Canadian Mustang Owners Club - Ford Mustang Forums - Steve Saleen Allegedly Fires 11 Execs.

STEVE SALEEN ALLEGEDLY FIRES 11 EXECS.
01 March 2005. 1:00 a.m., est.
Dearborn, Michigan.
Robert Lane.

There has been a lot of news coming out of Saleen's Troy, Michigan SSV plant this past week. On Friday, the mainstream press was buzzing with rumors that the Feds were raiding the facility, however, that proved to be incorrect. Consistent news-tips and reports to BlueOvalNews allege that Steve Saleen was at the SSV center in Troy this past Friday and dismissed close to a dozen key employees and executives. The Saleen, Troy SSV center produces the problem-plagued Ford GT.

One such person allegedly dismissed by Saleen was Ford GT Boss, Rich Rinke. When Ford acknowledged the Ford GT's existence, they stated that Rinke "took the flat black fiberglass body panels home and, for several nights, sanded and painted it until the early morning hours. The result is an exterior that pays homage to the 1967 GT40 Shelby All-American team victory at LeMans by drivers Dan Gurney and A.J. Foyt." According to Moody's investor services, Rinke is also Saleen's C.O.O. In addition to Rinke, Fred Blum was also allegedly dismissed by Saleen.

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Saleen's Rich Rinke is credited with bringing the Ford GT to life. Pictured, Ford GT workhorse number 1.

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The Ford GT is assembled by Saleen's SSV Center in Troy, MI. Ford only installs the engine at their Wixom Assembly Plant.

Saleen built the SSV center in Troy, Michigan (Saleen press release) not only to assemble the Ford GT, but in the hope that Ford would use Saleen for future projects. According to Iceology analyst West Brown, "If the relationship does well through the GT contract, then I'd expect Ford to look for other opportunities for low-volume, high-profile vehicles that could be outsourced and built under contract." This past April, Saleen built the Ford Mustang GT-R concept that was introduced in New York.

While Ford planned the GT to be their halo car, it has been plagued by a continuation of embarrassing quality problems, which has Ford executives here in Dearborn livid and frustrated. Whether any individual at Saleen is to blame for the problems associated with the GT may never be known, but Saleen's future with Ford as a key supplier may be in jeopardy if they cannot get the quality of the GT under control - and fast.

Earlier in February, BlueOvalNews was the first to report that some GT's may have defective engine crankshafts and seat belts.