Vehicle Description
If you're familiar with Saleen Mustangs, you already know that
they're not just hot-rod Fords, they're special full-production
cars in their own right. This 2005 Saleen S281 shows you just how
much polish the California Saleen engineers were able to add to the
5th generation Mustang, creating something that's definitely worth
the substantial premium they were charging. And speaking about
charging, how about super-charging? Huh? Hello? Is anyone still
reading after that dreadful pun? Anyway, the 4.6L Supercharged V8
married to a quick-shifting 5-speed manual is a drivetrain brought
to us from the heavens, and when coupled with the legendary
Racecraft suspension and Saleen bodywork, well, this easily becomes
one of the best 'modern-classic' Mustangs on the market.
Gloss black paint works on any Mustang, but after you spot this one
on the horizon roaring towards you, a number of details start to
jump out. First, it looks a heck of a lot sleeker than any
garden-variety Mustang on the market. Part of the credit goes to
the monochromatic paint, which is as deep and shiny as anything
you'd find on high-end exotics. But the Saleen details, including
the legendary body kit that's highlighted by the injection-molded
front and rear fasciae, make this sporty Mustang look like
something much more exotic without removing its basic Pony
familiarity. The use of a Saleen Heat Extractor hood (an upgrade
for the supercharged models) certainly helps with the aggressive
image, and the blacked-out grille with integrated turn signals make
for a killer head-on view. Deep side skirts and door cladding work
with the chin spoiler to lower the car visually, while the rear
quarter window trim and center body rear panels revolutionized this
Mustang's profile. The Saleen guys add their own completely custom
rear fascia that slips on in place of the original, complete with a
new deck lid with end caps that extends the "tunnel" effect in
back, perfectly framing the revised taillights. Dual exhaust tips
poke out under the rear end, and there's plenty of Saleen badging
to let everyone know exactly what just screamed past them on the
highway. And as you might expect in a specialty vehicle with so few
miles, everything is in great, strong driver-quality condition with
only minor imperfections to speak of (most of which could be
remedied with a professional detail). Now why is all this
important? Because this is NOT a Mustang, it's a Saleen, and as
such, it has been treated as an object of great value rather than
just a fast piece of metal.
The interior was made-over and upgraded at the Saleen facilities as
well, starting with deeply bolstered black leather seats with
Saleen logos on their backs. Racy headrests, a few billet aluminum
dress-up pieces, and Saleen emblems in place of the Ford ovals
remind you that you're in a special machine. There wasn't much need
to reinvent the wheel with the gauges, which are bright and clear
with slightly revised faces ("Premium Fuel Only" certainly promises
some fun), although as a supercharged car, this one gets boost and
intercooler temperature gauges perched atop the dash. As a
top-of-the-line Mustang options are plentiful, from cold A/C,
pretty much power everything, cruise control, a tilt wheel, and
dual-stage airbags. A thundering AM/FM/CD stereo system known as
the "Shaker 500" sounds spectacular through the upgraded speakers
and Rockford-Fosgate subwoofer in the trunk, and the quick-ratio
5-speed manual transmission gets a short-throw shifter and a knob
hewn from billet aluminum and a skirt trimmed in matching black
leather. It's all in very good condition with an inviting,
race-ready look that's perfect for a performance car of distinction
like this, with only minor wear-and-tear found in the higher
traffic areas like the seat bolsters. And the trunk looks virtually
untouched since 2005, another sure sign that this car has led an
easy life since new.
The '281' part of S281 stands for the 281 cubic inch (AKA 4.6
liter) V8 under the hood, while the SC stand for SUPERCHARGED.
Since the chassis was capable of handling more power, well, the
Saleen engineers obliged with a proprietary, Series VI integrated
twin-screw supercharger mounted on top of the engine. Making 465
horsepower (up from 300 on the base-model GT), and a towering 425
lb-ft of torque, the Saleen lunges forward like it's hungry for
asphalt all the time. The blower and cold-air intake is unobtrusive
and thanks to that legendary Saleen custom tune, it starts, idles,
and drives almost like a stocker, so if you stay off the loud pedal
(yeah, right) nobody will know what monster lurks within. The
custom 2.5" stainless-steel center X-pipe exhaust system with
center outlets was part of the appearance package that was
functional as well as attractive, and gives this Saleen a
spectacular sound that's distinct from its Mustang cousins.
Saleen's famed Racecraft suspension features upgraded coil-over
springs, front struts, rear shocks, sway bars, and a few other
tweaks that make this the most razor-sharp Mustang you'll ever
drive, while the power 4-wheel discs with slotted rotors and ABS
stop the coupe on a dime. A quick-ratio 5-speed manual spins the
8.8" rear end filled with 3.55 gears, while an aluminum dual-core
radiator and high-flow cooling system keeps the internal
temperatures at bay. Giant 20-inch, 7-spoke chrome wheels add some
bling and come wrapped in sticky 285/35/20 performance rubber.
Saleens are extremely well-documented and rare, and as a result
they're also eminently collectable, so #07-546 here is a fantastic
example that's both affordable and fun. Just don't let anyone call
it a plain old Ford Mustang. Call today!
