Saleen vs Faleen: How to Spot a Clone.
04-04-2012, 07:35 PM
#1
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Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Barrie, Ontario
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Saleen vs Faleen: How to Spot a Clone.
Saleen Mustangs have always been about handling, first and foremost. The earlier cars were major improvements over the stock handling offered by Ford, but at a price in ride quality. You got race car handling, but you got the race car ride to go with it! More recent examples produce very acceptable ride quality but still hang onto to the knife-edge handling that the car is known for. Saleen also offers a number of performance upgrades and performance upgrade packages. These range from what was the flagship Saleen S281 (now Saleen / SMS 302) to the 720 HP Saleen 25th Anniversary Edition.
One question people ask me time and time again is “What makes a Saleen, a Saleen?” How do you tell a real Saleen from a fake Saleen or Faleen? Saleen Mustangs are extremely desirable and collectable vehicles and Saleen parts are very popular in the aftermarket; So just because a Mustang looks like a Saleen, doesn't mean it is one. There are some key ways to tell if a Mustang is a real Saleen, should you run across a Saleen Mustang that you want to buy. Feel free to use this reference as a guide. There are a lot of VERY GOOD fakes and clones out there, and unfortunately some people will try and sell a cloned Saleen as a real one (which is highly illegal). In the end BE WARY and DO YOUR HOMEWORK.
Steve Saleen has been producing vehicles since 1984 ... 28 years. In that time there have been a ton of Saleen models released. They are all unique. There are, however, some features unique to all Saleen Mustangs and others that are unique to a specific model year, ie SN95 Mustangs (1994 to 2004). This reference guide will go over both.
For the purposes of this guide we’re going to examine this 1995 Saleen SR:
(the features mentioned within this guide are transferable to any 1994 to 1998 Saleen Mustang)
Things to look for when determing a real Saleen from a clone ...
Bumper Number: The first thing to look for is the bumper number. All Saleens have their serial number proudly displayed on the left front bumper. This is a common and easy thing to duplicate, so don't stop here. One note: No Saleen has every been produced with a serial number of "06". If you see "06" it is a sure fire fake. I bet you think they didn't use "666" either, don't you! Wrong! 666 is a legitimate bumper number, it was used in both 1988 and 1989.
Dash Plaque: All Saleen's have a dash plaque with its Saleen Serial number on the center console. This plague should match the number of the bumper and the number on the plate under the hood.
Under-hood Plate: Saleens also have a metal plate under the hood with the Saleen serial number, and the date of production riveted under the hood. On early cars, it was on the left fender. On later cars (post 1987) it is on the firewall. Modern ones are always on the left, but some of the older ones have it on the right. These are hard (but not impossible) to duplicate.
"Hidden": Saleen has also hidden the serial number in a secret location on the car. The exact location varies over the years. A common place to find it, is stamped on the K-member.
Genuine Parts: Saleen body panels for this model year consist of a vented front facia, vented rear facia, 2 side rail covers (side effects) and 2 door filler panels. All panels are made from urethane and are stamped Saleen. SN95 Saleens feature a spoiler specific to S281, S351 and SR models respectivly. Mid to late model SN95’s also feature a heat extractor fibreglass hood.
Decals, emblems, badges: All Saleen Mustangs, without exception, feature a Saleen windshield banner. Most feature Saleen chevrons prominently displayed on the door panels. Saleen Mustangs of various years and models will feature specialized decals, emblems and badges. This 1995 SR features a Saleen licence plate frame, SCCA manufactures championship wreaths on the rear windshielf and rear ¼ panel windows, as well as a Saleen sticker on the trucklid.
In addition to the emblems being on the vehicle they should be in the right place.
Saleen suspension and brakes: It’s what saleens are famous for. Look for them . A saleen without a racecraft suspension is not a real Saleen.
Standard equipment: Saleens of any year model will have equipment and upgrades which are exclusive to Saleen. Some of the easily cloned upgrades are painted door panel inserts, saleen floormates, pedals and intake manifold plaques. Look for these first.
Saleens of any year model will also have some standard equipment which is very rare and difficult (although not impossible) to find on the aftermarket. A proper Saleen guage cluster, the infamous heatsheilded exhaust tips, and proper Saleen rims (not just Saleen replicas) – this is standard equipment on our 1995 SR (and SN95’s in general) are all standard equipment. These parts are not readily available on the aftermarket and are extremely difficult to replicate.
The best way: Call Saleen Performance. They can verify a cars authenticity if you give them the last 6 digits of the car's VIN. They can also verify for you the options/equipment that the car was original built with, so you can tell if the car is original or has been modified.
Hopefully you find this guide useful. I am preparing a much more detailed guide covering the following years:
1984 - 1986 Saleen Mustang
1987 - 1989 Saleen Mustang
1990 - 1993 Saleen Mustang
1994 - 1998 Saleen Mustang
1999 - 2004 Saleen Mustang
2005 - 2009 Saleen Mustang
1987 - 1992 Sport Truck Ranger
1998 - 2001 Saleen Explorer
2004 - 2005 N20 S121 Focus
2007 - 2008 S331 F150
Racecraft, Special Edition, Concept and Non-Serialized Vehicles
One question people ask me time and time again is “What makes a Saleen, a Saleen?” How do you tell a real Saleen from a fake Saleen or Faleen? Saleen Mustangs are extremely desirable and collectable vehicles and Saleen parts are very popular in the aftermarket; So just because a Mustang looks like a Saleen, doesn't mean it is one. There are some key ways to tell if a Mustang is a real Saleen, should you run across a Saleen Mustang that you want to buy. Feel free to use this reference as a guide. There are a lot of VERY GOOD fakes and clones out there, and unfortunately some people will try and sell a cloned Saleen as a real one (which is highly illegal). In the end BE WARY and DO YOUR HOMEWORK.
