Supercar manufacturer and production car modding company Saleen produces some truly remarkable machines. Founder Steve Saleen got his start racing Ford Mustangs, but the company which he founded really came into its own once it started tuning and modifying those cars. Saleen Automotive took off and has earned a reputation alongside others like Roush as one of the premier Mustang modders.

Saleen has had such success with its Mustangs that Ford took notice; the companies have gone on to develop a close working relationship. Ford even awarded Saleen a duo of big contracts to design and produce the Ford GT when it was first resurrected back in 2002. The company worked on everything from paint to powertrain, including the interior and electrical systems.

However, despite securing the GT deals, branching out into super limited edition hypercars of their own design, and souping up other Ford designs like the new Bronco, modding Mustangs remains Saleen's bread and butter. It's the company's roots and what it has always done best.

There's just something magical about what happens when the high-performance tuning and modding company gets its hands on Ford's famous pony cars.

The Saleen Treatment

A Saleen 302 with the hood up
Via: Wikimedia

The hallmarks of a Saleen Mustang are huge jumps in horsepower and aggressive new styling. The body kits Saleen adds on are designed to improve the aerodynamics of the cars, and wind tunnel tests are used to ensure that the added performance is real and not strictly ornamental. Engines are tuned, and upgraded oil coolers and air intakes further boost performance. Of course, the biggest boost is from the superchargers that the company is inclined to add.

Knowing that handling is as important to performance as raw horsepower, Saleen also adds race suspensions to its Mustangs. Transmissions are upgraded, short-throw shifters are used, and brakes get upgraded pads and slotted rotors.

While Saleen has been souping up Mustangs for decades now, the latest offering from the company is the S302. A regular production 2020 Mustang forms the basis for the car. Once it gets the Saleen treatment, though, the S302 boasts 475 horsepower for the base model. That gets upped to 740 for the nicer Yellow Label and a whopping 800 for the top-of-the-line Black Label, which also features goodies like a high downforce splitter and rear diffuser.

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Saleen Made A Total Of Just 13,000 Mustangs

A Saleen 281
Via: Flickr

Saleen Mustangs aren't just performance monsters; they're also rare as hens' teeth. The company is small, and production numbers reflect that. While the company's Mustangs aren't quite as rare as some of the supercars it builds from the ground up, there are only around 13,000 from all years of production.

According to the Saleen Owners and Enthusiasts Club, there have been just 12,930 Saleen Mustangs built. While the SOEC doesn't yet have complete data for production in the last five or so years, it's a safe bet that this number is still fairly accurate. After all, that 12,930 figure is for all of the Mustangs Saleen has produced since 1984, over 35 years. That works out to less than 350 models built per year.

In reality, production numbers fluctuate year to year, and it's not uncommon to see figures far lower than that 350 car per year average. In the first year of production, Saleen made just 3 Mustangs, all based on the hatchback Fox-body models. Those numbers rose to 140 and 201 in the following two years and saw the introduction of convertible and premium package R models.

The climb continued for a time, hitting 279 models made in 1987, 709 in '88, and 895 in '89. The increase in production wasn't continuous, though, and numbers fell back to 256 in 1990 and all the way down to just 17 in '92. Since then, production has continued to fluctuate wildly; the number of Saleen Mustangs being made each year went from a high of 1,640 to a near low of 26 in just three years, 2006 to 2009. Given those numbers, it would be surprising if the current number of Saleen Mustangs totaled over 15,000.

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A Saleen Mustang Is Worth Over $80,000

Rarity and high performance often come together in the car world to create high prices. The Saleen Mustangs are no exception. A new S302 goes for $49,000 if you're looking to buy the base model White Label. The Yellow Label increases in price to $59k and a Black Label will cost at least $63,000. Of course, options like extra-large rotors or Carbonite wheels will run a little more.

Used models are available for a bit less, but you won't be saving much. Prices on Hemmings have Saleen Mustangs from the mid-2000s going for around $35,000. Some rare examples, like a 1965 Mustang that was modified by Saleen with a supercharger, widened body, and other upgrades, are asking prices as high as $88,000. If you can get one, though, you can be sure that it'll be well worth it.

NEXT: Ranking The 10 Best Saleen Mustangs