Those of you who have seen the Saleen episode of American Muscle Car

[evlgt85]

For the heck of it, I see what's on Speed totally on a whim, as 99% of their programming these days seems to be of no interest to me, and I see that this is on, and just beginning (OOO...they just got to showing some sexy fine Stern wheels!!!! Rawr! Yeah, it's still on as I'm typing this...) and decide it's time to take a break from rearranging the closet of doom.

Well, they're showing some footage of the early days, complete with nice four-eyed clips, and they get around to showing an early Saleen. Not being much of an expert on these cars, I'm a bit befuddled.

They show a Regatta Blue 85, with no Saleen air dam and the stripes on the rear spats end there, and don't go onto the rear bumper cover.

So, I ask of you expert-types, what's the deal with this particular car? I'm sure someone on here must know it personally somehow.

Did some of them come without the front effects? Am I completely remembering the stripes 'round the bottom wrong, or were they missing off of this car?

Do enlighten me, please. Thanks!

Oh, and any of you guys who'd like to ramble on about the details and finer points of the Saleens of this era, please feel free to get some informative threads going :D

[saleenjunky]

Some of the 85's didn't come with the front air dam.I think a collecter in the area of Indy owns this and it is not Stew Ackers.I am not an expert on the early cars,I am into the 92-93's and the coupes.

[85 GT Kid]

Theres a 85 Saleen near me that doesn't have the air dam. We (my dad and I) thought it was just taken off but maybe some of them came like that (looks naked w/o it). Also that regatta blue saleen (i watched the show too) looked like the trim was black not charcoal (boooo). I THINK the 85 Saleens didn't have the graphics on the bumper cause the bumper was a stocker but I THINK the 86s had them on the bumper cause of the aftermarket bumper. I'd have to read the book I got but i'm lazy right now :D.

[svo85]

Hi guys,
I've been away for ages but had to chime in on this one! The front air dam's were very similar to the 82 GT but were unique to saleen. The striping was added to the car but was an owner deleted option in several cases. Some cars were shipped without rear wings and without the front air dams as well (mainly convertables though). If anyone happened to see the bumper number of the regatta blue car post it up and I can check the registry to see if it was a factory delete.

Sorry Skye, I didn't read all of your thread comletely before responding! :-)
Because so many of the Saleens were thrown together in a sense anything is possible back then. I see cars pop up here and there with strange features (such as this 86- it has the 85 front air dam and a split LX/GT dash)
http://www.yourbestcarbuy.com/assets/images/86_saleen_dash.jpg

http://www.yourbestcarbuy.com/assets/images/86_saleen_front.jpg
Here's an 85 for reference:
http://www.stangbangers.com/85_SaleenMustang_Pic1.jpg

Because Saleen was such a small operation in 85-86 I think they went off what they had. They may have been out of air dam's at the time the car was shipped or it could have been an owner delete option. Who knows! They did do a pretty good job of keeping records though so I will go through the registry and see if there is any detail to the car you mentioned.
Randy

[FoxChassis]

I see cars pop up here and there with strange features (such as this 86- it has the 85 front air dam and a split LX/GT dash)
http://www.yourbestcarbuy.com/assets/images/86_saleen_dash.jpg
What part of that dash do you think is "GT"?

[svo85]

What part of that dash do you think is "GT"?

For some reason I thought the passenger side insert matched the drivers side. Sheesh, I've been without a four eye car for too long!!!
Thanks Fox!

[sowaxeman]

The Regatta car is owned by Marc Allen here in Indy. I've seen the episode myself and wondered about the airdam. Either somebody else owns a regatta car and had to pull the airdam from damage....or perhaps this is footage of Marc's car during the ground up resto but before the airdam was installed?

I'll check with Marc to see if he knows how any other regatts were converted and what he knows about the video footage.

I have TONS of pics of A LOT of these cars from various Saleen shows. Here is the Nationals from this year with 85 in attendance

http://s34.photobucket.com/albums/d113/sowaxeman/2008%20SCOA%20Nationals/

[Blue86]

The Regatta car is owned by Marc Allen here in Indy. I've seen the episode myself and wondered about the airdam. Either somebody else owns a regatta car and had to pull the airdam from damage....or perhaps this is footage of Marc's car during the ground up resto but before the airdam was installed?

I'll check with Marc to see if he knows how any other regatts were converted and what he knows about the video footage.

I have TONS of pics of A LOT of these cars from various Saleen shows. Here is the Nationals from this year with 85 in attendance

http://s34.photobucket.com/albums/d113/sowaxeman/2008%20SCOA%20Nationals/

The Light Regatta Blue Saleen shown in the show has Michigan license plates.

[silver85]

I've got that show on my Tivo. I've watched it several times. If there's any details that need to be scrutinized in it I can watch it and pause it if needed.

