Is a Saleen worth a short term Investment?

[tesgt350]

It is an 89 and #154.  It is priced at $39,900.  When I say Short Term, I mean 2 to 5 Years.

[CharlesTurner]

Is it all/mostly original with low miles? 

These cars seem to be sensitive to miles and repaint.  Value also seems to follow production numbers, like the early Shelby's.  Low production numbers or colors/options may be worth more.

[tesgt350]

Is it all/mostly original with low miles? 

These cars seem to be sensitive to miles and repaint.  Value also seems to follow production numbers, like the early Shelby's.  Low production numbers or colors/options may be worth more.

It does not look restored, just well maintained and hardly driven. showing 9000 miles.

[98SVT - was 06GT]

It's not an investment. But you'll lose less money than buying a current Mustang GT convert.
9,000 is low miles but once you hit that 10,000 mile mark buyers will no longer look at it the same way. There seems to be a 4 digit mileage good - 5 digit bad mentality.
In reality it is an investment for the dealer. He probably gave sub 30 for the car and is looking for a 10 grand payday. With another 5 years of driving on it I'll wager it's in the $25-30 range at a private sale.

[pbf777]

    Though I do believe that the "FOX" Mustangs have proven to present elevated values over last few years, and this is to be expected, as historically in this "vintage" automotive industry, the teen-aged public of when these cars were new, are now at that point in their lives that they often seem to wish to revisit that period of their lives and are in a position money-wise and available-time-wise to do such, and this is why we're seeing the current value trends.  But at 40 "big-ones", he might be already collecting the enhanced value that could be anticipated in only say five years down the road.   

     The biggest consideration might be, when and if one chooses to move their FOX "investment" along to the next taker, whom down the road might this be?  Truly historically significant cars have done well for a few generations, but ask nearly anyone whom has paid attention to car values, as to how well the often as identified "prewar" (WWII, which in my book means "inter-war" period and "pre-war" would actually be before WWI!) and then also of the "post-war" and "cars of the fifties", they'll tell you investment-wise, you'd be better off picking up some swamp-land in Florida.   

     And remember your considering buying this as an "investment" not as a "collector" or as with your own personally whim interest, and I'm not sure that the "Saleen" moniker really adds anything monetarily significant to the mix.  Yes, the Salesman is always going to expound the significant rarity and enhanced value, but the truly receptive audience for such is, as I believe, not that great.  Besides, as I recall, most Saleens were bought by the then older generations (they could afford the markup!) attempting to be "hip", solely for the perceived "bragging rights" and "one upmanship" value in that number on the front bumper!   

     Scott.

       

[1175]

Although when new, a convertible may have been more desirable, a hatchback would be more desirable these days.

Think Porsche 911.  When new, the cabriolets were the ticket.  Nowadays price reflects the opposite with hardtop vs cabriolet.

Looks like a nice car, but wouldn't buy for 'investment' purpose. 

Just my humble opinion.

Jon

[Krelboyne]

That is a good question. My initial search shows:
1. Cobra R
2. Saleen
3. probably the McLaren.
As I recall, the last two versions were heavy on optional performance modifications.
I recall the standout feature of the McLaren Mustang/Capri, was a more 'raked' back windshield?

[Bill]

It is an 89 and #154.  It is priced at $39,900.  When I say Short Term, I mean 2 to 5 Years.

Don't look at it from a ROI mindset, instead look at it as a shiny toy that you either want to own, or need to own. Let the next generation worry about it future sale price when you are gone from this plane of existence. Quite frankly, to do otherwise ruins the experience of ownership right from the start.

[JohnSlack]

There are far better "investment" bets than the Saleen. They really even lost popularity when they were new.


John

[shelbymann1970]

It's not an investment. But you'll lose less money than buying a current Mustang GT convert.
9,000 is low miles but once you hit that 10,000 mile mark buyers will no longer look at it the same way. There seems to be a 4 digit mileage good - 5 digit bad mentality.
In reality it is an investment for the dealer. He probably gave sub 30 for the car and is looking for a 10 grand payday. With another 5 years of driving on it I'll wager it's in the $25-30 range at a private sale.

I Don't know the market on these cars.  I know a guy who sold this car with 11k miles . Why so much? https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1993-ford-saleen-mustang-sc-convertible-2/

[98SVT - was 06GT]

I Don't know the market on these cars.  I know a guy who sold this car with 11k miles . Why so much? https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1993-ford-saleen-mustang-sc-convertible-2/

Rarity
The 1993 Saleen SC (Supercharged) convertible is an ultra-rare, high-performance Fox Body Mustang, with only a few produced (some sources suggest as few as 2 to 4) in that final year. These cars are highly sought after by collectors, with one yellow 1993 Saleen SC convertible being a known 1-of-1 example, while others have commanded high prices, including bids exceeding $200,000. They typically feature a Vortech-supercharged 5.0L V8

[pbf777]

Why so much? https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1993-ford-saleen-mustang-sc-convertible-2/

    It's simply the scenario of B.A.T., MECUM, Barrett Jackson, ie. the "auction fever" reaction by bidders of just going "all-in", no matter what the cost vs. actual value might be! 

    But I sure wouldn't want to be that guy, if the intention was to flip that Saleen for a profit; any time soon that is! 

    Scott.

[S412gofast]

Need to research before you jump in on a Saleen. There is almost as much on these foxbody mustangs to learn about what makes one a real Saleen as there is a 1960s Shelby. A Saleens ford vin and the saleen vin can be provided to Saleen to verify authenticity, similar to Marti.  In the pictures posted it is noted this is an 1989.  It does look to have the 1989 Saleen Vin tag on the firewall.  This 89 Saleen is wearing 1987-88 style lower body side stripes.  There have been few 1989s that have these side stripes, so one should do some research here to see if this was an early 1989 that could possibly have these style stripes.  Also car is yellow (color change?, there are no apparent vin labels on inner fender edges) and engine compartment black(color change on engine comp?, can also see onion tops, top of strut also got sprayed black.  The beltline rubstrip should be the satin black color vs the body color.  Saleen painted the beltline rubstrip to match the body color in 1990 on only the SC models.  Again this could be something to check with contacting Saleen, as they also processed special order requests from their customers where this could have been painted by Saleen.
On the top inner shocktowers there are visible mounting holes for the oem Saleen Strut tower brace, which cannot fit when a Paxton is installed.  Another item to check is the Momo steering wheel.  There is a date code on the backside of the lower 6 o'clock spoke that should be an 1989 date.  Another Saleen unique component you can see in these pics is on the underbody up towards front of the transmission is the 2 point K-Member brace.

[QuickSilverShelby]

I've always bought cool cars because I love them.  I consider them "investments" in my happiness, not a monetary tool but the strange thing is, many of my "happiness investments" have turned into a monetary windfall.  That windfall certainly hasn't been over the short term....... I'm talking about 10, 15, 20+ years.  When I buy something, because I love it, I have a hard time selling and time has worked in my favor. 

I'd save your short term speculation for something else.  Short term investing when flipping cars sounds like a treacherous path.  You better know your topic, buy it right, and have allot of good luck on your side.

QSS