Replies to post #4157 on Saleen Automotive, Inc. (fka SLNN)

[wj2005]

The race teams paid for the chassis, parts etc. Specifically the Saleen-Allen race team was before the year 2006 which was a owned race team of Saleen. This must all go along with Steve getting fired right? Even though he actually quit instead.

Obviously the issues Saleen had after Steve left where there own problems. They tried to redefine the brand and what the cars should look like. Brought out new models of the Mustang that were a big flop and ugly IMO and the dealers had to give then away to sell them. Steve had nothing to do with these "great" new ideas that did nothing for them but make the company go down the toilet. Then for them to do what they did to all the suppliers, banks etc that wanted paid but the investment firm said sorry, we aren't in business anymore and have filed BK... We have no money to give because we did a shady transaction to get what we could out of the company for our own personally benefit by selling a huge amount of equipment and supplies.

So ya, that investment group was so wonderful right? Lol

The other projects AFTER the Ford GT were in the works BUT with the economic conditions after the GT was done and also upper management changes in Ford, Ford pulled the plug on any additional project like the GT once it was done. So no, it was NOT Steve's choice but ford didn't move forward with any additional projects.

If Ford would have allowed it, Saleen would have built the GT's in Irvine, CA but as I stated before, Ford REQUIRED the plant that Saleen built the GT in to be within a 75 mile radius of Detroit. This is because the second requirement is that the wixom plant was the final assembly point for the GT to satisfy the UAW.

So if anyone is to blame, IMO it is Ford but then again you can't blame them for the economic issues that arose during and after the GT project was done.

[jdivad]

There was no delay in 2006 Saleen product. The 2005 S281 Mustang began with the model year and there was no change-over for 2006 product.

The Focus was a two-year deal in 2004 and 2005. Saleen entered the Saleen Focus market in 2001 by offering "kits" in their Speedlab part catalog. They developed the 2004 production model mainly on the over-the-counter "kits" they were selling for three years. The Focus was a slow seller, with a continued large volume of Mustang expected for 2006... capacity was shifted to Mustang.

Saleen Special Vehicles in Troy, MI was set-up for Ford GT production and also won contracts to build pre-production and display vehicles. A full build like the GT or multiple sub completions like the supercharged Harley pickup and Viper painting could keep the facility humming. As stated, successors to the GT program were canceled. The GT was a Ford program owned by Ford, it was not on Saleen (company or man) to offer a replacement.

ASC/Saleen did complete for the Toyota "performance truck" development and build contract in 2007-2008. This would have given the Troy facility a possible large volume vehicle to produce. ASC/Saleen lost the contract to Steve Saleen to develop the truck. Toyota then canceled the truck project when the markets went into the toilet.

The VC firm through management of ASC/Saleen "wanted" Saleen to become an OE builder and supplier. Offer services in production, but leave marketing, distribution, warranty responsibilities to a major manufacture. Constructing small volume, remanufactured "signature vehicles" were of little interest to them.

In 2008 ASC/Saleen previewed the S5S. In basics, this was a Ford GT chassis 2.0 proposal. Ford Motor Company did not bite.

[wj2005]

http://www.allfordmustangs.com/articles/2006-saleen-s281-mustang-gets-serious-horsepower-662.shtml

This is a press release for the 2006 Saleen Mustang and it was releases in October. No, there was not a delay as stated and he wasn't off doing whatever was stated. The model was pretty much a carry over from 2005 since 2005 was a new body style of the mustang from Ford.