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Old 02-03-2009
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SimiSaleen View Post
Every time Saleen gets sold the product is further diluted. The last true Saleens that were produced were when Steve was with the company. Its been very disappointing for us long time owners and enthusiasts to see whats happened to this wonderful car. You don't see Jack Roush or Carol Shelby seperated from their cars. New Saleens have lost there true identity since the investors made a poor decision in making Steve leave. That was a terrible mistake! I know one thing for sure! My next Mustang will be a Shelby!
If memory serves me right. Shelby lost Shelby American during the Series 1 production. The assets were purchased by an outside party. Eventually that party went into bankruptcy and Shelby purchased the name Shelby American and remains of the Series 1 back. Even though the Series 1 could no longer conform to regulations and the American name was no longer in use. If my mind serves right.

Roush cars have their own history. You figure, in around 1995 you could have purchased a DIY kit from a vendor and went-to-town on your new SN-95. By the late 1990s, dealer built Roush cars were still a norm. They are neat cars, with their own styling... but when they came out... I had the tendency to view them as a sales alternative to when financing for a new Saleen would/could not go through. They also offered a nice entry package on the V6.

I'd go Steeda over Roush and Shelby. Granted, much like Roush... Steeda did not keep close track of what they built for their respected serialized lines for years-and-years, but they did keep up with racing stock bodied cars that can relate to a customer in addition to a fully stocked catalog of trick components. That's one of the reasons I dug the Escort SS/GT Saleens. Real cars that appear similar to what Joe-anyone drives. While Saleen Performance Parts offered their own array go-fast-goodies.

Saleen became a "Lifestyle" (image) brand. Creating GT Touring Cars for a wide audience while churning 1,000-1,500 vehicles a-year. Promoting style, a loose connection to the S7, and a Mustang competition effort over previous generations.

Short of an S7R... the only thing I can think of thats close to a Motorsport Saleen for the S197 era, are any number of the JDM drag cars. next would be the '99/'00 widebody effort.


I believe the Shelby GTs are a special knockdown unit. If you see the pool cars... they appear to ship as wing delete GTs with the GT/CS exterior styling trim. The black wheels on the black chassis' also appear to be Ford placed.

The Shelby GTs also run in the SCCA T2 class and competes well.


To wrap this up though... Shelby, Saleen and Roush all have a team of engineers and designs working on their product. You'll have a hard time convincing me that day-to-day street car building for any of the above goes beyond an employee asking... "do you like this, or that?"

Buy the vehicle you like, not for the name that's on it.
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