Buy or not to buy 89 Saleen

ejs2111 · Jun 3, 2009

I've been debating whether or not to buy a 1989 Saleen 179,XXX miles
im a college student(low on cash) whos looking for my first mustang
Their asking 6500 heres the description
any suggestions thanks in advance

Black Ext/Grey Interior
5 Spoke Wheels, grey center, polished lip
3.55 Gears 5 speed Hurst Shifter
5 Lug Rear Disc Brakes
Original Block is not in car but we do have it/Original Tranny in car
Motor was overhauled last year
.030 Over, Scat Rods, Crank, Speedpro Pistons, FRPP E303 Cam
Have the original rotating assembly
130 AMP Alternator Conversion
Flexalite Black Majic Conversion
E7TE Heads w/ Valve Job; Stock Intake
BBK Long tube headers w/ matching H-Pipe and flowmasters. Have the stock exhaust manifolds
Interior needs help but it is intact and ORIGINAL(actually really rough); back seats have sun damamge
#225 out of 734
1 of 17 that year with grey wheels and interior and 3.55 gears
not even 10000 miles on engine overhaul

LaserSVT · Jun 3, 2009

Need pics but sounds good so far

Darkwriter77 · Jun 3, 2009

How many miles on the chassis? That whole "only XX,XXX miles on motor/trans" line in ads means jack-squat if you don't have a chassis mileage number to go with it, because a lot can be inferred depending on when things were overhauled or replaced. If the car has high miles and a fresh rebuild, that's one thing, as the higher the mileage before it was replaced, the better (shows someone maintained the car); if it's got under 100k on it and someone already blew the engine or grenaded the tranny, then the rest of the car is probably ragged-out and abused all to heck, as well.

My guess is that if it's a genuine Saleen, it's probably been beat on quite a bit, so I'd look the car over reeeeeeeeeeally close for other issues - evidence of wrecks/frame damage, torn torque boxes, that kind of thing.

Either way ... seems a hair expensive to me for a 20-year-old Fox, especially if it's got a lot of miles on it.

LaserSVT · Jun 3, 2009

Darkwriter77 said:
How many miles on the chassis? That whole "only XX,XXX miles on motor/trans" line in ads means jack-squat if you don't have a chassis mileage number to go with it, because a lot can be inferred depending on when things were overhauled or replaced. If the car has high miles and a fresh rebuild, that's one thing, as the higher the mileage before it was replaced, the better (shows someone maintained the car); if it's got under 100k on it and someone already blew the engine or grenaded the tranny, then the rest of the car is probably ragged-out and abused all to heck, as well.

My guess is that if it's a genuine Saleen, it's probably been beat on quite a bit, so I'd look the car over reeeeeeeeeeally close for other issues - evidence of wrecks/frame damage, torn torque boxes, that kind of thing.

Either way ... seems a hair expensive to me for a 20-year-old Fox, especially if it's got a lot of miles on it.

Damnit Dave. He said 179xxx on chasis and the rebuild was 10K ago

Now that there are pics I can see its been beat on so I would check the rad suport and torque boxes as well as sub frames. If they are in good shape then its worth it just cause its an authentic Saleen

Stableboy · Jun 3, 2009

whats wit hthe teal 1993 cobra next to it?

wythors · Jun 3, 2009

Take your question to the Saleen Club of America forum and you will get some educated info and may even find someone that knows the car.

One thing to consider though is that the material for recovering the seats is no longer available and any missing Saleen-specific parts are going to be very expensive. The steering wheel on that car is incorrect, but the shift knob ($200+ on eBay) is the right one. The price of the car seems quite reasonable if the condition of the car is as described. Nice Fox Saleens with average mileage (say under 75,000) and all the correct bits routinely trade in the $12-15,000 range and the rarer and really low mileage cars can easily go for over $20,000. One of the 9 SA-10 models built is currently available for something north of $80,000. A decent Fox Saleen for $6500 almost falls into the "if you find one buy it" catagory.

Darkwriter77 · Jun 3, 2009

LaserSVT said:
Damnit Dave. He said 179xxx on chasis and the rebuild was 10K ago

Now that there are pics I can see its been beat on so I would check the rad suport and torque boxes as well as sub frames. If they are in good shape then its worth it just cause its an authentic Saleen

Dammit ... I was reading the ad part, instead of the preceding info. My reading skills are teh suck, lately.

