IMPROVING THE BREED SINCE 1984

Saleen Mustangs dominate the season and capture the 1998 T1 SCCA Manufacturers Championship. Saleen drivers also achieve multiple first place wins, fastest laps, pole positions, and lap leaders.

Steve Saleen and the Saleen/Allen “RRR” Speedlab compete at the 1997 24 Hours of Le Mans, marking the Mustang’s first return in over 30 years. This year Saleen also clinches the SCCA Manufacturers Championship title for the third time.

Steve becomes a household name when fast food franchise McDonald’s selects the Saleen Mustang as the one of the premier prizes for their popular Big Win Monopoly Promotion.

At the 1996 Annual Board of Directors induction dinner, Steve Saleen is inducted into the Mustang Hall of Fame along with Carroll Shelby.

Steve Saleen and actor Tim Allen form the Saleen/Allen “RRR” Speedlab. Taking the 1995 win at Sears Point in the SCCA World Challenge series sets the team up for for a manufacturers championship the following year. This is also the year the Saleen/Allen Speedlab began campaigning the famous “Blazing Horse” insignia.

Saleen celebrates its’ 10 year anniversary with the Saleen SA-10 Mustang. The SA-10 is a special edition that was offered to commemorate the 10th Anniversary of Saleen Automobiles. All examples produced received sequential VIN numbers as well as SA-10 specific options.

Steve Saleen returns to SCCA competition with a prototype supercharged Saleen Mustang in the World Challenge series.

Steve Saleen switches back to Trans-Am series with a Saleen Mustang backed by General Tire.

Steve builds the Saleen SSC, the most powerful Mustang built to date. The SSC boasted 300 HP! In this year Steve begins using his trademark chevrons.

On August 13, 1988, running a three-car Saleen team; Steve Saleen and his teammates finish 1-2-3 at 24 Hours of Mosport and gives Ford its first 1-2-3 finish since LeMans in the late ’60s. Saleen also enters a General Tire backed, Ford Ranger-based, Saleen Sportruck in the SCCA Coors Race Truck Challenge, captures two wins.

Saleen Autosport moves to Anaheim, CA and begins production on the 1988 Saleen Mustang. This year Saleen also begins using its “Championship Wreath” to signify its’ winning pedigree.

With increased horsepower and torque, Saleen adds 4-Wheel disc brakes to the list of Saleen equipment, a first for any Mustang. This year was also the first year Saleen produced a coupe version. Steve, as the lead driver of a Three-car Saleen team, wins driver, team, manufacturer and tire championships in SCCA Escort Endurance Championship with sponsorship from General Tire. Steve enters a General Tire backed, Ford Ranger-based, Saleen Sportruck in the SCCA Coors Race Truck Challenge and captures two wins.

Part of the SCCA series, Saleen runs two Saleen Sportrucks in the inaugural Coors Racetruck Challenge. Similar to NASCAR style racing, the sportrucks run in tight packs and become known for developing the bump drafting technique that is seen in many of todays stock car racing.

On October 10, 1986, Saleen Autosport enters SCCA series with a race prepared version of the Saleen Mustang, and wins grueling 24 Hours of Mosport with sponsorship from General Tire. Drivers: Steve Saleen, Rick Titus and Lisa Caceras were joined by IMSA drivers Skeeter McKitterick and Tom Winters, along with F1 and Indy car driver, Desire’ Wilson. Giving Ford Motor Company the “first” ever in a Showroom Stock Endurance Championship Series; The Saleen GT team WINS grueling 24 Hours of Mosport with sponsorship from General Tire and ESCORT.

Saleen Autosport releases the 1985 Saleen Mustang, featuring all new aerodynamics, suspension, tires, wheels, and interior. In 1985, Steve Saleen’s secretary miscounted the vehicles produced that year, omitting vehicle number 6. Since 1985, Saleen has had the tradition of not issuing the #6 bumper number on any of its vehicles. The single race for 1985 was at his home track at Riverside International Raceway, California where he had won his first race twelve years earlier. This time though, he was competing in a prototype from his company, a black Saleen Mustang race car with two gold stripes.

Steve Saleen forms Saleen Autosport from his dinner table at his home in Santa Rosa, CA.

Steve runs the complete Pro Formula Atlantic series in a Ralt RT1 where he sets several track records, and leads the championship up until the last race, where he finished 3rd, only 3 points away from 1st place.

In Formula Atlantic Steve set thirteen new track records in his region and won the Pacific Coast Championship.

Steve continues to progress in the Super Vee Series by adding more aerodynamics to his Tui AM29.

Steve was the runner up in the Southern California B Production Championship with his second generation metallic blue over white Fastback Mustang. He began his professional competition career as well.

August 19th, 1973: Riverside International Raceway, Riverside, California. Steve Saleen enters his first sports car race with his Ford Mustang and wins!

On July 6th, 1971, Steve learns that racing is for the track when he drives his Shelby GT350 off a cliff in Turnbull Canyon in Whittier, California. Steve spends months recovering from his injuries.

Steve once again repaints his car to Candy Apple Red with gold stripes.

Steve buys a Shelby GT 350 from the Hollywood School of Self Defense and quickly gives it a flashy new paint job

Side view of his 1956 Porsche Type 356 Coupe European Model