Need help with Saleen Vert Purchase

jcramair1 · Jan 1, 2004

I have been in the market for a mint orginal Saleen Vert for the last year and have finally found a car that meets my needs. I have seen several Verts sell at www.performanceautosport.com and most of them with less than 30k on the ODO have sold for more than $18k. I have always been a big fan of the fox-body and 2 years ago sold a and LX converted to a Saleen Replica. The questions I have are do you feel the car listed below is worth $14.5k and is there anyway of checking if the miles on the car are truly what they say? I have a decent amount of expereince on looking a car up and down before purchase. But this one is in New Jersey and I will in most cases have a buddy of mine check it out Tomorrow. Advice would be greatly appreciated on certain things I should look for on a vehicle with a supposed origianl 9900 miles.

Here is the link to the car.

1990 Saleen

Mustang5L5 · Jan 1, 2004

I beleive it is worth the money. It looks to be in mint condition and has under 10K miles! Like you said, if it was on performanceautosport it would probably be selling for 20-25K

Fox Saleen 163 · Jan 1, 2004

The only way you can check the mileage is carfax or something of that nature. Is this guy the original owner? Judging by the pics, it looks like it has 10,000 miles on it or less. It's original down to the shift knob from what I can see. I remember that remote came with my car too. I don't know where it is now though, I had to ditch the factory stereo. With leather seating, 10k miles, and the optional 3.55 gears that vert is worth over $14,500. The bidding may be at that now, but with 6 days left I guarantee it will get close to $20,000 if not more. Saleen's with that mileage are very rare, Vert's even more so. But if you plan on doing any mods to it, I suggest leaving this one alone. It's should be owned by a collector.

*EDIT* It is missing the Saleen sticker on the driver side front wheel cap. They are hard to find but not impossible. Pretty sure Perf Auto sells them.

jcramair1 · Jan 1, 2004

Fox Saleen 163 said:
The only way you can check the mileage is carfax or something of that nature. Is this guy the original owner? Judging by the pics, it looks like it has 10,000 miles on it or less. It's original down to the shift knob from what I can see. I remember that remote came with my car too. I don't know where it is now though, I had to ditch the factory stereo. With leather seating, 10k miles, and the optional 3.55 gears that vert is worth over $14,500. The bidding may be at that now, but with 6 days left I guarantee it will get close to $20,000 if not more. Saleen's with that mileage are very rare, Vert's even more so. But if you plan on doing any mods to it, I suggest leaving this one alone. It's should be owned by a collector.

*EDIT* It is missing the Saleen sticker on the driver side front wheel cap. They are hard to find but not impossible. Pretty sure Perf Auto sells them.

The price is already agreed between the seller and myself, I have a friend looking at the car tomorrow night. This individual is the second owner of the vehicle he bought the car 6 years ago with 4k on the ODO. I do not plan on modding the vehicle, maybe just a Bassani exhaust setup...

Fox Saleen 163 · Jan 1, 2004

jcramair1 said:
The price is already agreed between the seller and myself, I have a friend looking at the car tomorrow night. This individual is the second owner of the vehicle he bought the car 6 years ago with 4k on the ODO. I do not plan on modding the vehicle, maybe just a Bassani exhaust setup...

This guy agreed to $14,500 cash? But the car is on auction and it's already at $14,500 with 6 days left. Is he a buddy? The guy is either an idiot or really nice if he sells it for that much before the auction is over. He is going to lose serious cash.

My car was apraised at $11,500 the way it is. It's in good shape, but it doesn't compare to that vert. The Vert is too perfect to be fake. If the car in the photos is the car you are buying for $14,500 you are stealing it. Enjoy the ride.

jcramair1 · Jan 1, 2004

Fox Saleen 163 said:
This guy agreed to $14,500 cash? But the car is on auction and it's already at $14,500 with 6 days left. Is he a buddy? The guy is either an idiot or really nice if he sells it for that much before the auction is over. He is going to lose serious cash.

My car was apraised at $11,500 the way it is. It's in good shape, but it doesn't compare to that vert. The Vert is too perfect to be fake. If the car in the photos is the car you are buying for $14,500 you are stealing it. Enjoy the ride.

Thanks Fox and no he is not a buddy but rather a genuine person who is sticking to his word and for the most part the deal to me seemed to good to be true, but I will no more on the situation tomorrow.

Fox Saleen 163 · Jan 1, 2004

See if he has another like it for the same price, I'll buy it.

89 Saleen#455 · Jan 2, 2004

Find out what the sellers means by stock original condition. I can tell you a couple things I found to be a little suspect. First, the strut tower brace is not the original Saleen piece. The Saleen Strut tower brace run through the inside of the struct tower, not bolted to the outside of the tower as shown in the picture. Second, I didn't see the Saleen ID Plaque in front of the Shifter (between the radio and the shifter). Third, it looks like the car was repainted. You can see some overspray in the engine bay photo's. Also, the passenger side fender is missing the original Ford ID Part Tag, which usually means the fender was replaced. Be very careful when inspecting this car.

jcramair1 · Jan 2, 2004

89 Saleen#455 said:
Find out what the sellers means by stock original condition. I can tell you a couple things I found to be a little suspect. First, the strut tower brace is not the original Saleen piece. The Saleen Strut tower brace run through the inside of the struct tower, not bolted to the outside of the tower as shown in the picture. Second, I didn't see the Saleen ID Plaque in front of the Shifter (between the radio and the shifter). Third, it looks like the car was repainted. You can see some overspray in the engine bay photo's. Also, the passenger side fender is missing the original Ford ID Part Tag, which usually means the fender was replaced. Be very careful when inspecting this car.

