If you wish to own an icon of the 1980s, this may very well serve as Exhibit A in any textbook attempting to capture the spirit of the period. This is a Tropical Yellow 1989 Ford Mustang Saleen convertible, which the seller claims is a 1 of 2 examples made in this spec. Saleen Autosport was responsible for modifying small batches of Fox body cars, effectively offering a preview of the type of vehicles the company would go on to produce. They are delightfully period-correct in their execution, and this one appears to remain exactly as Steve Saleen intended. Find it here on craigslist for $80,000.
Thanks to Barn Finds reader Curvette for the find. The early days of Saleen-modified Mustangs were far more intricate and tactical than what the company would become. In fact, the collection of companies offering modifications that aligned closely with what the factory would have done while still exceeding what the big OEMs had the ability to execute is one of the more fascinating aspects of this time period. Think about Saleen, ASC, and Callaway – all of them more or less got the go-ahead from major manufacturers like Ford, Toyota, and BMW to produce the cars that they couldn’t.
Callaway produced turbo kits for the likes of the early BMW 3-Series and even got Chevrolet to approve a package for the C4 Corvette. Toyota worked closely with ASC to create the Celica convertible before it had the means to take the work in-house. And Steve Saleen was dissecting the Fox body chassis to find ways to enhance the handling and make it faster around the track without adding a supercharger or other bolt-on piece of performance equipment. Using extensive aerodynamic modifications, upgraded Racecraft shocks, thicker roll bars and more, he was able to transform the Fox body from a simple muscle car into one that could go Porsche hunting on any road course of your choosing.
The seller’s Saleen has under 13,000 original miles. As such, it remains in time-warp condition. He notes it went into storage in 1997 and was then extricated in 2025 for recommissioning. This work included a new OEM battery, all fluids flushed, and the fuel tank dropped and cleaned. While the price is high, it is likely one of the best and certainly one of the rarest in this color scheme. Power-wise, you have the same output as a standard Fox body – that means 225 horsepower and 300 lb-ft of torque – but in much more evocative wrapper than your standard GT ‘Stang.
Cool car. The Saleens were straightforward, well-executed models. They do have a following today.
Thanks Jeff, good write-up. The bright yellow does capture the era quite well.
I hope the first thing the buyer does is to trailer (not drive) it to the tire store…. 1991 tires?!? Yikes!!!
Are the seats pink or is it a bad photo or are my eyes deceiving me?
Ugly colors. If the stock horsepower and torque ratings remain I don’t know what all the fuss was about. Yeah I know it’s a car for the track.and all the spoilers and fairings improve aerodynamics and road holding, but would you pay the price unless you were a collector?