Rare Rides: A Sporty Saleen for Your "Domestic" Super Car Needs

When you put pen to paper and start making a list of American super car models, it doesn’t take long to conclude that The Land of the Free is not a leading purveyor of the species. In fact, you can fit the list on a standard Post-It. Google reckons there are just four generally — Ford GT, Hennessey Venom GT (which are current), a couple of Mosler MTs, and the Saleen S7 (which are deceased).

So come and check out a rare example of what happens when [s]American[/s] British engineering meets super car specifications, and then it all gets screwed together in the U.S. of A.

Hemmings features the large and in charge vehicle you see above — a Saleen S7, from 2004. Saleen produced a few S7 examples each year between 2000 and 2006. Though it’s commonly thought of as an American creation, the S7 was designed and first built in the United Kingdom by Ray Mallock Ltd., for Saleen. However, the idea for the concept did come from Steve Saleen (an American). For the rest of the model’s run, Saleen built the S7 in Irvine, California.

Speeding away from The Golden State is handled with ease. Put your foot on the floor and enjoy a 0-60 time of 3.3 seconds. As you’d surmise from this figure, there’s some serious firepower somewhere within the subtle, [s]anonymous[/s] carbon fiber, axe-murderer flanks.

Behold, the bored and stroked 7.0-liter Ford Windsor V8, which in this particular car is naturally aspirated. In 2005, the S7 Twin Turbo became available, which upped the horsepower from 550 to 750. Top speed is over 200 mph, even in this scrawny naturally aspirated version.

The ad cites there were only eight S7 examples built in 2004. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it’s the only S7 built to this particular specification of silver paint, Band-Aid colored sun lounger chairs, and other miscellaneous options. When your total production figures are in double digits though, it’s not that hard to create unique combinations. Be sure to check out the unique alignment of those hand-crafted door panels!

But then again, that’s the point of throwing down cash on something rare, isn’t it? I think my favorite angle is right up there. The car goes under the hammer for the 2017 Sotheby’s Amelia Island auction, which runs this week, with an estimated sale price between $390,000 and $450,000. That means this super car starts at just $709 per horsepower. A bargain! Better get hold of your broker.

[Images by Sotheby’s]