Q: Did I own a Saleen California GT?

[89-194]

16 years ago I bought a wrecked 88 Mustang. It was white and I do mean white... All the trim and mirrors were the same color as the car. Inside it was just the stock GT red, with minor additions. It was equipted with a red Momo steering wheel and shift knob. Shift knob was attached to a Hurst shifter. The instrument panel had the "ford motorsport" 160 mph speedo. It also had the 2-Point roll bar that attached at the shoulder belt location. Back out side it, as I said was entirly white. It had the '88 aero body kit, (front & rear vallance, side skirts and rear hatch spoiler). The fenders had silver Racecraft Suspension and the hood had the matching 302 along with Saleen on left side of hatch. The suspension had oinion head strut mounts with all 6 Monroe Formula GP struts. The racecraft springs and 4-lug four wheel disk brakes.( the rear disks and calipers crossed w/ a Thunderbird). Welded in sub frame connectors, 3-point strut tower brace and the Racecraft K-bar chassis suport. It was converted to MAS w/ the Motorsport conversion kit (ECU, maf and tube). I also had the tubular GT-40 intake, chrome cast vale covers, SVO bolt down 1.73 RR, iron GT-40 heads, underdrive pulleys and flowmaster mufflers welded in. There were no wheels or stereo, the guy sold them seperately, but said they were white basket wheels? The stereo was a Pioneer, and cheap?

I looked at the VIN and it was clear this was a GT Mustang? I aske the history...
His story was i bought off the lot at a Ford dealer in Anaheim, CA. Said Saleen had so many White GTs bought from Ford and this was a left over '88 that was never completed? He moved to Washington and his girlfriend crashed it?

I bought it for $1200 just for parts thinking the guy was telling me crap..no serial plate then it's not a Real Saleen-Right?

Now, I wonder if there's some truth to his story and this car?

http://saleenforums.soec.org/showthread.php?t=16812

[89-194]

oh ya it also had what looked like... Hedman headers and LX tail lights..

[Greg Wackett]

Saleen generally ordered LX bodies, there was a dealer in CA that did send Saleen a hand full of cars in 87 and 88 to get mods done. So it is possible you had one. I know of a Black and red 87 that were one oh and a 86 vert.

I think it was either 88 or 89 that the a dealer network in the San Fran area had about 200 cars done these were called GTsports aka Califionia Edition

[89-194]

Here are some old pics..

[89-194]

And...the outside. Wheels were missing

[89-194]

The original front end sheet metal...

[89-194]

White with the stock red interior...

[89-194]

Rough but for $1200 I thought it was fair?

[89-194]

sorry, I'm not sure why the pics posted upsidedown?

[seethrough]

Originally Posted by Greg Wackett

Saleen generally ordered LX bodies, there was a dealer in CA that did send Saleen a hand full of cars in 87 and 88 to get mods done. So it is possible you had one. I know of a Black and red 87 that were one oh and a 86 vert.

I think it was either 88 or 89 that the a dealer network in the San Fran area had about 200 cars done these were called GTsports aka Califionia Edition

Greg, do you have a database with all this info or is this all just from memory? Everytime someone comes up with an obscure question you have all the details - if this is all off of memory my hat is off to you - I can barely remember my birthday.

[yellow93]

The Saleen California Editions were all GT models. And, I believe all white with gray interior, from what I have seen. They also had different fender decals. It is possible your car was a post-title conversion. But, without documentation, it would be hard to tell.

[Greg Wackett]

Originally Posted by seethrough

Greg, do you have a database with all this info or is this all just from memory? Everytime someone comes up with an obscure question you have all the details - if this is all off of memory my hat is off to you - I can barely remember my birthday.

LOL memory and pictures Liz shared so much history with me when we were racing.

[calbear]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/171165177576

[Dave]

Side note: The California GT was offered/produced in both 1989 & 1990. The Saleen package is very similar between years. Most changes between years are with the stock Mustang offering.

Here is the 1989 press release:
http://soec.org/the-california-edition/

(Photos attached from the ebay auction.)

[90 Cali Edition]

I own one- my father bought it almost new when I was 10 years old and I kept it going. Clean with 171k miles. 7up edition wheels. Still have the original spoke rims but hard to clean. Love this car!! Brings back so many memories.

[Brokn Nx]

I bought a set of mesh 4 lug wheels from a guy who had one locally. He had turned the car into a racecar, and upgraded the wheels to 5 lug. It was white with grey, full GT body, with a sunroof. Aside from some real basic stuff, it was a Mustang GT.

I've seen around 4 of these since I began buying Saleens in 08. There are probably plenty of owners who have them now unknowingly, as the identification features are easily replaced, or lost during repaints.

[COUPEY]

I don't think you had a California GT. As mentioned it looks like all of them were all white GT's with sunroof and grey interior. They were 89 and 90 Models. My car has a dash plaque with car number and a windshield decal saying California Edition which I have not witnessed on any other cars. Marti reports can identify them if you know what to look for. My car is also a very late production car.

[gbrittenum]

I know when I started looking at Saleens in 1986 a salesman at Galleria Ford in Houston said they had sent a convertible GT to Saleen to be converted. Has best as I can remember it was red.

[Greg Wackett]

Back in 85 and 85 there were several cars converted but not numbered.

[Dave]

Originally Posted by gbrittenum

I know when I started looking at Saleens in 1986 a salesman at Galleria Ford in Houston said they had sent a convertible GT to Saleen to be converted. Has best as I can remember it was red.

This would of been 87-0201.