Mustang SVT Cobra: Everything You Need To Know
Few words conjure up more fear, awe, and inspiration than the word āCobraā. No, weāre not talking about the deeply feared species of snake that terrorizes tropical climates all over the world and can get up 19 feet long. Weāre talking about hardcore, performance-enhanced muscle cars and sports cars from the minds of legends like Carroll Shelby and Fordās very own Special Vehicle Team. Few things make the hearts of enthusiasts skip a beat more than a great vehicle made even better and the Mustang SVT Cobra was one of the best examples of what happens when the right people come together at the right time.
Thatās right! Ford had their very own version of the famous Cobra nameplate that made its way to the scene way back in 1993, consequently, the very last year of the famous Fox Body Mustang that would define an entire generation of enthusiasts.
Weāre going to cover everything you need to know about the Ford Mustang SVT Cobra. From the introduction in 1993, all the way through to its demise in 2004. There is a fantastic story and deep history behind these awesome machines that are just begging to be told:
1993 Fox Body Mustang SVT Cobra 1994-1998 SN95 SVT Mustang Cobra 1999-2001 āNew Edgeā SVT Mustang Cobra 2003-2004 āTerminatorā SVT Mustang Cobra Cobra R Models
1993 Fox Body Mustang SVT Cobra
The 1993 Mustang SVT Cobra made its debut in 1993 at the Chicago Auto Show to a crowd of eager enthusiasts and Mustang fanatics alike. Ford had just launched the now-ubiquitous SVT division on the heels of the defunct SVO group and the 1993 Cobra was their opportunity to showcase a division that would bring performance, substance, exclusivity, and value to the Blue Oval. Joining the Mustang on stage at the Chicago Auto Show was the F-150 Lightning truck, yet another incredibly ambitious project from the men and women at Ford.
1993 was the last year of the Fox Body Mustang; a vehicle that had revived and cemented Ford as a leader in muscle car technology, affordability, and style. Although it looked like a complete package to consumers, insiders at Ford completed the development of the Cobra in record time. Rather than source new parts, Ford decided to roll with a modified 5.0 V-8 from the Mustang GT that utilized GT-40 heads and lower intake, unique upper intake, unique valves, and free-flowing exhaust. The Tremec 5-speed manual offered a hefty shift weight and internals that could handle this vehicleās performance mission.
Underneath, bigger brakes and uniquely tuned suspension helped the 1993 Cobra remain compliant in the corners, while the huge (for the time) 17 inch, propeller inspired wheels kept things planted. Unique exterior and interior styling cues distinguished the Cobra from lesser Mustangs. The front fascia and SVO style tail lamp array are some of the most unique pieces of the exterior design. Inside, not too many changes were present in the already sporty cockpit.
1994 was going to bring with it an all-new Mustang and an all-new Cobra to boot.
1993 Mustang SVT Cobra: The Numbers
Vehicle Specification | Statistic |
---|---|
Engine | |
Type | 90-degree, OHV Windsor V-8 |
Displacement | 5.0L / 302 CID |
Horsepower | 235 hp @ 4600 rpm |
Torque | 280 lb.-ft. @ 4000 rpm |
Bore x Stroke | 4.0 in. x 3.0 in. |
Compression | 9.0:1 |
Suspension | |
Front | Modified MacPherson strut-type, coil springs, anti-roll bar |
Rear | Rigid axle located by four trailing links, coil springs, anti-roll bar |
Brakes | |
Front | 10.84 in. vented disc |
Rear | 10.07 in. vented disc |
ABS | N/A |
Wheels/Tires | |
Wheels | 17 x 7.5 in cast aluminum |
Tires | Goodyear P245/45ZR-17 BSW |
Performance | |
0-60 MPH | 5.9 seconds |
60-0 MPH Braking | 140 feet |
1/4-mile @ MPH | 14.5 sec @ 98 mph |
Production | |
Black | 1,854 |
Vibrant Red | 1,784 (1,775 Clearcoat / Paint Code ES) (9 Non-Clearcoat / Paint Code EY) |
Teal | 1,355 |
Total Produced | 4,993 |
1994 - 1998 SN95 SVT Mustang Cobra
For 1994, Ford brought an entirely enhanced Mustang to market. Internally dubbed the SN95, this Mustang continued its approach to affordable, attainable performance. The Cobra model would soldier on with minimal changes to its GT-40 enhanced powertrain but clever tuning from the SVT team would see horsepower jump to 240 from 235 and performance figures that would also incrementally increase.
