Only 19 ‘351’ swapped ‘97 convertibles were built by Saleen that model year.
Of course Ford offered 281-2V and 281-4V motors, but cool imho that Saleen offered the old skool torquey 351 that they started installing back in the ‘94 model year.
In 1996 or so, I was at a Ford Dealer in New Mexico as a kid with my dad (shopping for a truck) when there was a blue S351 speedster in the showroom. I was in awe. They just so happened to be delivering it to the new owner, an 18 year old whose dad had bought it for him. Being the precoscious child I was, I asked the new owner if he was excited about his impending ownership of the car I had been drooling over for the hour leading up to his arrival…I will never forget how completely NOT excited he was about the whole deal. I was totally flummoxed. I couldn’t believe how someone almost my age would not be beside themselves at the idea of driving that thing out of the showroom. Part of me wants to buy an S351 Speedster just to put a fitting end to that childhood memory, even if the ownership experience would likely never live up to what I imagined it would be as an early teen.
Brian Hobaugh SCCA National Tour June 2014
First Hemi 'Cuda Convertible Ever Built
Short clips: Goodguys Pleasanton autocross and pit videos
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