Roush When is a fake not a fake?

[SVT Saleen]

Not quite sure what to make of these:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ford...iewItemQQcategoryZ6236QQitemZ4579785735QQrdZ1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ford...iewItemQQcategoryZ6236QQitemZ4579822105QQrdZ1

The first one certainly appears highly dubious despite the evidence of the engine compartment & console plates. The former plate looks in suspiciously good condition considering the surrounding engine & compartment are in such derelict condition. Not to mention the 4-lug wheels, lack of evidence of a strut tower brace ever being installed & the owner's pitiful attempt to make it more "attractive" with that questionable paint job & graphics package.

The second one is a bit more plausible, but yet again the owner's questionable taste in interior/exterior appearance "upgrades" lends some doubt. Also the engine & surrounding compartment appears rather neglected for a vehicle that purportedly has only 38,000 original miles.

Hmmm...

 

[ag lightning]

When it has the creditials to back itself up on.

 

[marcus95]

They both make me cringe. Amazing what can happen to a nice car in 16 years or so. That first car is salvaged. Maybe they took the brakes. That's all I can think of for now. I have to close the window becuase both were making me sick.

 

[88FoxSaleen]

the first one is fake, fake & fake! the 4 lugs tell all.
i would believe the second is real as the gauges, steering wheel & shift knob are all correct for 88 but it has the 89+ rear valance. all i have to say is what happened to the flofit seats it came with? the car has 38K & those sh???y seats are in there? why would someone remove the flofits & door panel inserts & replace them with those? :-(

Jay-

 

[Saleen Mike]

The second car says it has the SA-10 hood which is not true.

It has the Steeda "Replica" hood of the SA-10 which is different. The vents are closer to the front of the car, and the Steeda one is a cowl hood, where the real SA-10 hood has a profile similar to OE.

I could go out to the Garage-Mahal to verify this, but all I had to do was ask the kids if the hood pictured on ebay looks like their sled

 

[S351R"Animal"]

That is so wrong!

 

[saleen065]

Mike, you make me cringe everytime You say that.

 

[marcus95]

I know. No more snow rides on that thing, please.

 

[Evil86lx]

The first car is sporting a non H.O 1986 intake. Well at least the intake plate is from either a T-bird or a Lincoln.

I also like how the engine plaque was pop riveted over the top of something. You can see the left over hole's and a imprint of what ever was there at one time.

WTF is up with those headlight's.

kyle

 

[s351rspeedster]

Some one grab The Saleen Book and end the discussion about both cars........ Don't have mine handy as it is still packed away in the garage from the move. I wouldn't touch either one, for one they aren't white....

 

[S351R"Animal"]

The first one is a definite fake! VIN doesn't check out. The second one is real. I believe I have see the second one in a magazine several years ago. The owner wanted a SA-10 clone.

 

[88FoxSaleen]

SR351R i think you might be right. i do recall a car in MM&FF years ago just like this one. it had yellow 16" Saleen 5 spoke rims on it. way back then i said the same thing i am saying now, what was this guy thinking? i believe the car was originally blue. i maybe wrong. maybe i will thumb though my 12 year MM&FF collection & find the article to compare.

Jay-

 

[SVT Saleen]

OMIGAWD!!! We have another one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ford...iewItemQQcategoryZ6236QQitemZ4580396759QQrdZ1

This guy is such a tool. He even goes so far as to openly defy anyone to challenge his claim that his obvious fake is the real deal:

ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE E- MAIL. THIS IS A REAL SALEEN SO PLEASE DON'T EMAIL ME IF YOU DISAGREE, MEANING SERIOUS INQUIRES ONLY

Geez, where do these people come from?!?

 

[BobV]

Wow, a 95 "S281", with a 5.0 engine - that'll rewrite the Saleen history books.....



Edit:
It gets even better - he claims it's car #97 of 110 based on this plate:
View attachment 501865

Jeez - if you're going to create an air car, at least get the ID plate stamping right...

 

[SVT Saleen]

But wait, there's more:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ford...iewItemQQcategoryZ6236QQitemZ4579781770QQrdZ1

At least this owner has installed "authentic" Saleen badging...

(Yes, I am a bit obsessed with fakes being misrepresented; in many cases deliberately, as real)

 

[BobV]

Gotta love "S281 Supercharged" badging on a V6/Auto car...
It's the stuff legends are made of (on the Honda "kill story" boards).

 

[S351R"Animal"]

The so called 95 Saleen has been reported to ebay for a listing violation!

 

[HazeGray]

The so called 95 Saleen has been reported to ebay for a listing violation!

Sent a message to the seller...

Sorry, but this car is NOT an authentic Saleen. The last three VIN for your car is '042'. The correct last three VIN for '97-0110' is '701'. By the way, 97-0110 means 1997 S281 S/N 110...and not 97 of 110 as you have listed.

You have a 5.0L motor and the Saleen ID Tag says S281??? Explain that?

Just to set it straight...they made 126 S351's in 1995 (S-281's began production in 1996). In 1997 they made 327 S-281's and 40 S-351's. Your numbers are off.

I don't mind clones...I just hate fakes being passed off as the real deal.

 

[saleen065]

Thanks for writing that as I was about to write and just tell him he is full of ****!

 

[S281SC#08]

you must post the reply if he does reply