Much like the 1993 model, there was a host of interior and parts that visually separated the 1994 Cobra from a standard GT model:
- Unique front fascia (versus rectangular on GT).
- Chrome Cobra badges on front fenders (versus GT emblems).
- Unique rear spoiler with integrated LED stop lamp (versus the non-LED stop lamp integrated into the decklid on GT).
- 160-mph speedometer, white-faced instrument gauges, and black lettering (versus 150-mph speedometer, black-faced gauges, and white lettering in GT).
- Leather-wrapped shift knob, boot, and parking brake (Cobra only).
- Magnesium front seat-cushion frames (Cobra only).
- Unique Cobra floor mats
What made this generation of Cobra so unique was the introduction of a convertible Cobra for the first time since 1970. Debuting as a pace car for the 1994 Indianapolis 500, Ford celebrated the 30th anniversary of Mustang with a trio of unique Cobras. Each of the three pace cars was modified by Jack Roush for pace-car duty, and eventually, Ford would go on to sell a replica of the pace car in extremely limited quantities. Only 1000 were produced!
1996 saw a major change to the Cobra lineup with the adoption of Fordās DOHC, modular V-8 architecture. The āRomeo Engine,ā as it came to be known, produced a stout 305 horsepower and was hand-built by two Ford techs. Each Romeo Engine utilized an aluminum block that was cast by Italian firm, Teksid, who built engines for championship-winning Formula 1 teams. The Romeo was an incredible engine and would go on to serve as the basis for future generations of Cobraās and non Cobraās alike.
Minimal changes would persist through subsequent years until an introduction of an all-new Mustang in 1999 that would be dubbed the āNew Edgeā Mustang.
1995 Mustang SVT Cobra: The Numbers
Vehicle Specification | Statistic |
---|---|
Engine | |
Type | 90-degree, OHV Windsor V-8 |
Displacement | 5.0L / 302 CID |
Horsepower | 240 hp @ 4800 rpm |
Torque | 285 lb.-ft. @ 4000 rpm |
Bore x Stroke | 4.0 in. x 3.0 in. |
Compression | 9.0:1 |
Suspension | |
Front | Modified MacPherson strut type with separate spring on lower arm, 400 lbs./in. linear-rate coil springs, 25mm stabilizer bar |
Rear | Rigid axle, four trailing links, two leading hydraulic links, 160 lbs./in. linear-rate coil springs, 27mm stabilizer bar |
Brakes | |
Front | 13 in. vented disc |
Rear | 11.65 in. vented disc |
ABS | Power Assist, four wheel brakes with anti-lock |
Wheels/Tires | |
Wheels | 17 x 8 in. 5-spoke cast aluminum |
Tires | Goodyear Eagle GS-C P255/45ZR-17 |
Performance | |
0-60 MPH | 6.3 seconds |
60-0 MPH Braking | 140 feet (Est.) |
1/4-mile @ MPH | 14.1 seconds @ 101 mph |
Production | |
Red Coupe | 1,908 |
Red Convertible | 1,000 |
Black Coupe | 1,795 |
White Coupe | 1,306 |
Total Coupes Produced | 5,009 |
Total Convertibles Produced | 1,000 (Indianapolis 500 Pace Car Replicas) |
Total Produced | 6,009 |
1999 - 2001 āNew Edgeā SVT Mustang Cobra
The now semi-infamous āNew Edgeā Mustang made its debut in 1999 and along with this all-new Mustang, came an all-new SVT Cobra that would introduce a unique suspension component that would take the SVT from mere muscle car to full-blown sports car. Fordās design team pulled in the sharp design cues from the original Mustang and modernized their design to include creases, sharp lines, and flat angles. This was a huge departure from the previous generation, although underneath, the New Edge Mustang was based on the SN95 of the previous generation.
