1 of 1 Saleen.....Windstar?!

Filed away in ideas that never quite made it to production lies this one off, Saleen Windstar minivan. Outrageous customized minivans have been around since the hippie days, and we've seen lots of modified ones, including a V8 powered Aerostar. But we recently came across this gem on eBay, a prototype produced for Tim "Tool Time" Allen.

This isn't just a Windstar with a Saleen sticker and some ground effects. This is a real, live Saleen with custom-made carbon fiber mirrors, valve covers and steering wheel. The double-nostril hood is custom-made as is the gauge cluster and the fender flares over the Z-rated 18-inch Rikens. Underhood is a Saleen supercharger atop the Ford V6. The eBay auction says more than $100,000 was spent on the monster minivan's production.

Tim Allen originally teamed up with Saleen to try and produce this version of the Windstar, but when Ford ceased production of the van all plans were cancelled.

Luckily the van wasn't, and lately has been used as a promotional tool for Port-A-Board, a company that makes collapsible skateboards. It was founded by Brett Gregory, who is a producer of Tim Allen's upcoming movie. And since the Saleen Windstar is still in the family, the winning bidder can choose to have a photo session with their new vehicle and Tim Allen himself. After six bids, the auction is up to $3,650 without hitting the reserve. You can place your bid here.

Discovery HD to air three part series on Mustang Challenge

It's been over a year since Ford revealed the FR500S Mustang at SEMA in Las Vegas, but the road racer has already been through an entire season of races. The Discovery Channel has been at each race capturing all the action from the first green to the final checkered flag, and will be airing a three part series on HD Theater starting December 7 from 8-9 PM ET with the next episodes running on the following two Sundays. The show will feature footage from in-car HD cameras as well as the off-track challenges of each team.

PRESS RELEASE:

(Silver Spring, MD) – Throughout this summer, HD Theater's WHY WE RACE: THE MUSTANG CHALLENGE has been capturing the rivalry, competitive drive and racing drama of the inaugural Ford Racing Mustang Challenge for the Miller Cup. This new professional road racing series, co-developed by Ford Racing and Miller Motorsports Park, features professional racers utilizing the Ford Mustang FR500S in an eight-race schedule across North America. WHY WE RACE: THE MUSTANG CHALLENGE premieres on HD Theater on Sunday, December 7 from 8-9 PM ET and runs for three consecutive Sundays.

HD Theater is a premier offering from Discovery Communication's family of high-definition networks and it is exclusively available in 1080i and 5.1 digital surround sound on high-definition platforms nationwide.

WHY WE RACE: THE MUSTANG CHALLENGE features the thrill of this high-speed racing series from start to finish and all of the crumpled fenders and dented egos in between. Through the use of tiny HD cameras mounted inside the racing cars, HD Theater's audience rides shotgun through each hairpin turn and serpentine chicane. While the drivers' racing experience ranges from raw rookies to hardened veterans, the racing competition proves dramatic with close finishes, bump and grind position changes and hard-hitting crashes. Every Ford Mustang FR500S in the series is identically prepared, making success a product of each driver's skill of holding their lines in the corners, going flat-out down the straight-aways and avoiding the tire barriers, walls and other competitors.

In addition, cameras follow the racing teams to capture the unique racing culture of the series off the track and each team's ambition for success. The Ford Racing Mustang Challenge for the Miller Cup features a diverse set of racing teams ranging from father-son duos following a passion for speed to well-financed enterprises featuring multiple race cars, drivers and full crews of mechanics.

WHY WE RACE: THE MUSTANG CHALLENGE showcases dramatic stories of triumph including 20-year-old Andrew Caddell's consistent podium appearances among the racing series' elite, as well as the harsh reality of how a devastating crash can financially undercut a race team's ability to continue to compete.