Ford Mustang SVT Cobra

1993 The 1993 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra was launched during the 1992 Chicago Auto Show. It was the premier vehicle of Ford's newly established SVT division, designed to showcase SVT's hallmarks. The exterior of the 1993 SVT Cobra was similar to that year's GT model with differences explained below. The upgrades featured a Ford small block engine#302| "5.0" V8 engine, rated at a power output of at 4,600 rpm and of torque at 4,000 rpm. According to Road & Track, the Mustang Cobra could complete a 1/4 mile in 14.5 seconds at a trap speed of . Acceleration from zero to took 5.9 seconds. The drivetrain received an upgraded transmission, rear disc brakes, and for the first time on a factory Mustang, 17-inch unidirectional wheels. Engine The 1993 SVT Cobra's short block (cylinder block, crankshaft, rods, and pistons) was carried over from the GT model. SVT engineers added the following performance items: • Cylinder heads — The GT-40 "High Flow" cast iron heads were installed. They were milled for 62.5 cc combustion chambers. The valves measured at the intake, and at the exhaust. The valves are actuated by Cobra-specific 1.7 ratio roller rockers, constructed of aluminum, and produced for Ford by Crane Cams. • Intake manifold — The Cobra upper manifold was unique to the 1993 Cobra and had a diameter round throttle body opening, diverting air into (8) round staggered ports, each in diameter. The lower manifold was identical to the GT-40 manifold used by Ford Racing; it redirects airflow to a rectangular port configuration as needed by the cylinder heads. • Camshaft — The cam is of the hydraulic roller type (same as the GT). However, the Cobra cam has unique specifications of intake/exhaust lift, (209°/209°) duration at , and a lobe separation of 118.3° • Air/Fuel Delivery — The increased airflow and fuel consumption of the Cobra required these upgraded components: Larger (compared to the GT) 24 lb/hr fuel injectors, MAF meter, throttle body, and matching EGR plate handle the increased air-intake of the motor. A specially calibrated X3Z EEC-IV engine control unit runs the system. • Accessories — The crankshaft pulley diameter decreased by 14% (as compared to the GT) in order to under-drive the alternator (automotive), air-conditioner, and smog pump, all to increase the power output. The water pump pulley was also decreased in diameter by the same amount in order to preserve the ratio of the pump's speed, and thus coolant flow. These smaller accessory pulleys necessitated a shorter serpentine belt. • Exhaust — To extract the maximum amount of power from the Cobra's powerplant, Ford engineers used tuned mufflers with lower restriction (as compared to the GT). While the factory headers and H-pipe remained the same, the tailpipes were similar to that of a Mustang LX 5.0 L (Sport) model in that they had straight stainless steel tips (instead of turn-down tips on the GT). This is because the Cobra had a revised rear fascia, allowing (unlike the GT) for an exposed dual exhaust. Drivetrain The Borg-Warner World Class T-5 transmission received an internal upgrade compared to the standard World Class T-5. This consisted of custom gearing for the first to third gears (which were reduced by 10% and hardened) while the fourth and fifth (hardened) gear was the same as standard T-5s found in the LX/GTs. The holding capacity of the Cobra's clutch was increased by way of a higher clamping force pressure plate using the same 10-inch diameter as the GT/LX. Suspension • The Cobra shocks and struts were sourced from Tokico and specifically valved for the car by SVT. The springs are linear-rate springs, which were slightly softer than the GT's progressive rate springs. The Cobra also features a smaller front anti-roll bar, as well as stiffer bushings in the rear upper control arms. Exterior Styling The Cobra featured a more subdued styling than the GT. Paint and Interior Trim The 1993 Cobra was available in four exterior paint choices, as shown in the table below. Interior color choices were opal gray cloth, black cloth, and opal gray leather. 1993 SVT Cobra base prices Cobra R The 1993 Cobra R was the first of three special Cobra R models produced. The "R" designation stood for "Race" and as per the name, the cars did not have a radio, speakers, wiring and antenna, air conditioner, foglights, sound deadener, rear seat, rear safety belts, rear carpeting, and roll-up cargo cover, among other items. The car had power steering, but no other power assist options. It has roll-up windows, manual door locks, and manually-adjustable mirrors. The manually-adjustable Opal Gray cloth bucket seats from the Mustang LX were lighter than the GT/Cobra sport seats, and a piece of thin gray carpeting secured by Velcro covered the bare hatch and rear seat area. The deletions reduced weight by 450 pounds, but this was somewhat offset by the necessary addition of heavy-duty hardware needed for competition. To stiffen the chassis, a strut tower brace was installed to tie the cowl together, and a pair of V-braces (used on all 1983–1993 Mustang convertibles) attached in an X-pattern tied the subframes together. The Cobra R featured Eibach springs that were too stiff for the street, but designed for a racetrack. The Cobra R also had adjustable Koni shocks and struts. The car also featured 13-inch Kelsey-Hayes vented rotors in front and 10.5-inch vented rotors in the back. According to Neil W. Ressler, the executive director of vehicle engineering for Ford Motor Company at the time and one of the founding fathers of SVT, the 1993 Cobra R's brakes "were the most expensive brakes ever fitted to a [production] ''Mustang. I bought the brakes for the R model out of my engineering budget. I wanted big brakes, and we didn't have them. The program couldn't afford it. Unbeknownst to the higher-ups at Ford, I spent like $2,100 per car to buy those big brakes. But the last thing I wanted was a fast car that didn't stop. We ended up putting good brakes on all those [Cobra R] vehicles."'' The same 5.0 L V8 from the Cobra