01
Origins
The Saleen S7 of 2000 gave America what it had lacked since the Ford GT40: a genuine mid-engined supercar, conceived by Mustang-tuner Steve Saleen with British engineering support. A 7-litre pushrod V8 of around 550 horsepower sat in a steel spaceframe under carbon bodywork whose aerodynamics claimed downforce equal to the car's weight at speed; the 2005 Twin Turbo pushed output past 750. The racing S7-R validated everything, winning classes and championships across America and Europe against factory opposition. Around 100 road and race cars were built through the decade. The S7's timing gives it historical weight — it preceded the Ford GT and the modern American exotic wave, proving a Californian constructor could meet Modena on equal terms.
63 Saleen S7R · Jeffrey Keeton · CC BY 2.0