The biggest news was out back where the Ford team ditched the solid axle of lesser Mustangs and installed (for the first time ever) a fully independent rear suspension or IRS. The IRS brought the Mustang into the 21st century and set a new benchmark for what a muscle car could be. This was no straight line only āStang! It was designed to go around corners like a European sports car while still being propelled by the beating heart of an American Pony car. SVT also moved the Cobra to whopping 13ā Brembo brakes to keep all this speed in check.
Speaking of beating hearts, how does 320 raging horsepower sound? The magicians at Ford's SVT extracted another 15 ponies out of the DOHC modular V-8 by utilizing race car technology known as ātumble portā heads. Inside was an all-new interior set off with features like standard leather and upgraded āMachā stereo systems. All in all, this was an incredible set of upgrades that would set the basis for Mustangs for years to come.
A fantastic side story is the 2000 model that never was. When introduced in 1999, Cobra owners were disgruntled because their newer, more powerful Cobra was producing 0-60 times SLOWER than the 1998 model. Owners took to shops and dyno tests showed that the 1999 Cobra was indeed only producing around 285 horsepower, which was well shy of its 320 hp rating. As a result, Ford pulled all unsold 1999 models from the lot and recalled all those that were sold to fix the issue. Yikes!
The Cobra skipped the entire next production year for all but the Mustang R variant to ensure that the motors in their vehicles were putting out a true 320 HP at the crank.
1999-2001 Mustang SVT Cobra: The Numbers
Vehicle Specification | Statistic |
---|---|
Engine | |
Type | 90-degree, DOHC 32-Valve V-8 |
Displacement | 4.6L / 281 CID |
Horsepower | 320 hp @ 6000 rpm |
Torque | 317 lb.-ft. @ 4750 rpm |
Bore x Stroke | 3.55 in. x 3.54 in. |
Compression | 9.85:1 |
Suspension | |
Front | Modified gas-charged MacPherson strut type with separate 500 lb./in. spring on lower arm, 29mm tubular stabilizer bar |
Rear | Multi-link independent, steel upper control arm, fixed toe-control tie rod, aluminum spindle, gas-charged tubular shock absorber, 470 lb./in. coil spring, 26mm tubular stabilizer bar |
Brakes | |
Front | 13 in. vented Brembo disc, PBR twin-piston caliper |
Rear | 11.65 in. vented disc, single-piston caliper |
ABS | Three channel, four-sensor ABS system, linked to all-speed traction control |
Wheels/Tires | |
Wheels | 17 x 8 in. 5-spoke forged aluminum |
Tires | BFGoodrich Comp T/A P245/45ZR-17 |
Performance | |
0-60 MPH | 5.4 seconds |
60-0 MPH Braking | 127 feet |
1/4-mile @ MPH | 13.8 seconds @ 102 mph |
Production | |
Black Coupes | 1,619 |
Black Convertibles | 1,755 |
Red Coupes | 1,219 |
Red Convertibles | 1,251 |
White Coupes | 794 |
White Convertibles | 731 |
Green Coupes | 408 |
Green Convertibles | 318 |
Total Coupes Produced | 4,040 |
Total Convertibles Produced | 4,055 |
Total Produced | 8,095 |
2003 - 2004 āTerminatorā SVT Mustang Cobra
Although the 2003 Mustang may look similar to the 1999 model on the outside, what made it really special was under the hood. Dubbed āThe Terminatorā, the SVT strapped an Eaton Supercharger to the already incredibly powerful Cobra V-8 to produce one of the fastest Mustangs that Ford had ever produced. Power was a magical 390 horsepower and 390 lb. ft. of street ripping torque and it was sent through a standard 6-speed manual gearbox.
SVT offered the 2003 - 2004 Cobra in both Coupe and Convertible variants along with a slew of special edition packages and colors such as the highly sought after āmystichromeā color for 2004. 2004 was the last model year for the SN95 based Mustang and it was also the last year that Mustangs were built in their birthplace; Dearborn, Michigan. As such, the 2004 models are especially coveted by collectors across the world and many ended up in personal collections or museums.
The Cobra name was also on the way out, and would eventually be replaced in spirit by the Shelby Mustangs of the mid-ā00s and beyond.
