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Car # 387: 1988 Ford Mustang Saleen

Oh, how I love the Fox body Saleen Mustangs. As the cliched phrase goes, they’re so 80s, it hurts. The decals, lower body cladding, rear spoiler, and BBS or Ronal wheels (this car has both) are styling trademarks from my favorite era of performance cars. The Saleen seen here has just under 30,000 original miles and remains in very nice condition with some desirable modifications made under the hood. The seller reports that it is car number 387 and it comes with 3.55 gears, which likely complements some of the under-the-hood modifications. The Saleen is listed here on eBay with a Buy-It-Now of $39,900.

Now, I may be a big fan of this era of Saleen, but not everyone is. Prior to their power boosting ways with later editions of the Mustang, the Fox body generation didn’t get any major help under the hood – modifications were more oriented towards styling and handling. The seller of this car has addressed those shortcomings with some serious modifications that aren’t necessarily visible to the naked eye. The interior of this Saleen remains in exceptional condition, including the very desirable Flo-Fits that are near impossible to find in any condition. The period car phone is just icing on the cake in terms of owning a vehicle artifact of the 1980s.

The seller has seemingly been very deliberate in his modifications, choosing a slightly sleepy path in terms of boosting horsepower. These modifications include a new BBK high flow catted pipe, GT40 tubular intake, B cam, and a mass air conversion, all of which has been freshly tuned. Other work includes basic maintenance projects, including new rear shocks, battery cables, and an O2 sensor. Curiously, the seller doesn’t know if the Saleen retains its original paint job, as he simply says it appears to be factory-applied, with perhaps the exception of the front air dam.

The seller is including both sets of wheels that are correct for a Fox body Saleen, and I’d personally have a hard time choosing which set to go with – but I think I’d give a nod to these BBS-style rollers. The seller notes there’s one area of the body stripes beginning to peel away, but I would assume someone has developed a replica stripe / decal kit given how many owners are likely having the same problem. The asking price is strong with this one, but these Fox body Saleens never seem to stick around long when they do come up for grabs, and the low miles will earn this example lots of eyeballs. What do you think – is the $40K price tag a fair number?

Comments

  1. Avatar Stan

    Cool mustang. Asking price seems wild, but who cares what I think, as they say it only takes 1 buyer.

    I had an 88 sedan 5L. They’re fun cars, now have a 2017. To compare the 2 is no contest, brakes, handling, is night and day, and of course power, but scarcity is in this Saleens corner. Usually its white paint on these ?
    Cool colors here. Good luck.

    Like 6
  2. Avatar douglas

    One just sold for 50k on bring a trailer 2 weeks ago. Same low miles.

    Like 3
  3. Avatar Craig

    Yep, foxbody Saleens are desirable. I’ve a stock 1990 7up Saleen. what it lacks in horsepower, it makes up in lightness. I believe mine is about 3200 pounds. It’s a very fun package. And the basis of an SCCA champion.

    Like 4
  4. Avatar JCA Member

    Great car, worth the price

    Like 4
  5. Avatar Bakyrdhero Member

    Same money thereabouts as a 93 Cobra. I’d say either are worth the money in today’s market, I’m not sure which is more desirable, depends on the individual. I give the nod to the Cobra, but I certainly wouldn’t kick this out of my garage! Good luck to the new owner.

    Like 4
  6. Avatar douglas

    As the past owner of 1987 – 45, the difference between the 2 is horsepower (93 cobra) vs handling (Saleen). This one is modified, so not much difference in the horsepower comparison. If you have never driven a fox body Saleen then you don’t know what you are missing. On a hard corner the Saleen has NO body roll. They feel like go-karts on a race track. Also figure in the low production for both. 1355 ’93 cobras vs 2703 fox Saleen (and for fun – vs 14368 for 1960’s Shelby). I had mine from 2004 – 2014 and never saw another one on the street besides car shows….

    Like 4
    • Avatar Bakyrdhero Member

      @Douglas
      I’m envious! I haven’t driven a Saleen, my comments are purely cosmetic as I prefer the subtle looks of the Cobra to the more brash Saleen. I hadn’t considered handling, but figured power to be about the same.

      Like 1
    • Avatar Craig

      yep…I’d think a foxbody Saleen would be more comparable to a 1993 CobraR

      Like 2
  7. Avatar t-bone BOB

    Item location:
    Felton, Delaware

    Like 0
  8. Avatar Todd Zuercher

    I’d go with the BBS wheels myself. I had a set from a Lincoln Mark VII years ago on my 86 GT and it really dressed it up.

    Based on the recent BaT Saleen sale, it appears that ship has now sailed for me as well. Always wanted one as I felt they corrected a lot of the shortcomings of the stock GTs: handling, brakes, seats, etc. and as a child of the 80s, I always liked their looks.

    Like 0
  9. Avatar Bob P

    Back in the 80’s, I worked for a Ford dealership in Los Angeles (Galpin Ford) that sold the Saleen. To say that the mechanics fought over who got to test drive them would be an understatement (it was, after all, the job of “new car prep”, but the mechanics all tried pulling rank), and we’d all come back grinning. And I haven’t seen one on the streets since the 80’s. But the only one’s I can remember us selling were white with multi colored blue stripes.

    Like 0

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