The 2007 Saleen / Parnelli Jones Limited Edition Mustang Debuts at the NYIAS (CarzUnlimited)

Specialtyautomobile manufacturer,
Saleen, (http://www.saleen.com) expands its product lineup and celebrates
legendary racecar driver, Parnelli Jones, by announcing the Saleen /
Parnelli Jones Limited Edition Mustang.
Steve Saleen, President & CEO of Saleen, said, "Parnelli Jones is an
American racing icon. In the fifties, sixties, and seventies Parnelli won
just about every race that he appeared in, including the Indy 500. 1970 was
the year that the SCCA Trans Am Series boasted the most competitive field
ever, and Parnelli Jones and his Boss 302 Mustang competed against the
likes of Mark Donahue and Dan Gurney, and there he captured the
championship. Our relationship began in 1987 when Parnelli raced for me on
the Saleen team, and helped us win our first SCCA Manufacturer^s
Championship at Sebring, Florida. I can^t think of any other individual
that brings with him the unique connection between championship winning
Mustangs and Saleen."
    Parnelli Jones commented, "It^s a true honor to have a special edition
Saleen wearing my name. This impressive car takes me back in time -- it
makes me want to take it for a run around the track. I^m sure that this car
will be an adrenaline-pumping experience for anyone who has the chance to
own or drive one. I think that this car is going to evoke nostalgia not
only for Steve Saleen and myself, but for everyone that lays their eyes on
it."
    Advanced & Authentic
    In 1970, spectators wore bell bottom pants and mood rings and watched
Parnelli in his Grabber Orange Boss 302 Mustang with black striped hood,
cross the finish line to take numerous checkered flags and overall
championship.
    Today^s Saleen / Parnelli Jones Limited Edition Mustang reflects the
same authentic vintage attitude but comes complete with a new Saleen 302
cid V-8, 3-valve engine. This engine produces a whopping 370 SAE hp at 6000
RPM, and with 370 ft-lb of torque at 4000 RPM. The high compression engine
transforms a normal drive into an exciting thrill ride. Awakening the
senses, the new Saleen engine is equipped with a high compression, high
revving valve train, utilizing forged pistons, rods, and crankshaft and a
lightweight, aluminum flywheel. Top-performance calibrations are thanks to
Saleen^s PowerFlash(TM) technology.
    Also included in this Limited Edition are new Saleen 302 valve covers.
Completing the authenticity and providing additional high performance
capabilities is the new exhaust system that provides a low-resonating sound
that is a legacy of Saleen.
    Classic & Contemporary
    "We designed this commemorative vehicle to capture the raw, aggressive
feel that Parnelli raced with, and created a racing revolution," continued
Steve Saleen.
    The new Saleen / Parnelli Jones Limited Edition comes in one color,
Grabber Orange. Period correct details include a black striped "shaker"
hood, race-style hood pins, black trunk deck, and 302 side stripes.
    Completing the overall effect, the new Limited Edition comes with
Saleen performance styling including front fascia with racing-style air
dam, side skirts, rear fascia, rear 1970 replica wing, trunk insert license
plate panel with chrome trim, rear window quarter panels, and a
racing-style billet gas cap. Demonstrating further the authenticity of this
retro-beauty, Parnelli^s racing number, 15, removable and reusable static
cling race decals, and the Ford blue oval are displayed -- just like the
one that appeared on Parnelli^s 1970 Boss 302 Mustang.
    Signature decals of both Steve Saleen and Parnelli Jones show above the
door roof rails, and an all-new Saleen Parnelli Jones logo appears
throughout the exterior and interior. Borrowed from the seventies are the
restyled rear window louvered sport slats, which is an essential part of
the overall styling.
    Saleen Racecraft Suspension
    Keeping with both Steve Saleen^s and Parnelli^s race ancestry, the
Limited Edition is designed utilizing Saleen^s own precision suspension.
However this all new, yet classic Watts-Link suspension is derived from
racing and performance applications, and offers the purest in race-type
handling. The superior springs, shocks and swaybars provide even greater
performance capabilities enabling the tires to remain firmly on the road
even in extreme cornering.
    Rounding off the Limited Edition are the Minilite-style 19" x 9" front
and 19" x 10" rear racing wheels which prominently display the Saleen /
Parnelli Jones Limited Edition center cap, which reflects the cool racing
heritage from which they were bred. The car is outfitted with
high-performance Pirelli 275 x 40 x 19 front, and 285 x 40 x 19 rear tires,
and offers race-car-like stopping with Saleen 14" brakes.
    Racetrack Revisited
    Strap yourself inside the Saleen / Parnelli Jones Limited Edition and
you^re back in time! A time when driving meant extreme passion for the car,
the race -- and all about the win! Experience the beautifully coordinated
orange and black racing-style seats which envelop the driver and the
passenger. Grip the steering wheel, grab the special Limited Edition gear
shift knob, view the integrated twin gauge pod that reflects oil pressure
and temperature, and vintage instrumentation panel with its black
background and white characters, and you^re there! Turn the key, blip the
throttle, take her for a couple of laps around the track, or around the
block, and you can easily imagine you^re at Laguna Seca driving with a
racing legend -- and the checkered flag is yours!
    Feel the Spirit
    "Parnelli Jones is an extraordinary example of a legend maker. Even
after nearly four decades, his abilities and visions for the sport have
very few equals. I anticipate that Parnelli^s racing spirit will come alive
in every Saleen / Parnelli Jones Limited Edition that we manufacture.
Capping on our motto, ^Power in the Hands of a Few,^ we will produce a
limited number -- up to only 500 -- in honor of Parnelli winning the Indy
500 in 1963," said Steve Saleen.
    Inspired from Parnelli^s original 1970 Boss 302 Mustang, the ^Saleen /
Parnelli Jones Limited Edition^ lives and breathes all things inherently
Parnelli -- and all things Saleen!
    Availability and Pricing
    Certified Saleen Ford dealers throughout the United States are now
taking orders for the Saleen / Parnelli Jones Limited Edition that will be
distributed this Fall as a 2007 model. MSRP is estimated to be in the
mid-to- high $50,000 for this limited production vehicle. Taxes,
designation charges, and other fees may apply. For complete information
about the Saleen / Parnelli Limited Edition please see:
http://www.saleen.com/S302.htm. For a local Saleen dealer please visit:
http://www.saleen.com/dealerLocator/DealerLocator.aspx.
    About Saleen
    Since the company^s inception in 1984, Saleen has produced over 10,000
complete and EPA certified vehicles, more than any other specialty
manufacturer. In addition, Saleen has equipped more than 600,000 vehicles
worldwide, further emphasizing their commitment to excellence.
    An eight-time Manufacturers^ Champion in GT sports car racing, Saleen^s
corporate facilities in Irvine, California, include: research, design,
engineering and manufacturing capabilities, as well as the coating/paint
division. Saleen also has manufacturing facilities in Troy, Michigan where
the assembly and paint of the Ford GT is accomplished. Additional Saleen
manufacturing sites are located in Canada and Saudi Arabia. For more
information please visit, http://www.saleen.com.