Q: Were white or black Speedlines available in 1998?

[gbrittenum]

Were white and black Speedlines available in 1998?

[XP8]

I know white ones and silver ones were. Not sure about black or chrome.

[Greg Wackett]

No they were not available

[gbrittenum]

So white and silver were available? I know the white ones are shown on the 1998 brochure, but I know with Saleen that doesn't really mean anything.

[XP8]

98-01 has white ones which is what you see in the literature you referred to. I also owned 98-22 which is the blue one on the sales brochure for 98 and it had silver ones. I am sure someone can can confirm or deny this but I am pretty certain the white XP's came with white wheels and the colored XP's came with silver. It is possible there may have been a couple colored ones with gold graphics that had gold wheels. I think I have seen 2.

[Dave]

A white XP can have a variety of combinations....

Gold graphics / gold wheels

Silver graphics / silver wheels

Silver graphics / white wheels

Black graphics / white wheels

Blue graphics / white wheels

Chrome wheels optional.

Contact Saleen for build information on a specified vehicle.

[XP8]

I have never seen a chrome set of Magnesium wheels, learn something new everyday!

[Dave]

Originally Posted by XP8

I have never seen a chrome set of Magnesium wheels, learn something new everyday!

No. There was a LeMans style wheel as well.

[XP8]

Correct. Those I have seen, I guess I did not realize those LeMans style wheels were available for a 98 XP.

[Dave]

Originally Posted by XP8

Correct. Those I have seen, I guess I did not realize those LeMans style wheels were available for a 98 XP.

1999 began chrome option.

[XP8]

Thanks for the clarification Dave, I was thinking it was 99 as well. Which wheels did Saleen recall due to cracking? I had a 99 that had 7 spokes and the previous owner stated Saleen had recalled them and replaced them with new 20" 7 spokes and tires. Any truth to this that you are aware of?

[Dave]

Originally Posted by XP8

I had a 99 that had 7 spokes and the previous owner stated Saleen had recalled them and replaced them with new 20" 7 spokes and tires. Any truth to this that you are aware of?

Yes, this is a true story.

Originally Posted by XP8

Thanks for the clarification Dave, I was thinking it was 99 as well. Which wheels did Saleen recall due to cracking?

Are the XP wheels "really" Speedline wheels? Or are they a copy produced by an outside manufacture? Saleen had "copy" Speedline-style wheels produced for the Mustangs and some of these were not very good.

[Firehead]

Arguably I'd say that is somewhat misleading. The 7 spoke wagon wheels didn't come out until 2005. No way Saleen was still warranting wheels on XP's that far out. I do know they replaced many with the 99-04 wheels, mine included.

[Dave]

Originally Posted by Firehead

Arguably I'd say that is somewhat misleading. The 7 spoke wagon wheels didn't come out until 2005. No way Saleen was still warranting wheels on XP's that far out. I do know they replaced many with the 99-04 wheels, mine included.

If my memory is correct, the Troy facility provided the 20" replacement wheels. If the above XP is the one I remember, a previous owner has photos.

A number of years ago, there was a story with images on explorerX.com (or whatever Explorer site that had a strong XP following). It appears they have a new website and forum... and 10+ year-old content may be gone.

It was a white XP retro fitted with 20" 7-spokes. I recall little of the tale.

[XP8]

They were replaced in Troy. The guy I bought it from was the original owner and from Michigan so it was a short trip. This is the story he told me. They were new when I got the XP8 in early 2005. according to the story, the hubs were cracking ont he 99-04 wheels. They were fine for the weight of the Mustang but the extra weight of the Explorer was a little too much for them. This was not a problem with the Magnesium wheels on the 1998 XP models.