2003-2004 Mustang SVT Cobra: The Numbers
Vehicle Specification | Statistic |
---|---|
Engine | |
Type | 90-degree, DOHC 32-Valve supercharged V-8 |
Displacement | 4.6L / 281 CID |
Horsepower | 390 hp @ 6000 rpm |
Torque | 390 lbs.-ft. @ 3500 rpm |
Bore x Stroke | 3.55 in. x 3.54 in. |
Compression | 8.5:1 |
Suspension | |
Front | Modified MacPherson strut system gas-charged Bilstein monotube dampeners and separate 600 lb./in. (500 lb./in. on convertible) spring on lower arm, 29mm tubular stabilizer bar |
Rear | Multi-link independent, cast-iron upper control arm, aluminum lower control arm, gas-charged Bilstein monotube shock absorbers, 600 lb./in. (470 lb./in. on convertible) coil spring, 26mm tubular stabilizer bar |
Brakes | |
Front | 13 in. vented Brembo disc, PBR twin-piston caliper |
Rear | 11.65 in. vented disc, single-piston caliper |
ABS | Four channel, four-sensor ABS system |
Wheels/Tires | |
Wheels | 17 x 9 in. 5-spoke cast aluminum |
Tires | Goodyear Eagle F1 P275/40ZR-17 |
Performance | |
0-60 MPH | 4.8 seconds |
60-0 MPH Braking | 116 feet |
1/4-mile @ MPH | 13.01 seconds @ 110.7 mph |
Production | |
Black Coupes | 2,251 |
Black Convertibles | 1,679 |
Blue Coupes | 1,052 |
Blue Convertibles | 355 |
Silver Metallic Coupes | 992 |
Silver Metallic Convertibles | 548 |
Redfire Metallic Coupes | 955 |
Redfire Metallic Convertibles | 610 |
Dark Shadow Grey Coupes | 851 |
Dark Shadow Grey Convertibles | 446 |
Torch Red Coupes | 638 |
Torch Red Convertibles | 582 |
Oxford White Coupes | 621 |
Oxford White Convertibles | 308 |
Zinc Yellow Coupes | 490 |
Zinc Yellow Convertibles | 319 |
Mineral Gray Coupes | 302 |
Mineral Gray Convertibles | 154 |
Satin Silver Coupes | 242 |
Satin Silver Convertibles | 81 |
Total Coupes Produced | 8,394 |
Total Convertibles Produced | 5,082 |
Total Produced | 13,476 |
SVT Cobra R Models
The āRā stands for Race and these 3 Cobra variants were purpose-built by the team at SVT to hit the track and dominate; right off the factory floor.
1993 Mustang SVT Cobra R
The first and last Fox Body Cobra R was an extremely exclusive build with only 107 models being produced. Ford simultaneously beefed up the hardware for the riggers on the track, while also shedding 450 pounds via deletion of everything from the radio and air conditioner to the rear seats. The chassis was stiffened via X braces, new Eibach springs, and fully adjustable Koni shocks were placed at all 4 corners with huge Kelsey-Hayes vented rotors up front and out back. Collectors and museum owners almost immediately snatched these up, and hardly any were actually raced. Ford was not happy about this.
1995 Mustang SVT Cobra R
Fordās extremely popular SN95 Mustang was the basis for the 1995 Cobra R model. Ford dropped the 5.0 and instead went for a modified version of the 5.8L Windsor V-8 and power was a prodigious 300 horsepower flat, flowing through a Tremec 5 speed. Many of the same weight-saving tricks were employed on the 1995 Cobra R as the original 1993. Crucially, unique to the 1995 model was that Ford required buyers to have a valid competition license or own a race team to even purchase the Cobra R! They were upset the 1993 R had been picked up by collectors and wanted to ensure that didnāt happen again. This R was ready for the track.
2000 Mustang SVT Cobra R
In an interesting twist, the only 2000 Cobra model is the R variant! The list of performance enhancements includes Brembo brakes, competition-spec BFG tires, and a massive 5.4 L V-8 under the hood that produced a stout 385 horsepower. If that displacement sounds familiar, thatās because Ford pulled the iron āTritonā block in for duty from their very own F-150 truck! Power was put down through a close-ratio 6-speed manual gearbox from Getrag (a first for a Mustang). The last of the R models also utilized a functional spoiler and Eibach springs and shocks to keep things in check. This was an incredible performance car for the time and it is still one of the most sought after variants of the Mustang.
Source: Ford Performance | Road & Track