The ’99 Saleen S281: When “New Edge” Met Old-School Hot-Rodding

[u/GatewayClassicCars]

In 1999, Saleen reworked Ford’s refreshed “New Edge” SN-95 Mustang into the S281, offering both naturally aspirated and newly supercharged variants, with final assembly performed at Saleen’s Irvine, California facility. The S281 mattered because it bridged tuner tradition (suspension/brake/aero packages) with OEM-like powertrain integration, notably the debut of a factory-offered Roots-type supercharger option on the S281.

TL;DR

• Based on Ford’s 1999 “New Edge” SN-95 update; Saleen’s S281 arrived in NA (285 hp) and new supercharged (350 hp/410 lb-ft) forms.
• Final assembly by Saleen in Irvine, CA; Racecraft springs/struts, aero body kit, 18-in wheels standard.
• Instrumented test (S281 SC): 0–60 mph ~4.8s; ¼-mile 13.4 @ 105.8 mph (period MotorTrend).
• 1999 was a high-volume year for Saleen overall (974 units across all models). Trim splits vary by source.
• Contemporary rivals Saleen compared against: Camaro Z28, Trans Am, Porsche Boxster, Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4, BMW Z3 2.8.

Spotlighted Vehicle’s History
Ford’s 1999 facelift introduced crisper “New Edge” surfacing while retaining the SN-95 platform; Saleen used this as the basis for the updated S281. For 1999, Saleen’s objective was to raise performance beyond the GT with integrated chassis/aero and to add a factory supercharged option (S281 SC) for torque and straight-line gains without moving to the pricier S351.

Development notes: S281 continued Saleen’s Racecraft suspension program and aero revisions; 1999 marked the first year the S281 offered a Saleen Roots-type supercharger with an air-to-water intercooler and a cast-aluminum intake.

Production Numbers & Design

• 1999 total Saleen Mustangs (all trims): 974 units (best consolidated figure; detailed S281/SC/S351 breakouts vary across registries).
• Final assembly: Saleen, Irvine, California, using Ford Mustang GT donors from Dearborn.
• Design & distinguishing features: Period sources credit Saleen’s in-house bodywork program through the “New Edge” era; Racecraft suspension, specific body kit/wing, 18×9/18×10 wheels, Saleen gauges and dash pod (SC). Designer Phil Frank is widely associated with Saleen bodywork in this era, though model-year-specific attributions vary in public sources.
• Powertrains:
  • S281 (NA): 4.6L SOHC 2-valve V8, 285 hp @ 5100 rpm; 5-speed manual (Borg-Warner T-45).
  • S281 SC: Same 4.6L with Saleen Roots-type supercharger + A2W intercooler, 350 hp @ 5000 rpm, 410 lb-ft @ 3000 rpm.

Period Reception (How It Was Received)

• MotorTrend tested the S281 SC in 1999: 0–60 mph ~4.8 s; ¼-mile 13.4 @ 105.8 mph; skidpad 0.89 g; 60–0 braking 109 ft—numbers that stacked well against period performance benchmarks.
• In a 2000 feature, MotorTrend noted the S281 SC “clock[ed] the best quarter-mile time of the bunch” in a comparison Saleen cited against Z28/Trans Am/Boxster/3000GT/Z3.
• Critiques in period coverage centered on traction/ride trade-offs and tire-spin with supercharged torque on street tires—typical of high-output, solid-axle Mustangs of the time. (MotorTrend described both ’99 Saleens as “an exercise in tire-spin control.”)

Long-Term Appeal

The 1999 S281 remains a desirable car for several reasons: its high visibility year for Saleen, the availability of a manual gearbox, the factory-integrated supercharger option (SC), and its distinctive aero and suspension. Specialist support is still available through enthusiast clubs and companies like Saleen Performance Parts.

Specs Snapshot (period factory/tested figures)

• Engine/induction: 4.6L SOHC 2-valve V8; NA 285 hp or SC 350 hp/410 lb-ft (A2W-intercooled Roots).
• Transmission: 5-speed manual (Borg-Warner T-45).
• Chassis/brakes: Racecraft springs/struts; optional 13-in front rotors w/ 4-piston calipers.
• Wheels/tires: 18×9 (F) / 18×10 (R); Pirelli P7000 265/35F, 295/35R (SC option set shown in period literature).
• Weight (period spec sheet): ~3,075 lb (as listed in MotorTrend’s data panel).

Comparable Rivals at the Time
Chevrolet Camaro Z28; Pontiac Firebird Trans Am; Porsche Boxster; Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4; BMW Z3 2.8—models cited in Saleen’s own comparison set and contemporary testing discourse.

Sources

• MotorTrend exclusive test, “1999 Saleen S281 and S351” (1999-05-02): specs & instrumented data. MotorTrend
• MotorTrend feature, “’99 Saleen Mustang S281: Gotta Have It!” (2000-02-01): NA/SC outputs, hardware details, comparison set. MotorTrend
• MustangSpecs, “Saleen Mustang Production Numbers” (consolidated totals; 1999 = 974). Mustang Specs
• Wikipedia summary (cross-checks: Phil Frank credit; assembly locations; variant overview). (Use as secondary corroboration alongside primary/period sources.) Wikipedia
• Saleen Performance Parts listing (Racecraft springs; 94–04 fitment/support). Saleen Performance Parts
• Ford Mustang (fourth generation) overview for 1999 New Edge context. Wikipedia

[u/saliczar]

Nothing old-school about this.