1999 Ford Mustang GT Saleen S281-SC - Vintage Motorcars - Sun Prairie, WI

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Here is another beautiful modern muscle car that features all the modern creature comforts combined with the power and performance of a muscle car. With the limited production numbers coming from Steve Saleen, and the ultra-low miles; this car is sure to nothing but appreciate in value!

Anyone who is a Mustang fan knows the name Steve Saleen. The Mustangs bearing his name have been special since the reinvention of performance back in the early 1980s and his work has been synonymous with high-quality performance since day one. As the Mustang evolved, so did Saleen’s performance, always pushing boundaries without sacrificing the other virtues that made Saleen Mustangs competition for BMWs more than Camaros. And perhaps most remarkably, Saleen’s expertise has made them the go-to people for Blue Oval performance, starting with the Saleen S7 supercar that now changes hands for nearly $1 million and including the Ford GT, which, shockingly enough, was subcontracted to Saleen for production. It seems that anything bearing the Saleen name is bound to be impressive in every way.

Which brings us to this brilliant Chrome Yellow 1999 Saleen S281 SC. In 1999, Saleen was granted manufacturer status, which means this is not just a Ford Mustang with some aftermarket parts, but rather a fully engineered car that is recognized as a separate brand. Now, of course the Mustang DNA is obvious everywhere you look, but as usual, the Saleen upgrades have transformed it into something special. 1999 was also the Mustang’s 35th anniversary and the debut of the “New Edge” styling, all of which combine to make what is arguably the best-looking fourth-generation Mustang of all. Even more interesting, Saleen only built 421 cars in 1999, of which this is #198, and of those, only 64 were S281 SC coupes, so it’s hardly the kind of thing you’ll see on a regular basis. In addition, we have a letter of authenticity from Saleen stating that this is actually one of one in these colors with a supercharger, making it a special car indeed. In addition, this particular S281 SC shows just 11,431 original miles and has just two owners in its 18 years since new, making it the very best kind of performance car to find. It has obviously been babied since day one, never used as a daily driver, and I’d wager that the number of times it has seen rain could be counted on one hand. You probably won’t find a nicer one.

Chrome Yellow was one of the signature colors on the Saleens in 1999, and if you looked in any of the magazines of the day, you’d probably see reviews of a car very much like this coupe. There’s no denying that the finish is vivid, a three-stage paint that Ford used on a select few Mustangs that year. Saleen added their usual body kit, which smoothly blends Saleen and Ford parts to create a tasteful but dramatic look that’s also very functional. There’s a custom chin spoiler up front, complete with Saleen production number under the left headlight, a tradition from the very beginning. The side skirts visually lengthen the musclebound Mustang, and custom “gills” in the quarter panels, a special C-pillar was added, and a SALEEN-emblazoned rear bumper finishes the look. Oh, and there’s also a special wing that’s aggressive but not ridiculous, something that’s hard to avoid in the Mustang aftermarket. Of note, the ground-effects show correct Saleen part numbers and patents, proving that they’re the real deal and not fiberglass knock-offs and the subtle black Saleen graphics are about the only part of the car that are low-profile. Of course, it remains in excellent condition with so few miles, showing only one or two scuffs that have been touched up properly. It has never been hit, wrecked, or rusty, and the fit is remarkably good, as you’d expect from a car with an original price tag that was nearly 50% more than a stock Mustang GT.

The interior was less dramatically modified but there are still plenty of Saleen-exclusive touches. The original black leather buckets are plenty supportive for the kind of driving this car enjoys and remain in excellent condition with only light comfort marks on the driver’s chair. The door panels, dashboard, and headliner are all pretty much as-new, and there are Saleen-logo floor mats protecting the carpets. Saleen added a set of special white-faced instruments to the Ford gauge panel, including a 200 MPH speedometer, which is probably not just hyperbole in this particular car. Custom pedals give it a racy look and the short-throw shifter for the 5-speed manual transmission feels more like a toggle switch with positive engagement and slick throws. Up top, there’s a special gauge pod with more white-faced gauges, this time for boost pressure and intercooler temperature, and the installation is so neat that you almost think that’s the way Ford did it originally. Of course, just about everything was standard on the Saleen, including power windows, locks, and mirrors, A/C (still ice cold!)