Steve Saleen at one time was probably the biggest name in the Mustang world, helping an entire generation of pony car enthusiasts maximize the performance and handling of the Fox-body and SN95 Mustangs with knowledge gleaned from his racing years. The 1989 Saleen SSC Mustang is one of the rarest and most collectible cars to bear the Saleen name, and this one-owner vehicle has run up just 661 miles over the past 27 years.
Perhaps that’s why the owner thought to put an asking price of $38,900 for this all-but-new Saleen SSC up on Craigslist. The more you delve into the history of the Saleen SSC however, the more this price makes sense.
Lately, Saleen has taken to modifying not just crosstown rivals like the Camaro and Challenger, but also the Tesla Model S electric luxury sedan. But back in the 1980s, Saleen was all about Mustangs, and the 1989 SSC (Saleen Super Car) marks the first time the company significantly modified a Mustang’s drivetrain. A heavy-duty cooling system, larger throttle body, better rocker arms, a new intake plenum, stainless steel tubular headers and Walker Dynomax mufflers helped the SSC put out 292 horsepower, 67 more than a stock Mustang GT.
Power was sent to and a heavy-duty Borg Warner five-speed manual, four-wheel disc brakes were borrowed from the Mustang SVO, and the three-way electronically adjustable Monroe Formula GA shock absorbers came with toggle switch in the cabin.
The suggested retail price for all this Mustang madness back in 1989? $36,500. Just 161 Saleen SSC Mustangs were built, and with Mustang fever sweeping the world with the sixth-generation pony car dominating sales charts, maybe that nearly $40,000 price tag is right on the money after all.