History Of Saleen
Saleen Automotive, known for its high-performance sports cars, jazzy designs, and Hollywood debuts, offers you an unmatched elite race-car experience. Your local Ford dealership is thrilled to provide this fast and furious niche lineup of cars, for all the daring drivers who crave excitement. Founder Stephen M. Saleen, the CEO of Saleen Automotive and racecar extraordinaire, began his supercar journey in 1968 when he painted his 1956 Porsche Eggshell Blue and added rip-roaring horsepower. A racer himself, Mr. Saleen won his first race driving a Shelby Ford Mustang in 1973, and a year later began his professional racing career. Over five decades later, this automotive visionary continues to bring racecar performance to the streets, enhancing models we know and love. Mr. Saleen’s passion for car culture did not stop there, as he continued to lay the groundwork for a game-changing industry of manufacturing exclusive designs and engineering of high-performance vehicles, and is now considered one of the most well-known and successful automotive legends nationwide. With two gold stripes, enhanced aerodynamics, tires, wheels, and suspension, Saleen Autosport releases its first Supercar to the public, the 1985 Saleen Mustang. The newest additions to the Saleen sports car lineup, the Saleen S1 and the Saleen 302, are for sale at your local Ford dealership, redefining performance. Featuring advanced aerodynamic design and functionality, also available to our guests are the Saleen Sportruck and the Saleen Sportruck XR. Journey through the years and learn about what makes these special vehicles so spectacular.
As Mr. Saleen arose from humble beginnings to a large network of expansive distribution centers and manufacturing plants across North American, Stephen Saleen led his way to transform the auto world with his bold and respected brand. From Saleen Mustangs to Sportrucks to the Saleen SSC, S351, S281, and the “Great American Supercar”, the Saleen S7. Introduced in the year 2000 with a mid-engine design, to this day the Saleen S7 has been the only Saleen produced car not based on an existing design or chassis. Many accomplishments later, Mr. Saleen makes his debut into ‘Hollywood horsepower’ as Jim Carrey drove the Saleen S7 in ‘Bruce Almighty’ and the Saleen S281 races in the fan favorite, “2 Fast 2 Furious” and plays as Barricade in the 2007 movie “Transformers.” In 2014, just over 30 years of production, Saleen debuted its very first all-electric automobile based on the Tesla Model S.
Today, we are beyond thrilled to source the Saleen S1, established in 2018, and is said to be Mr. Saleen’s true vision of a state-of-the-art ‘SuperCar’. Weighing in at only 2,700 lbs. and made with a carbon fiber body, this true sports car boasts 450 horsepower and reaches zero to 60 MPH in 3.5 seconds! With ultra suspension and brakes, distinctive driveline gears, and a supercar sound, the Saleen S1 reinvents style. Perhaps the Saleen S302 pays more interest to you, while you can choose the Fastback or Convertible, or opt for the S302 White, Yellow, or Black Label from the Saleen Signature Powertrain Series. The revolutionary Saleen S302 Black Label generates an earth-shaking 800 horsepower and 660 lb.-ft. of torque, thanks to its ferocious 302CI 4-valve DOHC V8 engine. Instantly recognizable, the Saleen Sport Truck is powered by a ST V8 5.0L engine that brings 415 horsepower and 420 lb.-ft. of torque. You can always opt for a supercharger that raises the output to 700 horsepower. This high-performance Sport Truck heritage has also expanded its off-road landscape to the Saleen Sportruck XR. Both of these models are based upon the renowned F-150 of the Ford trucks platform, and offer power in four levels. You’ll have your choice of the turbocharged 2.7L and 3.5L Ecoboost engines, a 5.0 naturally-aspirated powertrain, or a supercharged 5.0L V8 engine. With signature Saleen shocks and brakes, bumpers and grilles, you can always add custom enhancements as you wish.
Learn more about the legacy of Steve Saleen and his destiny to reimagine the race car, and design your Saleen Supercar at your local Ford dealership today. That’s right! Here at Palmetto Ford, our professional sales team is prepared to answer your requests about the Saleen models that are available to you, and will help you find the perfect trim level that fits your larger-than-life style. Get to know the Saleen Supercar lineup at your local Ford dealership!