2010 Saleen S281 Mustang - Click above for high-res image gallery

Gallery: SEMA 2009: 2010 Saleen S281 Mustang

Gallery: 2010 Saleen S281 Mustang

Continue reading SEMA 2009: Saleen officially unveils 2010 S281 Mustang

SEMA 2009: Saleen officially unveils 2010 S281 Mustang originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Gallery: Barricade Saleen Mustang from Transformers on iCollector.com

Transformers "Barricade" Saleen Mustang sold at auction for $36,000 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

2010 Saleen 435S Mustang - Click above for image gallery

Gallery: 2010 Saleen 435S Mustang

Continue reading Will the real Saleen please stand up? Saleen Performance Vehicles unveils 2010 435S Mustang

Will the real Saleen please stand up? Saleen Performance Vehicles unveils 2010 435S Mustang originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Jul 2009 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading What's In a Name? SMS Supercars files suit against MJ Acquisitions for use of Saleen name

What's In a Name? SMS Supercars files suit against MJ Acquisitions for use of Saleen name originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 18 Jul 2009 12:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Click above for a high-res gallery of Saleen's Irvine assembly plant

In addition to the sunshine, warm weather and availability of good driving roads, one of the biggest benefits of living in Southern California is the proximity of automotive related businesses. Dozens of tuners, manufacturers, hot rodders and racers all reside in SoCal, making it an ideal place for a car nut to call home. As one who would enthusiastically place myself in that category, one of my favorite places to visit in the last several years was the Saleen assembly plant in Irvine. From their annual car show to personal tours to press events, I always enjoyed stopping by to see what Steve Saleen had up his sleeve. There were always one-off projects like an SVT Contour Prototype or a Bonspeed Edition Thunderbird, and there seemed to be at least one or two racecars lying around.

Of course, during every visit I had to check out the S7 build area where there were always at least a few of the supercars in various states of completion. I loved seeing the bare carbon fiber bodies, and there is a stunning white S7 Twin-Turbo that still has a special place in my heart. Of course, the high point was during the production of the Parnelli Jones Mustang, with the facility running at full tilt and Parnelli Jones and George Follmer joining Steve Saleen for photos on the car's debut.

With the economic downturn and Steve leaving the company in the summer of 2007, it was only a matter of time before Saleen consolidated all of its operations and moved everything to its Detroit facility. Lamenting the fact that I would no longer be stop by the Saleen building, I was browsing through my photo archives and decided it was time to share the pictures. I've assembled a huge gallery of my favorite images from the past five and a half years for your viewing enjoyment, all of which include descriptions providing any relevant information and the date the photo was taken. Enjoy!

Gallery: Saleen Irvine Assembly Plant

Ah, the memories! Saleen's Irvine assembly plant remembered in pictures originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Dec 2008 13:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Saleen Automotive up for sale originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 09 Nov 2008 11:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Click above for a larger image of the twin-turbo Saleen Parnelli Jones Mustang

There's a special place in our hearts for the Saleen Parnelli Jones Mustang. After a week in the Autoblog Garage we fell in love with the wonderful 302-ci V8, amazingly sharp handling, and Trans-Am inspired looks. If we were to pick any of the current Mustang variants, the PJ would probably be it. Because of the collectability of the car (a total of 500 were produced) we're guessing that most owners have left their cars stock, but one particular owner decided to make his Parnelli Jones Mustang truly unique. How? He added dual 57mm Precision turbos, upgraded forged pistons, aluminum heads, a full three-inch exhaust system, and much, much more. In total, the motor produces 768 horsepower and 769 lb-ft torque -- at the wheels! The look of the car remains completely unchanged, making it as much of a sleeper as a car painted in Grabber Orange can be. The modded Parnelli is now up for sale on eBay Motors, and we're wishing that we had significantly more funding in our bank accounts.

Gallery: Twin-Turbo Saleen Parnelli Jones Mustang

[Source: eBay Motors]

eBay Find of the Day: twin-turbo Saleen Parnelli Jones Mustang originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Oct 2008 08:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Click above for high-res gallery of the Saleen Dark Horse

"A dark horse, which had never been thought of, and which the careless St. James had never even observed on the list, rushed past the grandstand in sweeping triumph." Beautiful words from the quotable Benjamin Disraeli, and inspiration for the name of the latest Mustang to come from Saleen's stable. Due to the car's name it may sound like our title is a clever play on words, but the truth is our seat time was limited to the passenger seat. We can't blame Saleen for being careful with the car - the 2009 Dark Horse Mustang you see here is the first one off the assembly line and is the only one built so far. To their credit, Saleen did take us out to Willow Springs Raceway outside of Los Angeles for some flying laps, so we were able to experience the full capabilities of the car's performance. Follow the jump to hear about our day at the track with perhaps the most fearsome production Mustang ever built.