Steve Saleen has been producing vehicles since 1984 ... 28 years. In that time there have been a ton of Saleen models released. They are all unique. There are, however, some features unique to all Saleen Mustangs and others that are unique to a specific model year, ie SN95 Mustangs (1994 to 2004). This reference guide will go over both.
For the purposes of this guide we’re going to examine this 1995 Saleen SR:
(the features mentioned within this guide are transferable to any 1994 to 1998 Saleen Mustang)
Things to look for when determing a real Saleen from a clone ...
Bumper Number: The first thing to look for is the bumper number. All Saleens have their serial number proudly displayed on the left front bumper. This is a common and easy thing to duplicate, so don't stop here. One note: No Saleen has every been produced with a serial number of "06". If you see "06" it is a sure fire fake. I bet you think they didn't use "666" either, don't you! Wrong! 666 is a legitimate bumper number, it was used in both 1988 and 1989.
Dash Plaque: All Saleen's have a dash plaque with its Saleen Serial number on the center console. This plague should match the number of the bumper and the number on the plate under the hood.
Under-hood Plate: Saleens also have a metal plate under the hood with the Saleen serial number, and the date of production riveted under the hood. On early cars, it was on the left fender. On later cars (post 1987) it is on the firewall. Modern ones are always on the left, but some of the older ones have it on the right. These are hard (but not impossible) to duplicate.
"Hidden": Saleen has also hidden the serial number in a secret location on the car. The exact location varies over the years. A common place to find it, is stamped on the K-member.
Genuine Parts: Saleen body panels for this model year consist of a vented front facia, vented rear facia, 2 side rail covers (side effects) and 2 door filler panels. All panels are made from urethane and are stamped Saleen. SN95 Saleens feature a spoiler specific to S281, S351 and SR models respectivly. Mid to late model SN95’s also feature a heat extractor fibreglass hood.
Decals, emblems, badges: All Saleen Mustangs, without exception, feature a Saleen windshield banner. Most feature Saleen chevrons prominently displayed on the door panels. Saleen Mustangs of various years and models will feature specialized decals, emblems and badges. This 1995 SR features a Saleen licence plate frame, SCCA manufactures championship wreaths on the rear windshielf and rear ¼ panel windows, as well as a Saleen sticker on the trucklid.
In addition to the emblems being on the vehicle they should be in the right place.
Saleen suspension and brakes: It’s what saleens are famous for. Look for them . A saleen without a racecraft suspension is not a real Saleen.
Standard equipment: Saleens of any year model will have equipment and upgrades which are exclusive to Saleen. Some of the easily cloned upgrades are painted door panel inserts, saleen floormates, pedals and intake manifold plaques. Look for these first.
Saleens of any year model will also have some standard equipment which is very rare and difficult (although not impossible) to find on the aftermarket. A proper Saleen guage cluster, the infamous heatsheilded exhaust tips, and proper Saleen rims (not just Saleen replicas) – this is standard equipment on our 1995 SR (and SN95’s in general) are all standard equipment. These parts are not readily available on the aftermarket and are extremely difficult to replicate.
The best way: Call Saleen Performance. They can verify a cars authenticity if you give them the last 6 digits of the car's VIN. They can also verify for you the options/equipment that the car was original built with, so you can tell if the car is original or has been modified.
Hopefully you find this guide useful. I am preparing a much more detailed guide covering the following years:
1984 - 1986 Saleen Mustang
1987 - 1989 Saleen Mustang
1990 - 1993 Saleen Mustang
1994 - 1998 Saleen Mustang
1999 - 2004 Saleen Mustang
2005 - 2009 Saleen Mustang
1987 - 1992 Sport Truck Ranger
1998 - 2001 Saleen Explorer
2004 - 2005 N20 S121 Focus
2007 - 2008 S331 F150
Racecraft, Special Edition, Concept and Non-Serialized Vehicles
04-05-2012, 03:56 AM
#3
Retired Admin
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Barrie, Ontario
Posts: 4,821
Thanks SNAKEBITE. I've seen clone Saleen's entered in car shows under Saleen category - I've heard of them actually winning before as well. But their not genuine Saleen Mustangs. Errrrrrrr.
04-05-2012, 02:17 PM
#7
Retired Admin
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Barrie, Ontario
Posts: 4,821
Thanks guys ....once you know what to look for its AMAZING how many clones you actually see on the road. I didn't even list all of the clues to look for - but those are the big ones.I'll edit this post in the next few weeks - just have to get all my photos together.
04-05-2012, 09:19 PM
#10
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Slave Lake, AB
Posts: 6,871
Most of the fakes I've seen were pretty obvious. When I put the Saleen body kit on my 04 GT vert I wished I had gotten the body shop to fill in the Saleen lettering on the rear bumper. I wasn't trying to look like I had one, I just really liked the look of the kit and still do.
