[JLM]

Just heard from a reliable source that the windows are blacked out and a truck was seen moving out merchandise from the Saleen Store at the Irvine Spectrum.

I just got back tonight from a vacation but will check it out tomorrow.

Anybody else heard anything?

Larry
97-0183

[saleenster]

Originally Posted by JLM

Just heard from a reliable source that the windows are blacked out and a truck was seen moving out merchandise from the Saleen Store at the Irvine Spectrum.

I just got back tonight from a vacation but will check it out tomorrow.

Anybody else heard anything?

Larry
97-0183

Classic, would not surprise me one bit.

[gonen20]

Its Official, The Saleen Store is Closed/Emptied Out and the Saleen Merchandise is on it was to Troy, Michigan!!! They Really Snuck under the Radar here, but a Handful of us Old Time Saleen fans saw the writing on the wall here, a long time ago even when they had the Grand Opening of the store on July 29, 2006 we saw this coming! Saleen sent me an Invitation to the Grand Opening of The Saleen Store in early May 2006 that Read, "A NEW ERA OF AUTOMOTIVE RETAILING" well, I now can honestly say its, "THE END OF AN ERA OF AUTOMOTIVE RETAILING FOR SALEEN" Sad, But True!! And Just imagine they did this without letting anyone know!!!!! They've never done that before, Right.........

[rcantu]

they could have sold inventory cheap but guess they're just strange

[StangGT1995]

I guess it's hard to be competitive when companies sell better quality knockoff pieces for less?

[bigwingsaleen]

What will be the next rumor come true?

[marcus95]

Gary,


I think I was just one of the loudmouths.

I guess when I post something maybe it won't be taken as a rumor next time?

It does suck, but those of us who have been around like Todd saw it coming before the store opened.

I already lost my bet with Cutler since I said they would be out by the end of October. What do I owe you Tiny?


Anyway, the worst part will be when they close Fairbanks in a month or so.

Then I will shed a tear.

Bummer really.

[bigwingsaleen]

Originally Posted by marcus95

Gary,

I guess when I post something maybe it won't be taken as a rumor next time?

I guess I didn't realize when I said "rumor come true" how it sounded. I in NO WAY meant that your word wasn't repuitable (?sp). I respect the insight you, Robert, Dennis, and others that have lived the Saleen years in the backyard of where it started.

RESPECT

[s351rspeedster]

Originally Posted by marcus95

Gary,

I think I was just one of the loudmouths.

I guess when I post something maybe it won't be taken as a rumor next time?

It does suck, but those of us who have been around like Todd saw it coming before the store opened.

I already lost my bet with Cutler since I said they would be out by the end of October. What do I owe you Tiny?

Anyway, the worst part will be when they close Fairbanks in a month or so.
Then I will shed a tear.
Bummer really.

....this action reminds me of the Baltimore Colts late night pack and go to Indy back in the 70's, Bekins moving trucks if I remember correctly... I was wrong too Mark, I said the end of December would be D-day. Do I still when the bet if Fairbanks is emptied out by the end of the year?? I'll take a nice looking red head that doesn't talk back, if you know what I mean??

[SimiSaleen]

Well i am not the least bit surprised the store did not make it. I thought it was a risky idea since the beginning. The Irvine Sprectrum must charge a ton of money for a lease. To the customers who shop at the Spectrum, the Saleen store is not something thats going to appeal to large number of people who shop there. The Saleen store going away is not that big of a deal. What happened at 76Fairbanks with Steve leaving was the big blow for all of us. It will never be the
same again. Just remember the good old times we all had!

Simi Saleen

[SVT Saleen]

Yep, Marcus, you owe Robert on this call.

Robert came down in October to attend the San Diego Mustang Club show with my wife & me & told us that he fully expected the Saleen Store to close sometime before the end of 2007 because Molly, the last of the Saleen family members still employed by the company that bore her father's name, had been summarily sacked.

Once again we old guard Saleen enthusiasts are witness to the legacy being shat upon by the new owners. It is absolutely appalling to think that the company that once epitomized the late model Mustang aftermarket is wholesale abandoning its SoCal roots.

[saleenster]

I wonder if Molly was let go?

[EDGE Motorsport]

wow!!

good job i got over there to the store in October... sucks that it's closed!!

[StangKing]

I heard that just just moved it over to 76 Fairbanks.....maybe rent was too much,or they just wanted to fill up all the empty space....

[s351rspeedster]

Originally Posted by saleenster

I wonder if Molly was let go?

.....Molly was let go a few months ago along with her brothers. They all are now working for Steve, once again, with those Chinese imported cars.....

