For six years Greg Nelson has been cultivating a reputation among well-heeled sports car enthusiasts who travel to his Marysville dealership to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for sleek, powerful Lamborghini Diablos. But Nelson, who also sells more pedestrian Chryslers, Jeeps, Plymouths, Dodges and Dodge Trucks, is now courting customers with even deeper pockets. Each start with a Ford chassis, but Saleen builds in so many high-performance differences that the vehicles are sold under the Saleen label. Ricart Ford in Columbus is among 94 Saleen dealers nationwide. In 2000, it sold 22 Saleen Mustangs.
People find out that they exist, and they look for the closest dealer.
I think it's something that goes with being a big dealer. But Ford dealers, including Ricart, aren't positioned in the exotic car marketplace to sell the Saleen S7. Fred Blum, vice president of sales for Saleen Inc. as well as general manager of Greensboro, N.C.-based Bob Dunn Jaguar, said the S7, which incorporates modern racing motor technology the company has honed for 18 years, is the logical next generation vehicle for the manufacturer. The S7 can travel at 200 mph, and can move from a standstill to 60 mph in less than four seconds. The car weighs 800 pounds less than a Lamborghini.