Vehicle Description
2001 Ford Mustang Saleen S281 Convertible
Steve Saleen is a former Formula Atlantic race car driver and
founder of Saleen Automotive. He founded the company in 1983, which
was originally named Saleen Autosport. Saleen Mustangs are
special-edition Ford Mustangs produced by Saleen Automotive, Inc.
Saleen is an American auto manufacturer that makes limited-edition,
high-performance specialty vehicles. They offer heavily modified
versions of mass-produced cars, such as the Mustang. Saleen
Mustangs are considered to be some of the rarer Mustang models
available. The first year Saleen released a Mustang, only three
models were produced. According to the Saleen Club of America,
Saleen produced more than 8,000 modified Mustangs from 1983 to
2009.
For consignment, a high-end Mustang for enthusiasts who were
offered only one model this year from the Saleen Studios - the
S-281 packing a racy 365 horsepower supercharged Ford V8 and
numbered #262 Available as a coupe or a convertible, this
convertible is only one of 223 produced this year. Sporting an
exterior in Mineral Gray which is a smoky warm gray with a black
leather interior. All looking very racy with managing black
wheels.
Exterior
With air dams, side rocker panel flares, a molded front spoiler,
rear quarter air vents and a rear spoiler this car is all bathed in
Mineral gray and shows in black accenting in lieu of the chrome.
Also contrasting the gray is a pristine condition black canvas
convertible top which folds neatly into the rear trunk area covered
with a solid Mineral gray plastic tonneau cover with dual seat bump
ups and a black styleline roll bar. For the rear more integrated
aero bumper is body matching and dual exhaust peeking out from the
bottom through the bumpers. 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 racy for
the rocker which has a black decal that gives us a fade for that in
motion look. Grounding the car are black 18 inch wheels and our
consignor states the original rims will come with the car. These
original rims are in fair condition.
Interior
A nice mixture of molded plastic, carpet and smooth integrated door
actuators and power button panels, the door panels sweep inward and
guide you to the seats. These are single high backed buckets
wrapped in Charcoal Black leather with a stitched embroidered
galloping horse logo in each back of the seats. Some folding and
slight wear in the leather adds character and shows the car was
actually used. A 2+2 setup of a bucket styled bench is in the back,
and becomes unusable when the top is down and the tonneau is
installed. A central console houses a glovebox, some cup holders
and the shift lever, then rises to meet the dash front which has
dual eyebrow curved visors for the dash top. These frame the white
faced instrument panel on the drivers side, and the glovebox on the
passengers side. In the center of the dash is a mounted bump up
with boost pressure and intercooler H20 temp for the supercharger.
Also seen in the center is also the heater controls and a Mach 460
AM/FM/6 CD radio. Charcoal carpet floods the floors and is very
clean.
Drivetrain
For its healthy heart, this car now has courtesy Steve Saleen a
supercharged 4.6 liter V8 that will produce 365hp. It has been dyno
proven to 334hp at the rear tires. The supercharger works with EFI
to feed the mill and throws power rearward to a Tremec 3650 5 speed
manual transmission. The engine bay is very nicely detailed, and
shows no corrosion on any aluminum parts, including the top
supercharger unit. For the pumpkin we note a Ford 8.8-inch 3.55
TracLok to spin the rear tires and wheels.
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 springs for the front and a 4 link system
with coil springs for the back. Race Craft 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.
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. The convertible
is a real plus for that open air feeling and the sound of the
engine is just fab with the top down. The battery light
occasionally came on, but it has tested fine so???
A fairly rare example from the new millennium, beefed up by the
Saleen Company with supercharging, EFI and some snappy handling add
ons. The convertible gives the car a great look when the top is
down and the tonneau cover is showing off those dual bumps on the
back aligning with the seats. Black 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, and it's tough to resist
doing so!
1FAFP45X81F145648
1-USA
F-Ford Motor Company
A-Passenger Car
F-Manual Belts, Front Airbags
P45-Mustang GT Convertible
X-4.6 Liter SOHC V8
8-Check Digit
1-2001
F-Dearborn, MI Assy Plant
145648-Sequential Unit Number
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 650 vehicles for sale
with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle
barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia
on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is
www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914.
Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the
vehicle in person.