Saleen goes Dodge

[6'9"Witha69]

http://blog.caranddriver.com/mean-green-challenger-based-sms-570-steve-saleen-branches-out-from-mustangs/

Don't know id pay $93k for a new Challenger, no matter whose name is on it, but it does look purdy!

[67 ls1 vert]

looks like they stole the road runner hood concept.

Way to much money. You can buy a kenne and make that power for under 10g's.

[PhillipM]

Is Ford not willing to work with Steve? Just guessing that he had to probably go searching for a partner and that how he eded up with Dodge.

[Bryce]

I thought Sallen went bankrupt a few years ago. His new name is SMS.

[Damn True]

IIRC Saleen felt that his brand and product differentiation was being watered down by Ford due to the number of "specials" they were creating ie Shelby, Roush, Steeda, Bullit, Mach I and selling via dealers. There may have been some $$ trouble as well as he shut down the Saleen joint in OC a couple years back.

[Ripped]

Not super crazy about the design. I like the hood treatment, engine, the rest seems kind of bland

[72ratnova]

+1 on the hood

[79-TA]

For clarification, Saleen the company still exists and has nothing to do with this car. They moved to Troy Michigan. When the Irvine shop was shut down, I bought a ton of stuff from them at the liquidation auction from chairs to computers to a bandsaw . . . should have bought a TIG welder.


Anyway, SMS (which stands for Steve M Saleen) is Steve's new venture based in Corona, CA. He just does the usual . . . superchargers, bodykits and maybe some suspension tweaks all while Steve sports the turtleneck sweaters. SMS has done Mustangs and Challengers from the start and then a Camaro variant as soon as the 5th gens came out.