Saleen Club of America

Featured Car of the Month

Terry Denton's S351-R

1994 S351 #37  ~ February 2006

 

This month we feature the Saleen S351-R owned by Terry Denton. 1994 was the first year the S351 was offered by Saleen, and was available in a naturally aspirated version, and a supercharged version for those looking for more PoweRRR! Below is the story of 1994 #37 as told by the owner. Enjoy!

-The Saleen Club of America

 

As I pulled onto the freeway my mind was racing with the following thought: this car DEMANDS respect.  Don’t do anything stupid like lose control of it and wreck it during the test drive.  I eased it through first, second, third, and into forth gear.  At that point I figured it was ok to give it a little throttle, since I was only going about 40 mph. 

            My foot found its way to the floor almost effortlessly.  My initial reaction was: “Hey, this does not feel that fast.”  Then I glance down at the speedometer.  It read 90 miles per hour.  The car had literally gone from 40 to 90 miles an hour in about the time it took me to say that sentence to myself.  I shifted into fifth gear and let off. Then the owner of the car asked me if I was going to get on the damn thing or not.  He only had to ask once.

            We got off the freeway, and right back on going back the opposite direction.  I shifted into second gear at about 15 miles and hour and then stabbed the throttle down about half way.  The result was pure terror as the back end of the car broke lose and shot sideways.  I corrected the wheel and let off in an attempt to get the car straight again.  Like I said before: this car DEMANDS respect.  If you don’t respect and R code S 351, it WILL bite you. 

After the car was straight I shifted into third gear (at about 25 mph).  Then I pushed the throttle wide open for the first time.  For a couple of seconds nothing happened.  Then the boost started.  I found my head slammed back against the headrest with the most force I had ever felt in a car.  I glanced down at the speedometer.  It was rising so fast I thought for a second I was looking at the tach. 

I had to double check that thought as my senses could not keep up with what the car was doing.  Then the tail of the Saleen stepped out again at more than 80 miles an hour.  Like I said before an R-code S-351 DEMANDS respect.  I let off and hit forth gear, then fifth (no longer accelerating).  Then the owner patted me on the shoulder and said, “That’s how you are supposed to drive these cars!”  I grinned ear to ear.  At that moment I knew I was going to buy the car. 

My car is 1994 S 351 # 37.  It is R code car.  It has the Vortech supercharger, 13 inch brakes, factory roll bar, Recaro seats, and the big 18x10 wheels and tires out the back.  Saleen only made 44 S-351s in 1994.  Of the 44 only 12 of them were supercharged.  My car is the 3rd Supercharged S 351 produced by Saleen. It is also the only S 351 ever made (from 1994 to 1999) that was red with gold stripes and gold wheels.  It has been a blast to own and drive since I bought it three years ago.  It always draws huge crowds at car shows and when I take it out cruising.  Everyone always asks, “Is this a true Saleen?”  Their jaws always drop when I say, “Yes.”

1994 #37 has been featured in several publications.  These include Brad Bowling’s The Saleen Book.  !994 #37 is pictured 17 times in the book, more than ANY other Saleen in the book.  My car is also featured in The Standard Catalog of Mustang 2nd edition (three pictures in that book), and Extreme Mustang Milestones (a one time monthly magazine). I’ve always wanted a real Saleen.  I’ve used to own a supercharged 1988 clone, but I never dreamed I would have the opportunity to own the ultimate Saleen: an S-351R. 

My car is my pride and joy.  I’m lucky my wife understands that enough to let me keep it, as owning it is not cheap.  Since I have owned the car I have only finished out of the top two at a car show once.  Every other show #37 has been in had been a 1st or 2nd place finish.  This includes The Saleen Club of America’s 2005 national show.  The car also finished 1st place in every show I entered it in during the 2005 show season (including 1st place at the NMRA nationals).  In 2004 it also received an award at the 40th anniversary Mustang show in Nashville, TN.

 

 

 Please click any of the pictures below for the full size image.