Topic: Saleen Letter of Authenticity

[GT500KR]

Hey Saleen Guys,

 Iv'e got a 91 Saleen convertible that I've owned for 20 years. I'm the second owner, and I have pictures of the car rolling off the Saleen enclosed transport at the dealership, still in the wrappers, so I know how it was delivered, and built.

 A couple of weeks ago, I got pretty excited to learn that letters of authenticity could be had from Saleen, for $75 plus shipping. So I ordered it online, and it came earlier this week.

 Looking it over, I was quite surprised to see that they got the interior color wrong. Reading further, they stated it was assembled in Long Beach.

 Weren't all the 91 models built at Cars & Concepts in St Louis?? Before I write back to them, I'd like to make sure I'm right about that. I'm hoping they can re-do my LOA, I know the company has been on a rocky road for the last 7 or 8 years, but it's a little disappointing.

[BobV]

That sucks. Unfortunately, it's not unusual for Saleen to get these wrong on the earlier cars.
I think most of the people working there now weren't even born yet...

The good news is that most of the wrong LOA's are being corrected at N/C - you just have to go thru the hassle. Call Saleen and ask for Lisanne Alba, she's the one who can fix it. Direct: 714-400-2121 x 101 or email LAlba@saleen.com

Yes, most 91's were built in St Louis, exceptions were SC's and possibly a few very early/late cars. All the C&C cars I've seen have the full 17-digit VIN stamped on the underhood plate, whereas Anaheim cars had partial VINs (6 or 8 digit).

[GT500KR]

Thanks for the reply Bob,

 Interesting.
 
 I had never heard of early/late builds in California. My car isn't an SC, or anything special other than the unusual color (only convert in 91) and Saleen custom leather Flo Fit interior. I think it was built at Ford to be sent to Saleen due to radio delete on the W Label. It is a very late car (7/91 Warranty Label, built 7/22/91 according to Marti, 8/15/91 Saleen Plate) but it has a full VIN on the Under-hood Data Plate, which in your observations probable would indicate a Cars & Concepts car.
 
 Curiously, the Plate reads "Anaheim"? Do you think they just used the same plates? Interested in your thoughts, and thanks, I will contact Lisanne.

 

 

[BobV]

Yes, the "Anaheim" plate was used mid-88 thru late-93 for most cars, regardless of build location (only exception is some 92's with a Dearborn plate). The full VIN would make me think you have a C&C car. Most C&C cars also got the door skins slightly "bent out" to better match the body kit lines. One of those weird details that's hard to document exactly. My old 91 (#39) had this done.

I would imagine that the California build cars were in-house company cars or one of those urban legend things - hard to know if it's true or not.

[GT500KR]

That sucks. Unfortunately, it's not unusual for Saleen to get these wrong on the earlier cars.
I think most of the people working there now weren't even born yet...

The good news is that most of the wrong LOA's are being corrected at N/C - you just have to go thru the hassle. Call Saleen and ask for Lisanne Alba, she's the one who can fix it. Direct: 714-400-2121 x 101 or email LAlba@saleen.com

Yes, most 91's were built in St Louis, exceptions were SC's and possibly a few very early/late cars. All the C&C cars I've seen have the full 17-digit VIN stamped on the underhood plate, whereas Anaheim cars had partial VINs (6 or 8 digit).

Thanks Bob.

 I just sent Lisanne an email. Hopefully she can fix it for me. I also asked her to double check if my car was built at Long Beach, as the letter states.

 My car is a very late car, September 91, so maybe it was built in Cali? I remember being at Road America in the 90's when Steve was racing with Tim Allen. I had the car parked by the Saleen Hospitality area, and Liz told me she remembered my car. After learning that the 91's were built in St. Louis, I thought she was just being nice. But now???

[BobV]

Let us know what you find out. I'm interested in hearing!

Looking at 1991 production, they shipped a few cars the 1st part of July, then nothing... Until they built 6 convertibles (including yours) in the 1st week of September, which concluded 1991 Saleen production.

[GT500KR]

Thanks Bob,

 I've learned more from you about my car than I have from Saleen!

 I still haven't heard back from them after 3 weeks, so I re-sent the email today. I copied sales@saleen.com this time as well, maybe they will help me out.

[Coupey]

A lot of Cars and Concept cars had their doors bent at the very bottom to contour with the ground affects. See if your car has this. I have 2 92 Saleens. I bought one new and the other was built by Saleen Parts without Steve Saleens authorization although I have the Saleen bill and paper work. 91-92 were tough times for Saleen and I never got many straight answers on my cars over the last 25 years

[GT500KR]

I should have posted the outcome of this deal earlier, sorry.

 I did get a corrected letter from Saleen. My car was built in Long beach, and was one of the last batch that Bob V. eluded to. And it does have the doors bent to match the ground effects as well.

[drummingrocks]

Can you guys post pictures of the bent doors?  I never realized Saleen did this as part of their conversion.  I've had several regular production GTs and LX'es, and I'd like to compare the Saleen doors to the doors on regular Mustangs.

[GT500KR]

On my car, they only bent the rear corners. This is what they look like.

[drummingrocks]

Cool, thanks for the picture!

[79mustangcobra]

Cool, thanks for the picture!

I agree- thanks for the picture! .