I do know of a guy in Memphis who has an 85 without the front air dam but it has the stripes.

[dragogt]

http://www.stangbangers.com/85_SaleenMustang_Pic1.jpg

How dos one acquire those headlight covers (for lack of a better word) dem thins are sharp. Are they SVO or Saleen only type deal? I don't remember seeing any re pops in tha catalogs.

[silver85]

Summit Racing and Jegs used to carry them. A buddy of mine bought some for his 84 out of one of those catalogs back in 2000 or 2001. I'm not sure how easy those are to find anymore.

[dragogt]

Allright tks I'll just have to keep my eye's open then.

[memphis306]

I do know of a guy in Memphis who has an 85 without the front air dam but it has the stripes.

hmmm...anyone i know?
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n42/memphis306/acura071-1.jpg

[silver85]

hehehehe. ;) yep

Did you decide to keep the Sterns? I wish I could have gone to the Nashville show a couple of weeks ago. Looks like there was a huge turnout from the pics on the SCOA Talk board.

[memphis306]

i sold the saleen spec set.ive got these that fit any 5lug non saleen.there also for sale,but i dont have the post count to advertise here.the only way to advertise on here would be to shamelessly plug them in a post.:roll: you should of been in nashville,good times.also,i would love to check out your '88

[silver85]

I'll be at the 45th in April. I wish I could have gone to Nashville but there was too much going on that weekend. I'd like to meet more of you guys. Or I could just hook up with you when I'm at my Dad's. He lives in Cordova and I have an Uncle in Bartlett. We always go to Rendezvous or the original Corky's on Poplar. I'm originally from Brownsville. A little unknown town there in West Tn and a majority of my family is spread between Jackson and Memphis. The '88 hasn't made that trip in about 8 years though. It will be in Alabama next spring for sure. ;)

[02Z06]

Memphis306, was your car built like that originally (no airdam)? Very interesting...

[memphis306]

Memphis306, was your car built like that originally (no airdam)? Very interesting...
thats a good question.i bought this car from a good friend in l.a.he was good friends with the 2nd owner and as far he knows it never had a saleen airdam.the decals on the front bumper,although they resemble the rear decals, are different than any decals on any saleen ive ever seen before.i didnt see the show they're talking about,but,ive never seen another saleen that didnt have the front airdam yet had the lower decals.so maybe someone could post a pic of the regatta blue saleen in question.steve saleen was no help when asked about my car.IIRC,his exact words were "well,we were a small company back then.if the car needed to go and we didnt have an airdam,it went without one.and also,we used to drink a lot back then and i dont remember." my car is #85-078 and was never titled outside of california until i got it.if anyone knows the original owner,i'd love to get in touch with him.

[ACG]

http://www.stangbangers.com/85_SaleenMustang_Pic1.jpg

How dos one acquire those headlight covers (for lack of a better word) dem thins are sharp. Are they SVO or Saleen only type deal? I don't remember seeing any re pops in tha catalogs.

I'm pretty sure that 50resto has them for like $50. if you get em let me know how they fit.

[X-isles]

I have seen a white one like the above in a salvage yard in Alabama. When I see how nice they look, it makes me want to go save that one.

[02Z06]

A saleen in a junkyard? Go save it!

[memphis306]

I have seen a white one like the above in a salvage yard in Alabama. When I see how nice they look, it makes me want to go save that one.

you wouldnt happen to know the name of the junkyard would you.a phone number would be nice too.thanks

[silver85]

you wouldnt happen to know the name of the junkyard would you.a phone number would be nice too.thanks

LOL! I sent him a PM yesterday requesting the same thing.

[memphis306]

ive got enough spare parts to rebuild it.......

[X-isles]

I am off the next couple of days and can go get some picks if someone is really interested in possibly saving this car. It looks to be a 1984 white with blue stripes saleen. Last I saw it, it had rear end damage with the wheels and front suspension missing. The entire yard is nothing but mustangs so it would probably be a treat for some to see some photos.

I remember when I saw it that I felt it was a little too far gone for my abilities but maybe some here can fix her up. I have some work to do on my Stang but will head over to the that yard later today or tomorrow.

Response to PM has been sent...

Ackman and Puter here on the site have expressed interest in making a little trip out there. Maybe we can get some good photos between the 3 of us.

[silver85]

Thanks for the response. It's definitely not an 84. There were only three produced in 84. Those are actually all alive and well.

Pictures would be awesome. I haven't chatted with Puter in a while. I attended their Rocket City Mustang Club show two years ago when I had my 85 GT. They're a bunch of good guys to hang out with.

[memphis306]

pics would be great.and definitely get the vin so we can verify its authenticity.