When Saleen->ke76 promised a major reveal this weekend at Laguna Seca->ke981, speculation ran rampant that a successor to the mighty S7->ke1120 was waiting to be introduced.

Well, we didn't get that, which is a tad disappointing, but what we did get was an equally surprising announcement in the form of the Saleen Heritage Collection, a limited edition series of specially designed muscle cars that pays tribute to the top five drivers that raced in the Mission Bell race at Riverside International Raceway back in October 1970.

The first two vehicles of this Heritage collection were actually released a few years ago - the Saleen Parnelli Jones Ediiton and the Dan Gurney Edition - and now, the next three will be dropped in succeeding order beginning with the unveiling of the Saleen George Follmer Edition Mustang, followed by the Mark Donohue Edition Camaro->ke248, and the Swede Savage Edition Barracuda.

The latter two will be unveiled at later dates so for now, the spotlight focuses on the George Follmer Edition Mustang, a car that Saleen introduced over the weekend at Laguna Seca.

If you're not too familiar with the name George Follmer, a brief history lesson will tell you that the man is notable for having one of the most decorated racing careers back in the 60's and 70's. In addition to running the Indianapolis 500->ke3200, Follmer also competed in Formula One->ke190 with the Shadow team in 1973, while also racing in NASCAR->ke3635's Winston Cup and the Can-Am series where he took the championship in 1972.

Click past the jump to read more about the Saleen George Follmer Edition Mustang

2014 Saleen George Follmer Edition Mustang

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2014 Saleen George Follmer Edition Mustang
  • Engine/Motor: V8
  • Horsepower: 470
  • Torque: 380
  • Transmission: six-speed manual
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

The exterior of the Saleen George Follmer Edition Mustang doesn't differentiate itself too much from a 2014 Mustang. That being said, there are numerous touches made by Saleen to ensure that it's special designation as a George Follmer-inspired muscle car lives on in the body.

The red-black-and-white tri-color paint finish wasn't something that Saleen cooked up by accident. Those three colors, as well as the layout by which it's presented (the black hood, the red body, and the white roof and piping) is an ode to the No. 16 1969 Boss 302 Mustang racecar driven by the man whose name was used on the model.

Interior

Just like its outward appearance, the interior of this unique Saleen Mustang doesn't stray too far away from what you see in its standard guise. Black leather graces the seats with matching red details on the back rests and the door inlays. There also appears to be unique badging spread throughout the cabin, although the singular interior shot doesn't show the center console and the dashboard. On that note, we don't think Saleen did anything there that warrants any jaw dropping so we're confident that the treatment is consistent throughout the entire interior space.

Performance

Power for the Saleen George Follmer Edition Mustang comes in the form of a naturally aspirated V-8 engine -- a 5.0-liter, we presume -- that produces an estimated 470 horsepower and mates to a six-speed manual gearbox. Torque numbers weren't given but we believe it could be in the range of 380-400 pound-feet of torque to go with a 0-to-60 mph time of 4.4 seconds and an estimated top speed of about 150 mph.

Pricing

The Saleen George Follmer Edition Mustang is already available for order should you wish to snag one up. You won't get the car until probably later this year, but the price -- around $75,000 -- should be reasonable enough given the special and possibly limited edition nature of this Saleen-developed Mustang.

Competition

Chevrolet Camaro Hot Wheels Edition

Given its nature as a special edition Mustang that went through the hands of Saleen, this type of car isn't what you'd consider a 'regular'. On that note, it deserves an equally well-dressed treatment for the Mustang's direct competitor.

The Chevrolet Camaro Hot Wheels Edition fits that bill. It's equally unique in name and stature. It's got some nice new digs added to the standard configuration. Plus, it will be produced in a limited, one-time run, making it a must-have Camaro for enthusiasts and aficionados alike.

The Camaro Hot Wheels is powered by a 6.2-liter V-8 engine that produces 426 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque, good enough to hit 60 mph in a little over 4 seconds with an estimated top speed of about 170 mph.

Conclusion

We understand the merits of a car that belongs in a special collection and designed by Saleen. The George Follmer Edition Mustang certainly fits that bill to a tee. But for its classification as a special edition and the buzz that came from its anticipated debut, the modifications made on the muscle car are a little underwhelming as far as we're concerned.

The homage to the past is admirable; we just hoped that there would've been more distinguishable characteristics about this model than what was presented to us.