89 Saleen#455 · Jun 4, 2009

$6,500 is actually a pretty good price since most of the original Saleen pieces are still with the car. The original 5-spoke ARE wheels are worth about $1,500 alone if the tires are in good shape. There's some interior fabric's available that are a close match for the Saleen Fabric. As Wythors mentioned, head over to Saleen Club of America: Saleen Club of America SCOA Talk • Index page

Trust me. Those guys really know their stuff when it comes to Foxbody Saleens.

I'd say if you can pick-up the car for $5,800.....I'd jump on the deal. Just my $0.02

89 Saleen#455 · Jun 4, 2009

Looks like they already started a thread about 89 Saleen#225 a few weeks ago on Saleen Club of America. In fact one of the members living in Florida has already looked at the car and will answer questions if needed.

Saleen Club of America SCOA Talk • View topic - 89 #225

Mustang5L5 · Jun 4, 2009

Need better pics.

Also, need to get up close and see the actual condition of the car. Once again, the add is selling the mods, and not the car. Interior looks trashed, and the chassis has 173,000 miles on it. How are the shocks? How is the interior plastics? If i roll a window down, does is skip and shake?? A/C work? etc.

On paper, a $6500 Saleen sounds nice, but if you think about it...would you spend $6500 on a car with 173K miles and 20 years old?

Go check it out in person

90lxcoupe · Jun 4, 2009

unless your looking for just a saleen, which it seems like you arent, dont buy it, for that price you could easily find a clean fox mustang with 100k less miles, and jusding by the pics, im assuming that its at a dealership that sells lots of these cars, which in my expierience is a bad thing, these cars are easy just to slap a motor in and sell, and it looks like thats what they did here.

The car is a typical pampered saleen, but because its a saleen, they want big money for it. If that were a LX/GT hatch, it would be worth around 3K

ejs2111 · Jun 4, 2009

thanks alot guys

thanks alot for the pointers guys. u guys really know ur stuff. i took ur suggestions to check it out and had a buddy(he knows his mustangs alot better than i do) goto the dealership and check it out. he told me that it that it was really rough and would need an easy 2k to get the thing looking and running right.....

with that said do any of you guys have any suggestions for a first mustang looking to spend about $5800 total on a car and some engine upgrades??? thanks again u guys are great

Mustang5L5 · Jun 4, 2009

You might be able to find a 94-95 Cobra for that money.

I'd consider that an upgraded Fox with the bigger brakes and the GT-40 engine parts.

xherdlr · Jun 5, 2009

Mustang5L5 said:
You might be able to find a 94-95 Cobra for that money.

I'd consider that an upgraded Fox with the bigger brakes and the GT-40 engine parts.

Id have to agree...Some deals are better if passed up..I think this may be one. You can get a very nice 87-93 coupe in that price range..

ryan218 · Jun 5, 2009

Darkwriter77 said:
How many miles on the chassis? That whole "only XX,XXX miles on motor/trans" line in ads means jack-squat if you don't have a chassis mileage number to go with it, because a lot can be inferred depending on when things were overhauled or replaced. If the car has high miles and a fresh rebuild, that's one thing, as the higher the mileage before it was replaced, the better (shows someone maintained the car); if it's got under 100k on it and someone already blew the engine or grenaded the tranny, then the rest of the car is probably ragged-out and abused all to heck, as well.

My guess is that if it's a genuine Saleen, it's probably been beat on quite a bit, so I'd look the car over reeeeeeeeeeally close for other issues - evidence of wrecks/frame damage, torn torque boxes, that kind of thing.

Either way ... seems a hair expensive to me for a 20-year-old Fox, especially if it's got a lot of miles on it.

its a saleen..

Cobra912 · Jun 6, 2009

rough cars at a high price should be avoided even if it is an authentic Saleen. You'll get in over your head before you know it!

ID89GT · Jun 6, 2009

I think it depends on how long you plan on keeping the car? If you plan on keeping it a very long time as a project car that you want to restore and everything, then a saleen would be a good choice, but if its just a daily driver or fun car that you may be selling in a few years, just pick up a lx or gt for half that price and call it a day

Buy or not to buy 89 Saleen

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89 Saleen#455

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In just 10 years, I'll be old enough to drive!!!!

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Buy or not to buy 89 Saleen

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