30th Anniversary Saleen sets a performance high-water mark

By Cam Benty

It’s been 30 years since Saleen won its first sports car championship, and to signal that anniversary, Steve Saleen thought up an ingenious plan: build the highest horsepower “street” Saleen ever. In a day when high horsepower is seemingly the standard, this 730-hp Saleen gets attention from even the most complacent muscle car fans.

The new car comes in two versions: the 730-hp Street version, and a 750-hp Track version (streetable, but ready for track service at a moment’s notice). Each model sports the signature Saleen colors — white, black, and yellow — which are rotated depending on the anniversary year.

What is most remarkable about the new Saleens is the cool exterior aerodynamic design. Most notably, the front fascia is completely different, with a low brow grill opening due to the very unique Saleen hood configuration. The smaller grille opening is braced with functional air ducts that draft air to the massive six-piston Saleen front disc brakes and oversized slotted/drilled brake rotors. Painted yellow to stay in step with the exterior coloration, the calipers are highly visible through the white five-spoke wheels and high-performance General G-MAX RS tires.

The return to the General Tire camp is part of the throwback purpose to the entire 30th Anniversary celebration. General was the tire of choice for Saleen’s racing efforts back in the 1980s, and with the refocus by Continental (parent company of General), it just seems appropriate the new Saleens wear General tires. For the Track version, General Tire lettering is a key part of the graphics, along with other sponsors including Montgomery Wards, Baer Brakes, and Kenne Bell superchargers.

Power for the Street version comes courtesy of a massive 3.2L Kenne Bell liquid-cooled supercharger bolted to the top of a 5.0L Ford engine. The engine is dressed in Saleen badging throughout, and a stamped Saleen nameplate with the official model number, date of production, and Saleen legacy is bolted to the inner fender well under the hood.

The supercharger system tucks nicely under the Saleen hood, drawing fresh, cool air from under the body, not from within the engine compartment — a key to building the big power figures. In the rear, a new fascia is also added and includes underbody directional ducting and reverse light repositioning that places the illumination down low, in Formula 1 race car fashion. The interior breaks from the pack with a series of white-faced Saleen gauges, special sport seating, short-throw shifter, anniversary graphics, and dashboard-affixed Saleen nameplate to make everyone know this is a Saleen Anniversary Edition.

The Track version of the 30th Anniversary Saleen picks up some signature appointments, most noticeably the competition wing that is fully adjustable to increase or reduce downforce. In addition to the increased horsepower for the track edition (20-plus hp), the interior sports a six-point rollbar (with back seat delete), making it truly track ready. Full on five-point racing seat belts are included, along with a tighter throw shifter to ensure no one misses a gear.

Production of the 30th Anniversary editions is limited to 30 units, and prices start at $87,000.

Understanding the anniversaries

For 2017, the Saleen is a white car with black and yellow accents for the 30th anniversary of the sports car win by Rick Titus and Steve Saleen (and the 20th anniversary of Rick Titus’ father, Jerry Titus, winning the Trans Am title). The colors are not a first for the team; they rotate the colorations every five years to celebrate their anniversaries.

“The 30th Anniversary Saleens are a blend of our three signature colors: black, white, and yellow,” Saleen states. “It is also why we offer white, yellow, and black label cars — stepping up the performance respectively.

“In 1989, after five years in business, we had a white car with yellow and black graphics. On our 10th anniversary, we did what we call the SA10, which was a black car with yellow and white graphics. Our 15th anniversary car was a yellow car with white and black graphics, and for the 20th anniversary, I did a white car again. I was told that the birthstone for 30 years is pearl, and that is why the 30th Anniversary Saleen had to be a pearl white. For our 35th anniversary, we will probably go back to black.”

Pretty simple eh?