Gallery: 2009 Saleen Dark Horse Mustang

Continue reading First Ride: 2009 Saleen Dark Horse Mustang

First Ride: 2009 Saleen Dark Horse Mustang originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 27 Sep 2008 18:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

With the 2010 Ford Mustang set to be unveiled in November, time is running out for tuners to put out special edition Mustangs. Saleen seems to have saved its best for last and will be unveiling a "Dark Horse" Mustang next week. The super-Stang will feature the 620 horsepower V8 from the S302 Extreme plus the SuperShaker system that combines a functional ram air system with Saleen's twin-screw supercharger system - a first for a Saleen production car. The "Dark Horse" will sport the Heritage body style and have additional features exclusive to the model. Production will begin in the Fall of 2008, and only 25 will be produced. Our best guess for the "Dark Horse" moniker is that the car will feature an all matte-black paint scheme. We'll bring you all the details of the car after its official debut next week.

UPDATE

Saleen sent us a rendering of the Dark Horse, which can be seen above.

Saleen to launch "Dark Horse" Mustang originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Sep 2008 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Click above for high-res gallery of the Dan Gurney SS Mustang's arrival

It's been just a few months since Saleen announced its Dan Gurney Signature Series Mustang at the New York Auto Show in April, but the limited edition Mustang has already hit showroom floors. Apparently the car at the show was fairly production ready, although we heard that Gurney spent the last few months helping fine tune the suspension just the way he wanted it. According to Saleen, he still would be if they had let him. In addition to the specially tailored suspension settings, the Gurney Edition also features unique bodywork, graphics and interior as well as lightweight 19-inch wheels and Saleen's supercharged V8 pushing out 465 horsepower. We attended a kick-off party at Galpin Ford in Van Nuys, CA where Dan Gurney was on hand to show off the car and sign autographs. We were also able to take a closer look at the car so we could choose which of the three color schemes we like best, but we're still undecided. A high resolution gallery is below that should help you decide for yourself.

Gallery: Saleen Gurney Signature Edition Mustang at dealers

Saleen Gurney Edition Mustang arrives at dealers originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Jun 2008 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Click on the image to enlarge

Continue reading Five-Oh fanatics: Saleen now offering 302 crate engines

Five-Oh fanatics: Saleen now offering 302 crate engines originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Apr 2008 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Click above for high-res gallery of the Saleen Gurney Signature Edition

Saleen doesn't seem to be missing a beat in its first year without Steve Saleen at the helm. It has released several new Mustangs including the Patriot Edition, Sterling Edition, H302 Supercharged and 620-hp S302 Extreme that we sampled in the Autoblog Garage. Now, alongside the S5S Raptor Concept being unveiled in New York tomorrow, its latest Mustang offering is the Gurney Signature Edition. It features a paint scheme recalling Gurney's 1969 Trans Am car, as well as a unique hood and front and rear spoilers. Power comes from a Saleen-supercharged 4.6-liter V8 producing 465 horsepower, and Saleen's Racecraft suspension and Pirelli Corsa tires keep the car planted on the road or track. The interior features custom two-tone seats and Gurney's signature on the dash. No word on pricing yet, but only 300 are scheduled to be produced. That means if you haven't already purchased one of the numerous limited edition Mustangs on the market, then you'd better jump on this one. Follow the jump for the press release from Saleen and check out more high-res pics in the gallery below.

Gallery: Saleen Gurney Signature Edition Mustang

Continue reading New York 2008: Dan Gurney gives stamp of approval for new Signature Edition Saleen Mustang

New York 2008: Dan Gurney gives stamp of approval for new Signature Edition Saleen Mustang originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Mar 2008 22:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Click above for the high resolution image

It's hard to believe that it's been 25 years since Steve Saleen first founded Saleen Autosport. The company has made a profound impact on the Mustang world since then, producing some of the highest performing Mustangs on the market. The company has a tradition of producing limited-edition anniversary models, starting with the SA-5 Mustang in 1988, the SA-10 in 1993, SA-15 in 1998, and most recently the SA-20 in 2003. That time has rolled around again, and Saleen has announced the SA-25 Sterling Edition Mustang.

Based on the S302 Extreme, the Sterling Edition gets the same supercharged V8 pushing out 620 horsepower and 600 lb-ft torque. Visually separating it from the standard version are unique 5-spoke forged wheels, handpainted "Gun Sight" racing stripes and anniversary fender badges. In addition to the standard Saleen interior upgrades, the Sterling Edition gets a push-button electric start, Black Diamond alcantara seats with leather accents, a navigation system and a serialized center plaque. Buyers will also get luxury treatment, including a first class flight to Detroit, limo transportation to and from the airport, dinner with Saleen executives, a hosted tour of the Saleen plant, and a custom leather jacket among other things. Only 25 will be built at a price of $99,995. It's definitely not for the typical Mustang buyer, but we're sure there are several Saleen faithful out there who will want one in the garage.

