The Saleen S7 was conceived by Steve Saleen, founder of Saleen Inc., a company renowned for high-performance Ford Mustang upgrades and competitive motorsport programs. Unlike Saleen’s earlier projects, the S7 featured a bespoke chassis engineered from the outset for racing, with road-going versions later produced for homologation purposes.
Power came from an all-aluminum 427-cubic-inch V8 housed beneath lightweight carbon-fiber bodywork, enabling 0–60 mph acceleration in 3.3 seconds and an estimated 220-mph top speed. Its racing counterpart, the S7R, established itself on the global stage with class victories at the 12 Hours of Sebring and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Saleen elevated the platform further with the S7 Twin Turbo. Equipped with twin Garrett turbochargers generating 5.5 psi of boost, the revised 7.0-liter V8 delivered 750 horsepower and 750 lb-ft of torque. Performance improved dramatically, cutting the 0–60 sprint to 2.8 seconds and raising top speed to 248 mph. To maintain high-speed stability, redesigned front and rear diffusers increased downforce by more than 60%.
Currently listed on Bring a Trailer, this S7 is among the final naturally aspirated examples before being returned to Saleen’s Troy, Michigan facility for factory twin-turbo conversion. Reportedly one of only three finished in Beryllium Orange, it received TT-spec aerodynamic upgrades early in its life.
The autoclave-cured carbon-fiber body, designed by Phil Frank, incorporates butterfly doors, a roof-integrated intake, and functional gill-style ducting. Center-lock forged wheels measure 19 inches front and 20 inches rear, wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, while six-piston Brembo brakes clamp large ventilated discs.
The cockpit features black leather upholstery with gray perforated inserts, asymmetrical seating positioning the driver near the centerline, brushed aluminum trim, Alcantara headliner, air conditioning, power windows, and a Kenwood multimedia system.
Further upgraded by Nth Moto in 2013, the mid-mounted 7.0-liter V8 now produces over 1,000 horsepower and 1,000 lb-ft of torque through a custom twin-turbo system utilizing Garrett and TiAL components, liquid-to-air intercoolers, stainless headers, and AEM fuel management. Power is delivered through a Mendeola five-speed sequential transaxle paired with a Tilton triple-plate clutch, while unequal-length A-arms, coilovers, and a front anti-roll bar manage chassis dynamics.
Source: Bring a Trailer
