Jul 13, 2004
September 8, 2004: Imola, Italy. With Steve Saleen in attendance privateer team Vitaphone Racing Team scores what could be the most dramatic home track upset victory in motorsports history with their S7R in the FIA GT Series. Drivers Michael Bartels and Uwe Alzen took the all American S7R Supercar to an overall victory at Ferrari’s home track Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in front of the Fiat Chairman, Luca di Montemzemolo and the Italian Press against two Maserati MC12’s (thinly guised Ferrari Enzos), three Ferrari 550’s, three Ferrari 575’s and two Lamborghini Murciélago in the GT Class.
Dec 1, 2003
Saleen celebrates its’ 20 year anniversary with the Saleen SA-20 Mustang. The SA-20 is a special edition that was offered to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of Saleen Automobiles. Offered only in a convertible model, the SA20 was the first model to use the new Saleen Tonneau cover and lightbar.
Dec 1, 2003
Saleen debuts the summer of ‘Hollywood Horsepower’. Three movies premiered this summer featuring Saleen vehicles on the silver screen. With the most screentime, the Saleen S7 is what Jim Carrey drove in the ‘Bruce Almighty’ movie when he had his ‘God-Like’ powers; therefore inspiring the quote “The Pope may occasionally be driven in a Ferrari, but Bruce Almighty confirms that God drives a Saleen S7!” Harrison Ford drives a S281 in “Hollywood Homicide.” Saleen S281 races in the movie, “2 Fast 2 Furious.”
Jul 13, 2003
Saleen celebrates 20 years in business. Saleen begins assembly of Ford GT and other specialty vehicles in a New Troy, Michigan manufacturing facility
Dec 1, 2002
Saleen is awarded two contracts to build the new Ford GT (40) for Ford. Saleen was commissioned to engineer, manufacture and assemble the vehicles, including all of the paint production and shipping. Saleen’s Chief Program Engineer was responsible for the design, testing and certification of the supercar, including chassis, powertrain, body, interior and electrical systems.