[Source: Saleen]

Saleen celebrates 25th anniversary with SA-25 Sterling Edition Mustang originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Jan 2008 18:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Click above for high-res images of the 2008 Saleen S302 Extreme

My first experience with the Saleen S302E Mustang was an absolute blast. I was handed the keys and told to let loose on abandoned airstrip. Mash the throttle from a standing start and the 620 horsepower underhood would quickly turn the rear tires into a cloud of smoke. Use the throttle carefully and the rear tires would maintain traction, catapulting the car forward at an incredible rate. Brake to the absolute threshold, take a corner at high speeds, and then kick the tail sideways while exiting the turn - I was able to experience the full potential of the S302E, unrestricted by traffic and speed limits, with plenty of forgiving pavement in case of a spin.

Read on after the jump to hear about living with the S302E as a daily driver and check out our fab pics in the gallery below. Believe it or not, we took them ourselves.

Gallery: In the Autoblog Garage: 2008 Saleen S302 Extreme

All photos Copyright (C)2008 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading In the Autoblog Garage: 2008 Saleen S302 Extreme

In the Autoblog Garage: 2008 Saleen S302 Extreme originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Jan 2008 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

click above for more images of the Saleen Transformers Barricade Replica

We are big fans of the movie Transformers despite its faults, and not because we're fascinated with alien robots, but rather because it shows off some of our favorite cars in action. You can't get your very own Bumblebee yet with production of the Camaro still a year away, but you can buy this replica of Barricade being sold by McDonald Ford in Freeland, Michigan. This 2007 Mustang was built by Saleen to help promote the movie, and features the same police garb found on the movie car with a few changes. "To punish and enslave" has been changed to "Power in the hands of a few", and the 911 decal has been switched to a 411 promoting the Saleen web site. The light bar is also absent, probably to help prevent the vehicle from being mistaken for an actual police vehicle. That's probably a good thing, considering it's a felony to impersonate a police vehicle. The buyer also gets the standard Saleen add-ons including the body kit, upgraded interior, Racecraft suspension, and supercharged engine, so this marketing prop is more than just eye-candy. Pretty much the only thing it can't do is hunt down Sam Witwicky, grandson of Archibald Witwicky.

[Source: eBay Motors]

Gallery: Saleen Transformers Barricade Replica

eBay Find of the Day: Saleen Transformers Barricade Replica originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Dec 2007 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

click above image to view more high-res photos of the Saleen H302 SC

There might be dozens (even hundreds?) of Mustang variations out there, but when Saleen sends you an invite to drive its new 620-horsepower S302E Extreme Mustang, you take it without thinking twice. You see, they have been working their magic on Ford's pony car for 25 years now, so if anyone knows how to do it right, it's Saleen. Company founder Steve Saleen might no longer be at the helm, but that doesn't mean the company's passion is gone for producing high performance automobiles. In fact, there seems to be a renewed enthusiasm, or what Saleen's General Manager Marques McCammon calls a "reawakening" of the company. Part of this is due to the recent acquisition of ASC (American Specialty Cars), and new key personnel in place including Paul Wilbur as the new President and CEO, as well as Chris Theodore, the father of the Ford GT program, as the new Chief Technology Officer. The two vehicles we drove, the H302 SC and the S302 Extreme, were the first two new vehicles launched under the new leadership. Follow the jump for our driving impressions of these two monster Mustangs.

Gallery: 2008 Saleen S302E and H302SC First Drive

Gallery: 2008 Saleen Vehicle Lineup

Continue reading First Drive: 2008 Saleen S302E and H302SC Mustangs

First Drive: 2008 Saleen S302E and H302SC Mustangs originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 Nov 2007 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Saleen set to launch updated Heritage and Extreme Mustangs for 2008 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Nov 2007 08:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Saleen announced a new model called the S281 RF this past Friday at its retail store in Southern California. The RF, which stands for Red Flag, focuses on overall value and is priced between Saleen's 3-valve and supercharged models with an MSRP of $49,995. Performance upgrades include Saleen's Series VI supercharger that helps the V8 put out 465 horsepower, and the suspension has been upgraded to Saleen-spec, as well. Visual differences include Saleen's front and rear fascia, side skirts, 20-inch chrome wheels, and RF graphics and badging. Inside are reupholstered leather seats with red stitching, S281 floor mats and door sills, and a 200 mph gauge cluster. Production is limited to 100, and only two colors will be available: black and alloy. Follow the jump to view the S281 RF's complete list of features.

[Source: Saleen via MustangEvolution.com]

Continue reading Saleen S281 RF: 465 HP for under $50K

Saleen S281 RF: 465 HP for under $50K originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Oct 2007 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Speed saves? Saleen Mustang stunt driver evades gunman originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Aug 2007 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Shop with Saleen!

Shop with Saleen! originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 30 Jul 2006 13:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.