RaceCraft Suspension/Supercharged 4.6L V8, 500hp/Tremec 3650 5-Speed

For consignment, a high-end Mustang for enthusiasts who were offered 3 different models this year from the Saleen Studios...we present car number 1030 and one of 79 S281 SC convertibles packing a 400 horsepower supercharged Ford V8 in factory trim. If the numbers above aren't enough to get your blood racing, according to our consignor this car is 1 of 2 built in this color combination with these exact options. This example sports a fully blacked out body with matching new top in black...very menacing indeed!

Exterior
With air dams, side rocker panel flares, a molded front spoiler, unique rear filler panel, and a rear spoiler this car is all bathed in deep dark Black and sports silver and white decal accenting. Also in sinister black is a pristine condition new black canvas convertible top which folds neatly into the rear trunk area and makes way for a black styline bar. For the rear more integrated aero bumper body matching and dual exhaust peeking out from the bottom through the bumpers. SALEEN decals in a white to silver fade adorn the rear bumper and let the competition know who's in charge. A look on the side profile and a sleek swept back windshield and the smaller look for the rear trunk area with the top down, and this is a true sports car, only resembling the original look of the Mustang, but distinctly Saleen design, which is a separate company from the Ford blue oval. More Saleen decals adorn the bottoms of the doors and Saleen S281 Supercharged badges are attached to each front fender. Rounding out this late model powerhouse are 20" polished Saleen 7 spoke wheels wrapped with low profile rubber. We must note that the windshield is tinted and may be against regulations in some states and there are some slight paint cranks at the bottom of the front bumper cover.

Interior
A nice mixture of molded texture plastic and black perforated vinyl give the backing for the power window controls, power lock controls and down low a huge 3D branded speaker. These panels guide you into single high-backed buckets wrapped in Dark Charcoal leather with a stitched embroidered Saleen logo in each back of the seats along with a spine like insert in the center of the seats and halo style headrest with the obligatory mesh netting inside. Some folding and slight wear in the leather adds character and shows the car was actually used. A 2 plus 2 setup of a bucket styled bench is in back and looks barely sat in. A central console houses a glovebox, some cup holders and the MGW chrome ball topped shift lever, then rises to meet the dash front which has dual eyebrow visors for the dash top. These frame the white-faced Saleen badged gauges on the driver's side, and the glovebox on the passenger's side topped above by a smooth faux aluminum panel with chrome bezel round air vents. Of special note above the glove box is a faded Steve Saleen signature and badge denoting this car as number 1030. In the center of the dash is a mounted gauge pod with indigo backlighting to monitor boost pressure, fuel pressure and H20 temp. Also seen in the center is a Shaker 500 AM/FM/CD changer and chrome knobs for the temperature controls. Framing this all below is clean black carpeting with S281 carpeted mats.

Drivetrain
For its healthy heart, this car now has, courtesy of Steve Saleen a supercharged 4.6-liter 3V V8 that used to produce 400hp but thanks in part to the folks at Vector Performance now makes a consignor stated 500hp. A supercharger is bolted on the top and has a smaller pulley to create more boost for this hungry mill. Ford Racing injectors are now on to handle the extra fuel needed and this all works together to throw power rearward to a Tremec 3650 5-speed manual transmission with a new performance clutch. Out back handling all the horses is a Ford 8.8" rear axle weighing in with a 3.55 ratio and equipped with Trac-Lok. The engine bay is very nicely detailed, and a huge shout out to the Canton coolant overflow reservoir, power steering reservoir and oil catch cans all in aluminum and all looking fab. A custom battery cover and power brake cover has been added to keep things looking clean.

Undercarriage
Nice and clean and surface rust on some usual suspects like the driveshaft, rear pumpkin, and on some suspension parts, but nothing remarkable. Floor pans are rust free and are like new. Suspension includes independent coil overs for the front and a 3-link system with coil springs and a panhard bar for the back. RaceCraft struts, shocks, coil springs and front sway bar add up to rail-like handling. Power disc brakes, upgraded with Powerstop drilled and slotted rotors all around help slow the car for the ultimate cornering. Kooks headers feed spent fossils into high flow catalytic converters, X-pipe and Magnaflow mufflers. We do see on the driver's muffler, some burn through from welding of a hanger bracket. Otherwise, all looking good and super racy down here.

Drive-Ability
Our resident muscle car man took the wheel of this test drive, fired the car right up and off at the test track and reported that acceleration was exhilarating, braking was bias free, and the suspension lived up to its reputation with great handling. All functions were working well, and the car is a great cruiser too, when you are not muscling it around the back roads.

An extremely rare example from the new millennium, beefed up by the Saleen Company with supercharging, EFI and some snappy handling add ons then taken to the next level by our high performance minded consignor. The convertible gives the car a great look when the top is down and being all black with the silver and white accenting helps too, and all the venting and extra cowlings give the car a really racy look, and aid in handling when you are pushing it. "Power In the Hands Of A Few" indeed!