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2000→2004 Saleen S7

2000→2004 Saleen S7

2000→2004 Saleen S7

In 2001, Steve Saleen embarked on his most ambitious program and debuted the Saleen S7 at the Monterey Historic Races. It was his first separate car that wasn’t derived from a Mustang and was entirely new. With a mid-mounted V8 and stylish carbon fiber body, the S7 was one of the few supercars produced in America, and Saleen claimed it was the only car being sold in America with power 500 bhp.

Up until 2001, Saleen had built a reputation tuning Mustangs info performance muscle cars. He began in 1983 around Troy, Michigan. By the time he relocated to Irvine California, Saleen had upgraded thousands of Mustangs and was synonymous with Mustang performance.

Together Steve Saleen, Billy Tally and Phil Frank came up with the basic premise for the S7 and then outsourced most of the engineering and design to other firms. Ray Mallock Ltd. (RML) did a bulk of the work and the first few prototypes came from their shop in the UK.

An all-new V8 engine was manufactured by Billy Tally which used many dimensions from the Ford 427 crate engine. Compared to the Ford lump, Saleen’s was eight inches shorter. This connected to a 6-speed transaxle and 4-plate clutch.

At the time of launch Saleen claimed it took only 2.8 seconds for the S7 to 60 mph and 8.1 seconds to 100 mph.

In Detail

submitted by Richard Owen
type Series Production Car
production years 2000 – 2004
released at 2001 Monterey Historic Races
built at Irvine, CA, USA
body stylist Phil Frank
price $ $ 375,000
engine V8
position Mid Longitudinal
aspiration Natural
valvetrain DOHC 2 Valves / Cyl
fuel feed Electronic Fuel Injection
displacement 7000 cc / 427.2 in³
bore 104.8 mm / 4.13 in
stroke 101.6 mm / 4.0 in
power 410.1 kw / 550 bhp @ 6400 rpm
specific output 78.57 bhp per litre
bhp/weight 440.0 bhp per tonne
torque 711.8 nm / 525.0 ft lbs @ 4000 rpm
redline 7000
body / frame Carbon Fiber over 4130 Steel Spaceframe
driven wheels Mid Engine / RWD
front tires 275/30ZR-19
rear tires 355/25ZR-19
front brakes Ventilated Discs w/6 Piston Calipers
rear brakes Ventilated Discs
front wheels F 48.3 x 24.1 cm / 19.0 x 9.5 in
rear wheels R 48.3 x 33.0 cm / 19.0 x 13.0 in
curb weight 1250 kg / 2756 lbs
wheelbase 2700 mm / 106.3 in
front track 1748 mm / 68.8 in
rear track 1710 mm / 67.3 in
length 4774 mm / 188.0 in
width 1990 mm / 78.3 in
height 1041 mm / 41.0 in
transmission 6-Speed Manual
tran clutch 4-Plate Clutch
gear ratios 2.46:1, 2.06:1, 1.47:1, 1.18:1, 0.958:1, 0.74:1
final drive 3.22:1
top speed ~354.1 kph / 220 mph
0 – 60 mph ~3.5 seconds
0 – 100 mph ~8.9 seconds
0 – 1/4 mile ~11.8 seconds
fuel capacity 71.92 litres or 19 gal.