When discussing the world of high-performance American automobiles, few names resonate as deeply as Steve Saleen. A visionary racer, engineer, and entrepreneur, Saleen is best known for his eponymous brand, Saleen Automotive, which has played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of American performance vehicles. From transforming Mustangs into track monsters to building one of the few true American supercars—the Saleen S7—Steve Saleen’s legacy is as fast-paced and fascinating as the cars that bear his name.

When Ford Motor Company introduced the Ford Torino in 1968 for the North American market, it was intended as an upscale variant of the intermediate-sized Ford Fairlane that Ford produced from 1962-70. The car was so well received by automotive journalists and consumers, it wound up replacing the Fairlane nameplate altogether for all trim, powerplant, option, and accessory levels after the 1970 model year. The car is named after the city of Turin (Torino in Italian), where famous automakers Alfa Romeo and Fiat are located. Turin is known as "the Italian Detroit".