Thanks for the excellent excellent feedback on this I really appreciate it!! Looks like your local Reading huh? I am in Beverly....Small world...Anyway do you think the car was possibly hit hard on the passenger side front becuase the Strut Tower was replaced along with the Front right fender? I didn't even notice the Ford ID tag missing....There seems to be enough theory showing a possible accident. Carfax was very clean on the car. I have somemore detailed pictures I would like to send you if you wouldn't mind taking a look at.... send me a PM with your email address. Thanks Bud

John

wythors · Jan 2, 2004

89 Saleen#455 said:
Also, the passenger side fender is missing the original Ford ID Part Tag, which usually means the fender was replaced.

The left fender VIN tag is visible right at the edge of the picture and if you can see overspray in that lousy, out of focus picture, I'm impressed.

jcramair1 · Jan 2, 2004

wythors said:
The left fender VIN tag is visible right at the edge of the picture and if you can see overspray in that lousy, out of focus picture, I'm impressed.

For some reason I can't see the tag at the edge of the picture.

jcramair1 · Jan 2, 2004

I also am 100% sure that you could have opted not to have the badge above the shifter. The current owner stated to me that the original owner ordered the car that way for his wife.

89 Saleen#455 · Jan 2, 2004

Guys - Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying the car isn't a true Saleen. All I'm saying is be very careful with the "Original Condition" termonology.

An original Ford Fender will have the OEM Sticker with corresponding matching numbers directly to the left of the strut tower on the uppermost lip of the fender. Take a look at the drivers side fender you will see what I mean.

The guess the question is, why would anyone bother to order a Saleen with the Dash Plaque deleted??? It's a 1" by 2" emblem??? It authenticates the car. I've heard of Saleen deleting the outside graphics package....but not a dash plaque.

The set-up of the strut tower brace is aftermarket.

Do yourself a favor. Call Liz over at Saleen and ask her to authenticate the VIN number and also confirm that the original owner opted to delete the dash ID plaque.

I'll PM you my email address if you want to send me more pictures to review.

Rich

85_SS_302_Coupe · Jan 2, 2004

i'm not a Saleen expert, but it's a damn fine car no matter what make it is, and for 14,500, a bone stock '90 GT with less than 10k on the odometer is worth 14.5 any day. About the possible wreck part, that would worry me so i'd def. do your homework. (as i'm sure you're doing)

89 Saleen#455 · Jan 2, 2004

One more observation. The seller listed the car with a 200 MPH speedometer. With the exception of the Saleen SC's and the Saleen SSC, all fox body Saleens came with a standard 170 MPH speedometer??? There was no option for a 200 MPH Speedometer. This may or may not explain the low miles

jcramair1 · Jan 2, 2004

How many Saleens were produced in 1990. Somewhere alon the lines I hear there were 190? If so this car is numberd as #203 of 243??

speed1972 · Jan 2, 2004

FYI, both fender stickers are there if you look close, even the one on the hood on the passenger side. My first concern though... that paint is very dull and worn in the engine compartment compared to the outside which looks like it is freshly painted.. I would be suspect of that... Look at the hood prop, you can see all kinds of chipped paint at the bottom, I wouldn't think a car with under 10k would look like that already... Be sure to check this car out good. Call saleen with the VIN to see if they can prove its authenticity. Heck this thing should still have the original tires on it... Also, look for worn parts, check struts, tie rods, wheel bearings, door hinges and strikers, floor pan under the seats, etc... This should give you a better idea of mileage I would think. Good luck!

jcramair1 · Jan 2, 2004

I beleive the tires are the original General XP2000V. Excellent feedback though..THanks

jcramair1 · Jan 2, 2004

The pictures of this car I beleive look like pictures of a car with 9900 miles. Look at the pictures I found on a car that is for sale with 4300miles on it. This car is also being sold by a very reputable Saleen seller. So the engine compartment on this saleen for sale actually looks a alot cleaner than the GT pics:

90 GT for sale 4300miles

89 Saleen#455 · Jan 2, 2004

According to my Saleen Registy, there were 250 Saleens produced in 1990. This does not include the 11 SC's and the 3 Eagle One Promotion Vehicles produced:

81 Black (61 hatch, 18 verts, 2 coupes)
61 White (45 hatch, 12 verts, 3 coupes)
79 Red (60 hatch, 18 verts, 1 coupe)
16 Blue (13 hatch, 2 verts, 1 coupe)
12 Other (1 hatch, 11 emerald green verts, 1 coupe)

Saleen Auto Sport 5 spoke alloy wheels 16" x 7" Front and 16" x 8" Rear
General XP2000V rated Tires 225/50 VR 16 all the way around

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