In the storybook of post-war American sportscars, the pages are filled with many individuals who built models that could compete with the best examples constructed by Europe’s storied marques. Briggs Cunningham, Carroll Shelby, and, perhaps more recently, Dan Panoz come to mind. Steve Saleen has earned a few paragraphs in that book as well. Like others before him, he first established his brand as a racer and tuner of Mustangs for both the street and track. Building ever more successful racecars that were winning at the world’s legendary tracks, by 1999 Steve had ventured into the construction of his eponymous automobile, the Saleen S7.

Produced from 2000 to 2007, the S7 features a bespoke carbon fiber chassis, race-derived suspension, and mid-engine, making it ideal for motorsports competition and spirited motoring down backroads in approximately equal measure. Its 427-cubic-inch, twin-turbocharged V-8 engine offers performance figures that rival the most prodigious European competitors. With a 0–60 time of 3.3 seconds and a top speed of more than 200 mph, it quickly established itself as America’s most formidable supercar. In its various homologated racing versions, the S7 proved exceedingly effective on the track, with victories at premier endurance events such as the 12 Hours of Sebring and 24 Hours of Le Mans, as well as IMSA sports car championships. In total, the S7 scored over 100 victories, and many more podiums, in official motorsports events from 2000 to 2010.

Unveiled in early 2017, Saleen’s S7 LM project was announced as a celebration of the car’s many years of racing dominance. The LM was limited to just seven allocations for production from 2017 to 2019, with S7 owners being hand-selected by Saleen to recommission their cars to LM specifications. However, in the end, just three examples were completed. The car offered here, LM-007, is a late-production S7 originally completed in 2007, and successfully converted to its present configuration in 2018.

Although the S7’s underpinnings were already at the sharp edge of supercar performance, Saleen increased the output of its 7.0-liter V8 engine in LM spec by adding a pair of redesigned turbos which are fed cold air from the roof-mounted intake shroud via a carbon fiber plenum and lightweight aluminum manifold. The S7 LM’s upgraded engine was factory-rated from a ridiculous 1,000 horsepower to a downright ludicrous 1,300 horsepower, depending on the fuel and how it was tuned. With a prodigious 850 pound-feet of torque managed through a six-speed manual transaxle, the S7 LM is reportedly capable of speeds in excess of 240 mph.

Saleen improved the aerodynamics by adding an adjustable, biplane rear wing developed during the company’s racing exploits. Additional downforce comes from a rear lip spoiler, rear diffuser, side skirts, air vents, and an enclosed underbody to help maintain split-channel airflow. Each wheel arch is filled with center-locking alloy wheels that measure 19 inches up front and 20 inches in the rear, shod with Michelin Pilot Super Sport rubber. The suspension incorporates unequal-length double wishbones and aluminum coil-over dampers at each corner. To reign in the insane speed, six-piston "monoblock" calipers work with slotted, two-piece floating rotors at each corner.

Both driver and passenger are held secure in Sparco seats with four-point harnesses trimmed in Alcantara and black leather. Alcantara also covers the headliner, rear panel, and A-pillars. An adjustable steering column, backup camera, air conditioning, and power windows add comfort and convenience.

Like the legendary names attached to America’s great racing sports cars, Steve Saleen will be remembered as a tuner, racer, and builder of motor cars who showed the world what was possible when American horsepower and ingenuity collided. Today, his creation remains as unique and awe-inspiring as the day it was first introduced. This example shows 3,688 miles since its creation as LM-007.

Recommissioned to LM specifications by Saleen in 2018 and one of just three S7 LM examples produced from 2017 to 2019, this is the ultimate American Supercar, one with over 1,000 horsepower on tap.