1997 Saleen S281 Mustang Convertible -- 5 Speed Ex-budget Rental Car Gt350h on 2040-cars

Here is my beautiful 1997 Saleen S281 Mustang Convertible. This car spent its early life as a Budget Rent a Car in a program similar to the Shelby Rent a Racer program in 1966 (and then again in 2006/2007). We all know what has happened to the prices of those early Hertz cars. An interesting fact is Shelby produced over 1,000 Hertz GT350s in 1966. Saleen only produced 128 Budget S281s between 1996 and 1998 making them quite rare and a great conversation piece. These cars were put into the Budget rental fleet but there were strict stipulations on who could rent one. Licensed drivers must be at least 25 years old and leave a $1,000.00 deposit on a major credit card. The rental fee was $33.34 per hour, $120.00 per day or $499.00 per week. After 18 months, the rentals were retired by Budget and sent back to Saleen, where they were refurbished and then sold to the public. This one is #8 of 88 built in 1997. Now that Steve Saleen is back in control of Saleen, this could be a super investment! This one is Rio Red with black leather interior and the original NA 4.6 liter V8 with a T-45 5 speed transmission, a great combination. It still has its original and very desirable 18" Speedline Magnesium wheels with Michelin Pilot XGT Z4 tires in 245-40ZR-18. It has a Saleen light bar and a Saleen style heat extractor hood. The stock exhaust was replaced with a BBK off-road H-pipe and Flowmaster mufflers with the original Borla "machine gun" tips. The sound is fantastic and the car runs and drives very well. It gets looks and attention everywhere! The exterior and interior are really clean and show nicely. The aftermarket Pioneer AM/FM/CD sounds good through the Mach 460 system. As you can see in the pictures, the dash has been signed by the man himself. The top was recently replaced and functions normally. The AC is cold and the heat is hot. All power windows and locks work with the exception of the driver's rear -- I believe it needs a motor. The cruise control is not working and the neutral safety switch also needs to be looked at. Keep in mind, this is a 16 year old car and has its nicks, bumps and faults, but if you are looking for a nice entry-level Saleen convertible that's ready to enjoy, this is your car! There is no warranty either expressed or implied. Please feel free to ask any questions and I will do my best to answer them for you. I am fairly experienced in vehicle shipping and can help arrange it for you, but shipping is the ultimate responsibility of the buyer. A $500 deposit is due via PayPal within 24 hours of auction end, and full payment by cashier's check or bank wire transfer within seven days. All funds must clear before the vehicle is released. Thanks and good luck!

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On Jan-03-14 at 17:42:28 PST, seller added the following information:

More pictures added per several requests.  Also, this car spent its entire life in California (at the LAX Budget facility,) the Southeast (Georgia and the Carolinas,) and the desert (Las Vegas.) There is no rust anywhere.  Thanks for your interest!