Steve Saleen

Steve Saleen is an American automotive entrepreneur and former professional racing driver known for his influence on high-performance vehicle design and manufacturing. Saleen developed an early interest in fast cars after his father purchased a Porsche, which led him to join the Porsche Owners Club and progress through club racing to a professional motorsports career. Saleen achieved his first racing victory in a Shelby Mustang before advancing to open-wheel Formula Atlantic cars, where he won the Pacific Coast Championship and set 13 track records. He competed against drivers such as Gilles Villeneuve, Keke Rosberg, Bobby Rahal, and Danny Sullivan in Formula Atlantic, and later drove an Indy car.

Saleen founded Saleen with the goal of bringing race-proven performance to street vehicles. His business model contributed to the growth of the high-performance automotive industry, focusing on the design, engineering, manufacturing, and sales of vehicles with enhanced suspensions, aerodynamics, braking systems, and custom interiors. Saleen Mustangs, produced throughout the 1980s and '90s, were distinguished by unique serial numbers and branding, setting them apart from Ford's factory models. Saleen also led successful racing programs, serving as a lead driver and earning national championships, including the World Challenge and SCCA Truck Championship.

Saleen's work culminated in the development of the "Saleen S7," a mid-engine supercar designed to compete with brands such as Ferrari, Lamborghini, and McLaren. The "Saleen S7" Twin Turbo set a Guinness World Record as the "World's Fastest Production Car" at the time, reaching a top speed of 248 mph. The race version, the S7R, achieved significant motorsports success, including multiple race wins, pole positions, manufacturers' championships, and a first-place finish at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Saleen's expertise in bespoke vehicle production, certification, and customization led to collaborations with Ford on the Ford GT40, as well as contributions to the Dodge Viper, Harley-Davidson Ford F-150, and the first running Camaro for the "Transformers" film.

Saleen vehicles have appeared in movies such as "Fast & Furious," "Bruce Almighty," "Transformers," and "Iron Man." Saleen has been featured on History Channel and is recognized for his role in the performance car industry alongside figures like Enzo Ferrari and Ferdinand Porsche.

After departing his original company, Saleen returned to the industry with SMS Supercars and later Saleen Automotive, Inc., regaining the rights to his name and brand. Saleen continued to compete, winning a race in his own "S1" design and joining a select group of automotive figures who have driven their own purpose-built race cars. Saleen Automotive manufactures the 302 (Mustang derived), Sportruck and Sportruck XR (Ford F-150 derived), BIG OLY (Ford Bronco derived), and the Saleen S1, available in race and street versions. Saleen's career spans club racing, supercar development, and leadership in automotive innovation and performance engineering.