Steve Saleen is back in control of his company and is ready to make some noise starting with the 2014 George Follmer Edition Mustang.
Firmly back in control of the company bearing his name, Steve Saleen has some big plans in mind, starting with the latest in a series of tribute cars honoring each of the Big Three Detroit makers and the drivers who made models like the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro and Plymouth Barracuda such formidable competitors.
The first model out of the gate is the 2014 George Follmer Edition Mustang, which made its debut at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca over the weekend with the historic Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion roaring in the background.
“George Follmer was such a serious competitor,” Saleen told TheDetroitBureau.com, explaining the choice of the long-time driver, who raced at the Indianapolis 500, in the NASCAR Winston Cup and also collected a Can-Am championship in 1972.
The Follmer Edition starts out as a 2014 Mustang, but gets some body modifications meant to harken back to the 1969 model that the legendary racer campaigned so aggressively. That includes a tri-color paint job, retro-chromed grille surround, a Shaker hood and minilite wheels.
There are some functional changes, as well, including adjustable springs and shocks, a Watts-link rear suspension, as well as some engine modifications including a unique air intake, new throttle body, camshaft and valve springs. That allows the Follmer Mustang to rev up an extra 1,000 RPMs and make what Saleen estimates at 470 horsepower going through a six-speed manual gearbox.
The package is completed, he says, with a very loud exhaust.
Priced at $75,000, sales of the 2014 Follmer Edition Mustang began on Saturday, after the official unveiling – though even before the news event was completed Steve Saleen said he had taken two orders. A total of 250 will be built, honoring the length of the classic Trans Am race.
(Ford may badge new Mustang a 2014 ½ model. For more, Click Here.)
Next up in the heritage series will be the Mark Donohue Camaro, set to launch by year-end, and the new Heritage Series will wrap up with a model honoring Swede Savage, the late driver best known for his time behind the wheel of a Barracuda. It will appear early in 2014.
(Click Here to see how Mustang is back in the driver’s seat over Camaro.)
But that’s just the beginning of Steve Saleen’s plans now that he has regained control of the specialty car company bearing his name. He has already gotten the company listed for public trading, the stock found on the OTC market under the symbol SLNN.
The next big move will be the launch of an all-new supercar Saleen plans as a replacement for the formidable S7 he produced from 2000 to 2006. While the automotive entrepreneur was tight-lipped about details expect it to be an even more aero-swept two-seater that will almost certainly best the 750 hp of the late-edition S7 Twin Turbo model that was launched in 2005.