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Saleen S331: The Rare Ford F-150 Performance Truck Nicknamed “Thunder”

The Saleen S331 turned an F-150 FX2 into a distinctive performance truck, with 325-hp naturally aspirated and 450-hp supercharged versions. Its reported production count is not factory-verified.
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The Saleen S331 was a Saleen-built performance pickup based on the Ford F-150 FX2 SuperCab, offered with either a naturally aspirated 5.4-liter V8 rated at 325 horsepower or a supercharged version rated at 450 horsepower. Saleen nicknamed it “Thunder”; its lowered stance, 23-inch wheels and side-exit exhaust made it a distinctive alternative to a standard F-150. A 2022 report cites a total-production claim of 398 trucks, including 295 supercharged examples, but that figure is not confirmed by a factory production register.

What was the Saleen S331?

The S331 was a boutique performance version of Ford’s F-150, not a separate clean-sheet truck. Motor Trend described it as based on the F-150 FX2 SuperCab, then modified by Saleen with a lowered suspension, revised shocks and spring rates, body cladding, and a new aluminum hood. The truck joined Saleen’s lineup as a 2007 vehicle after its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show, according to the company’s historical timeline, dated December 1, 2006.

Saleen’s timeline called it “Thunder” and said it underwent the company’s complete manufacturing process. That nickname suited a truck designed to combine the familiar F-150 platform with more power and a more conspicuous street-truck appearance.

How much horsepower did the S331 have?

Motor Trend reported two engine choices: a naturally aspirated 5.4-liter V8 producing 325 horsepower and a supercharged version producing 450 horsepower. The supercharged model used a twin-screw supercharger, according to the period review.

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Supercharged 5.4-liter V8 with twin-screw supercharger; 450 hp A buyer prioritizing the higher quoted output and willing to take on a more complex forced-induction setup.

Those are period-reported figures, not a claim about the condition or output of any surviving truck. Age, maintenance, modifications and mechanical condition matter when evaluating a specific example.

What made the S331 look and feel different?

The S331’s most memorable visual feature was its 23-inch wheels and tires. The lowered suspension, body cladding, aluminum hood and side-exit exhaust further separated it from an ordinary F-150 FX2. Motor Trend described the revised suspension hardware and spring rates, but the available period reporting does not establish a precise handling improvement over the base truck. It is safer to understand the changes as a distinctive performance-truck package than to assume a measurable track or cornering advantage.

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How rare was the Saleen S331?

A 2022 ClassicCars.com Journal article repeated a vehicle-listing claim that 398 S331s were built, of which 295 were supercharged. That is a useful indication of the model’s reported scarcity, but it should not be treated as an independently verified factory total: the figure traces to a listing claim, not a confirmed production register. The count also does not establish how many trucks survive today or authenticate an individual vehicle.

What did the S331 cost when new?

These are launch-era prices, not current used-market values. Car and Driver reported April deliveries beginning at $45,549 for the naturally aspirated version and $55,549 for a supercharged truck. Motor Trend gave a contemporary base-price range of $45,549 to $55,549 and reported that heavily optioned supercharged examples with custom paint could exceed $86,000. The figures reflect different configurations and options; they should not be read as present-day valuations.

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What were the S331’s towing and payload ratings?

The published towing numbers conflict, so neither should be applied universally without documentation for the exact truck and configuration. A 2007 Saleen Owners and Enthusiasts Club specification card for the S331 Supercharged lists 7,000 pounds of towing capacity, alongside a 5,337-pound curb weight, 27-gallon fuel capacity and 1,500-pound payload. Motor Trend separately described a tow package rated at 9,500 pounds. The available sources do not reconcile the difference; confirm the rating from vehicle-specific documentation rather than selecting one figure as the S331-wide rating.

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What to check when assessing an S331

The model’s low reported production and modified F-150 underpinnings make individual documentation especially important. A surviving truck’s condition and identity cannot be established from the model name or a production-count claim alone.

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  • Match the truck’s identifying information and Saleen-specific documentation to the exact vehicle.
  • Confirm whether it is naturally aspirated or supercharged; the two versions have different reported outputs and mechanical complexity.
  • Inspect the supercharger and related systems on an equipped truck, and review maintenance and modification records.
  • Verify wheel, suspension, exhaust and body components against the configuration being represented; visual similarity alone does not prove authenticity.
  • Use vehicle-specific paperwork to establish towing and payload ratings, especially if those capacities matter for intended use.

Saleen’s timeline identifies the S331 as a 2007 model and describes its Thunder nickname and engine choices: Saleen timeline. Period specifications and road-test details come from Motor Trend’s S331 review and a 2007 Saleen Owners and Enthusiasts Club specification card. Car and Driver’s first-drive report covers launch pricing, while the production-count claim was repeated by ClassicCars.com Journal in 2022.

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