Depending on who you ask, the first American supercar 
was either the 1911 Mercer Raceabout or the 1992 Vector W8. However, when it comes to production supercars, the 2001 Saleen S7 is widely regarded as America’s first effort in that direction. It’s been 15 years since Saleen introduced the S7 and 11 since it was discontinued, and all the remaining inventory, parts, memorabilia, molds, designs, and intellectual property related to the supercar are up for sale.
The offer also includes the 2001 Saleen S7R race car, as well as the 2008 Saleen S5S Raptor Concept the American brand designed in 2007. The assets and intellectual property to all three cars can be purchased via GA Global Partners, which is currently accepting bids on the whole bundle.
The sale comes amid financial troubles for Saleen Automotive, but the actual seller of the assets is Hancock Park Associates, the private equity firm that has controlled the brand for a few years. The company held onto some Saleen products when founder Steve Saleen regained control of the brand.
According to GA Global Partners, the assets, which include the six remaining chassis and frames from the S7 supercar, have been kept in safe storage for the past five years.
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Why it matters
Though it’s sad to see Saleen not benefit from the sale of these assets, the auction does offer the chance for someone to acquire a significant part of American supercar and racing history. With enough cash and a good business plan, the buyer could also resume building S7s from the remaining inventory, as well as continue the legacy of Saleen supercars (without the Saleen name though) with a production version of the S5S Raptor.
2001 Saleen S7
Find out more about the Saleen S7 here.
2008 Saleen S5S Raptor
Find out more about the Saleen S5S Raptor here.