Saleen S7: America’s hand-built mid-engine supercar

The Saleen S7 is an American hand-built supercar designed and built by Saleen Automotive. Unveiled at the Monterey Historic Races on 19 August 2000, it was the first fully proprietary car from Steve Saleen’s company, and it became America’s sixth mid-engine production sports car.

Saleen S7 at a glance

History of the Saleen S7

The S7 was developed jointly by Steve Saleen, who set the concept, direction and engine, Hidden Creek Industries, which provided resources and initial funding, and designer Phil Frank, responsible for the aerodynamic, body and interior CAD work. The chassis and suspension were built in Irvine, California. It was the first car Saleen built entirely itself rather than converted from a Ford, and it took its place as America’s sixth mid-engine production sports car after the Pontiac Fiero, Consulier GTP, Mosler Raptor, Vector W8 and M12.

The engine is an all-aluminium 7.0-litre V8 developed in house. Although it is a bored-and-stroked derivative of Ford’s small-block with Cleveland-style canted valve heads, it is not based on the FE big-block and was built around the lighter, more compact small-block architecture. In naturally aspirated form it produced 550 hp at 6,400 rpm and proved unusually tractable for such a high-output unit. The body is made entirely of carbon fibre, with scoops and spoilers creating the split-channel airflow; at 160 mph the car is said to generate downforce equal to its own weight.

The cabin is asymmetrical, with fixed seats and the driver positioned towards the centre for visibility and weight distribution. Leather and aluminium trim, a 240 mph speedometer, a rear-view camera, a quick-release steering wheel and two trunks—front and rear—were part of the specification, along with a set of custom-fit luggage. The space frame uses 4130 lightweight steel with aluminium honeycomb reinforcing panels, divided into bolt-fastened sub-assemblies, which keeps the car at about 1,300 kg.

Design and features

• Carbon-fibre body: a fully composite shell with aerodynamic scoops and spoilers rather than a converted production body.
• In-house 7.0 V8: an aluminium engine derived from Ford’s small block but developed and built by Saleen.
• Central driving position: fixed seats in an asymmetrical cabin, with the driver moved towards the centreline.
• Two trunks: front and rear luggage compartments made possible by the mid-engine layout.
• Race pedigree: the same basic design was developed into the S7-R for Le Mans, the ALMS and the FIA GT Championship.

Saleen S7 versions

• S7 (2000): naturally aspirated 7.0-litre V8, 550 hp, six-speed manual.
• S7 Twin Turbo (2005): Garrett twin turbochargers at 5.5 psi, 750 hp at 6,300 rpm and 700 lb·ft at 4,800 rpm; revised diffusers and rear spoiler added 60 per cent more downforce.
• Competition package (2006): an optional upgrade for the Twin Turbo with about 1,000 hp, revised suspension, new diffusers and a carbon-fibre aerodynamic package.
• S7 LM (2017): a relaunch commemorating Saleen’s racing success, with a full-width rear spoiler, side skirts, underbody channels and 1,300 hp; by 2019 the rating was quoted at 1,500 hp.
• S7-R (2000–2007): the racing version of the naturally aspirated car, with a 7.0 V8 producing about 631 hp and 610 lb·ft through two intake restrictor plates, or 760 hp unrestricted.

The S7 was the flagship of the range above the S281, and its road-car ideas were previewed by the S5S Raptor concept. More cars are in the Saleen collection.

Video: Saleen S7 Twin Turbo with engine start up

Video on YouTube.

Sources

• Saleen S7, English Wikipedia: development, engineering, performance, S7-R
• Saleen S7, German Wikipedia: engines, gearbox, versions
• Saleen S7, Italian Wikipedia: versions, Italian distribution