircles the taillights & the black rear panel between the taillights and you have the best-looking custom S197 Mustang to date (although the 2004 concepts were pretty sharp, IMO)!! Back in the day, Parnelli's No. 15 (which I saw win Laguna Seca in 1970) did NOT have those covers, did NOT have a hood scoop, and did NOT have a stainless "rim" in back (nor did it have the slats, but those are cool and I'd leave those on my PJ Special). God bless Steve Saleen for trashing that awful Mustang GT faux gas cap in the center of the rear panel between the taillights!!! The only S197 I like better is the FR500C, which costs well beyond twice as much--and also that 550 HP version of the FR500C that Dan Davis had Scott Maxwell driving on the Long Beach street course just before the roadrace there! How could anyone forget that?
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Mike Hendricks 3:35PM (4/27/2006)
Where can I get one! They are BEAUTIFUL! Great idea from great car people. Just don't jack the price out of reach of the Mustang people and into the hands of collectors only.
Good eye candy for all ages!
Mike
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Leanne Matthews 12:12AM (1/12/2007)
Eat your hearts out boys! It's fast, it's beautiful, and it's mine! Straight from the Saleen Store in Irvine, and signed by both Steve and Parnelli! See ya!
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Tom 7:36PM (11/03/2007)
That is the best Mustang ever in my opinion. Read the articles, everyone test drives it says the same. No fake hood scoop like the Shelbys, this is the real deal in 2007. It is 400HP, but it beats the GT500 by two seconds on the track? Whats up with that. Racers understand it takes a well balanced vehicle HP, handling, breaking, etc. to make it an awsume car. Not just stickers and bi HP numbers. No BS Turbo, pure NA Muscle car 400HP! It sounds like feels like it and that is what PJ wanted himself when he helped Saleen with this program. I finally only 500 built with both Saleens (retired) and PJ (retired) signed! Just wait 20 years and we will see which one is worth the most!