Car #853/1 of 230 S281 SC Coupes/400hp Supercharged 4.6L 3V V8/Tremec 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 853 and one of 230 S281 SC coupes packing a 400-horsepower supercharged Ford V8 in factory trim. If the numbers above aren't enough to get your blood racing, then add in high performance camshafts and a performance tune for a little extra giddyup! This example sports a repaint in 2018 in its original color....go ahead, arrest me red!

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 Torch Red and sports silver and white decal accenting. 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 keeping with the original Mustang design. 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.

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 pair of speakers. These panels guide you into single high-backed buckets wrapped in black 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. Noticeable folding and slight wear in the leather, moreso on the driver's seat, 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 brushed aluminum 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 is the badge denoting this car as number 853. In the center of the dash is a mounted gauge pod to monitor boost pressure and intercooler temperature. Also seen in the center is a Shaker 500 AM/FM/CD changer and dials for the temperature controls. Framing this all below is clean black carpeting with faded to grayish green 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 added high performance camshafts and tune makes a touch more. A supercharger is bolted on the top under a Saleen badged cover and a Spectra cold air induction kit all work together to throw power rearward to a Tremec 3650 5-speed manual transmission with a dual stage 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.

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. Adjustable front struts, shocks, coil springs and front sway bar add up to rail-like handling. Power disc brakes all around help slow the car for the ultimate cornering. Dual exuast feeds spent fossils into single catalytic converters then to a H-pipe and Flowmaster mufflers. 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.

A rare example from the new millennium, beefed up by the Saleen Company with supercharging, EFI and some snappy handling add ons and even high performance with some bolts ons from our horsepower minded consignor. The coupe gives the car a great look to show off all the red and 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!