[s351rspeedster]

Originally Posted by StangKing

I heard that just just moved it over to 76 Fairbanks.....maybe rent was too much,or they just wanted to fill up all the empty space....

.....I won't teach this with a ten foot pole however I will say this and leave it at that

[dotbomb]

That store lasted far longer than I thought it would. And yeah, everyone at the grand opening pretty much called this from day 0. Sucks it had to happen but that thing had to be bleeding cash bigtime for Saleen and RSM Ford... now to wait another 6 months and see how many PJ's RSM Ford has to offload. Currently inventory sits at 6 or so.

[cannonball run]

Saleen sponsored my event last year thanks to Molly Saleen and Ryan barker who worked so very hard trying to get some dip**** in the marketing to get his act together .

We sold 9 of the 600 BHp bad boy cars and gave one away as a prize to the winner of the event its sad to see a great company crumble over night ,but when your in the hands of the people I had to deal with at corporate its no wonder .

They ran out of black chassis and Mike simmonds tried to give me grabber orange ones re-painted black and sell them to my clients on the event .

When Steve heard about it he put a stop to it thankfully after Steve left I had to fight for everything they promised .

I still have one used Bad boy car left my daily driver and its such fun strong and quick such a shame will it carry on or is it all going to end soon ?

[Jim D.]

Originally Posted by cannonball run

Saleen sponsored my event last year thanks to Molly Saleen and Ryan barker who worked so very hard trying to get some dip**** in the marketing to get his act together .

We sold 9 of the 600 BHp bad boy cars and gave one away as a prize to the winner of the event its sad to see a great company crumble over night ,but when your in the hands of the people I had to deal with at corporate its no wonder .

They ran out of black chassis and Mike simmonds tried to give me grabber orange ones re-painted black and sell them to my clients on the event .

When Steve heard about it he put a stop to it thankfully after Steve left I had to fight for everything they promised .

I still have one used Bad boy car left my daily driver and its such fun strong and quick such a shame will it carry on or is it all going to end soon ?

While the Saleen Store has closed, Saleen Inc. is still producing cars in Troy and plans to for years to come. And while Molly is gone, Ryan Barker is back in Irvine's corporate office to make whatever contributions he can to the new team that is trying to think outside the box a little bit and in a new direction.

Unfortunately with the inevitable move of most or all of the operations to Troy, energy from enthusiastic people like Ryan and many others who have a passion for the brand will likely be lost unless they keep a Western operation going.

The company has been building a new staff with talents from ASC and Chrysler and others, but that's all happening in Troy. I've met most of them long before they joined Saleen, and they're determined to build on the brand and hopefully turn a profit along the way. Nobody is left in Irvine's Marketing dept. now that Mike S. resigned last week, though he probably didn't realize the significance of the color issue since he wasn't really involved in production.

Saleen Inc. has already announced several new models since Steve left, and will be announcing yet another tomorrow at the Detroit Auto Show.

I will have to add that we all wish Steve, Liz, Molly, Clint and Sean were still involved, but the legacy they built will hopefully carry on.

Regardless of the Saleen family involvement, the current generation of cars have nearly 25 years of Steve Saleen influence in them, and they are all a blast to drive and each have their merits... On behalf of SOEC, we all hope the company will continue to flourish as it reorganizes to face the challenges in this tough industry.

[Jim D.]

Originally Posted by dotbomb

That store lasted far longer than I thought it would. And yeah, everyone at the grand opening pretty much called this from day 0. Sucks it had to happen but that thing had to be bleeding cash bigtime for Saleen and RSM Ford... now to wait another 6 months and see how many PJ's RSM Ford has to offload. Currently inventory sits at 6 or so.

RSM Ford had no stake in The Saleen Store other than processing the transactions.

[EDGE Motorsport]

well... i thought it was quite a cool store, shame it closed as i said, was hoping to go back there some day and buy some more stuff... i suppose you can still get it mail order, but going to the store seemed better somehow...

[RedGTvert]

Originally Posted by Jim D.

Regardless of the Saleen family involvement, the current generation of cars have nearly 25 years of Steve Saleen influence in them, and they are all a blast to drive and each have their merits... On behalf of SOEC, we all hope the company will continue to flourish as it reorganizes to face the challenges in this tough industry.

That is going to be the issue, can they survive. You are correct in saying this is a very tough market, and it isn't getting better, especially for specialty cars like the Saleen.

[Disco]

Yea its sad to see but i have had several dealings with saleen and i wish i could say they were good about returning phone calls and just dealing with customers. I love saleens and what they stand for its in my mind the coolest car to own.