was used in the Cobra R. However, the radiator was sourced from what was, by this time, two discontinued Fox-Platform mates: the Seventh-Generation Lincoln Continental and the Lincoln Continental Mark VII powered by the BMW M21 Turbo Diesel Engine, with a purge tank having been added to this Radiator for improved cooling. A power steering cooler (located behind the left foglight bezel) and an engine oil cooler were standard. The Cobra R wheels were actually the optional 17x8-inch five-lug wheels from the soon-to-be-released 1994 Mustang GT, but were painted gloss black and featured chrome lug covers. The standard tires were Goodyear Gatorbacks. To give the car better front-end geometry, lower control arms from the 1994 Mustang were fitted. Contrary to SVT's stated wishes, many Cobra R models were purchased by private collectors and never actually driven, but several competed successfully in the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) Firestone Grand Sport Series and Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) World Challenge Class B Series. Of the three Cobra R models produced, the 1993 model had the benefit of being the lightest and the smallest. A total of 107 Cobra R models were produced, and all were painted in Vibrant Red Clearcoat. According to Ford's announcement on April 7, 1993, the Cobra R was produced to take the Fox-bodied Mustang out in grand style, a "best of the last" model. According to SVT, the Cobra R can accelerate from zero to in 5.7 seconds and achieve a top speed of . 1993 Detailed Production Numbers Cobra Hatchback Cobra R Hatchback Total 1993 Production == 1994–1995: SN-95 small block Cobra ==

1994 Ford introduced the newly redesigned Mustang (code-named SN-95) in December 1993. It was the first major redesign since the third-generation Fox-bodied Mustang that was introduced for the 1979 model year. Known as Fox-4 (because it was based on the Fox platform as a 1994 model), the new 1994 Mustang was an improvement over the outgoing 1993 model. The new car's ride, handling, styling, ergonomics, and standard and optional equipment were improved from the previous model. However, the Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 and Pontiac Firebird Formula and Trans Am, that were redesigned for 1993, came standard with , while the 1994 Mustang GT engine produced . The 1994 Cobra was introduced midway through the model year with the same engine as the 1993 Cobra. With its GT-40 cast-iron heads and lower intake and its Cobra-specific upper intake, power increased to . However, the actual output of the Cobra's GT-40 enhanced engine was probably higher. Ford claimed 6.3 seconds to achieve 60 mph and a top speed of . Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords magazine tested a 1994 Cobra coupe and achieved a 0-60 mph acceleration time of 5.7 seconds and the quarter mile in 13.87 seconds at . Initially, the 1994 SVT Cobra was only available as a coupe, but the first factory-produced SVT Cobra convertible was the 1994 Indy 500 Pace Car Replica. On the same day that the new 1994 Cobra coupe was launched, SVT announced that it would be building a Cobra convertible (the first factory-produced "Cobra" convertible since the 1970 Shelby models) and that this convertible had been selected to pace the 1994 Indianapolis 500. The new Cobra convertible, or Indy 500 Pace Car Replica, was made available later in the 1994 model year. The 1994 Cobra offered refinements compared to lower trim level Mustang models. According to Jim Campisano's book Powered by SVT: Celebrating a Decade of Ford Performance, below is a list of items that set the 1994 SVT Cobra apart from the 1994 Mustang GT: Body and appearance components • Unique front fascia with round foglights (versus rectangular on GT). • Unique complex-reflector headlights. • 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. • Magnesium front seat cushion frames. • Unique Cobra floor mats. Engine and chassis • GT-40-style 5.0 L Cobra V8 engine (versus High Output 5.0 L V8 on GT). • 13-inch vented front disc brakes, 11.65-inch rear discs with dual-piston calipers, and standard ABS (versus 10.8" vented front discs, 10.5-inch rear discs with single-piston calipers, and optional ABS on GT). • Unique 17x8-inch cast-aluminum wheels. • Standard Goodyear GS-C P255/45ZR17 tires (versus Goodyear Eagle P225/55ZR16 standard on GT, P245/45ZR17 optional on GT). • Unique chassis tuning. Paint and interior trim The 1994 Cobra was available in three exterior paint colors, as shown in the table below. Interior color choices were black cloth, saddle cloth, black leather, and saddle leather. shown in the table below. Interior color choices were the same as in 1994: black cloth, saddle cloth, black leather, and saddle leather. On the 1995 Cobra convertible, the vinyl top was only available in black, and was the same one used on regular Mustang convertibles. 1995 SVT Cobra base prices All prices below are in United States dollars when the vehicles were sold new at a Ford dealership before any available options were added. Cobra R (1995) In the wake of the 1993 R's success, SVT engineers developed a more powerful R-model based on the 1995 Cobra. The Cobra's 5.0 L V8 was replaced with an SVT modified version of Ford's 5.8 L Windsor V8, re-engineered to have a power output of . A new 22-gallon fuel cell was installed. A Tremec 3550 5-speed manual transmission was standard. Weight savings were achieved by the deletion of the back seat, radio, power windows/seats, and air-conditioning. The fog lights were omitted to provide ducts for the front disk brakes. Additional changes included heavy-duty progressive-rate springs, thicker stabilizer bars, and a front strut tower brace. The 1995 R was available only in white with a saddle cloth interior, each with a unique center-tiered fiberglass hood designed to clear the engine and induction system. A total of 250 were built, with Ford keeping 18 examples for its press and engineering fleets. Unlike the 1993 Cobra R, purchasers of the new Cobra R were required to hold a valid competition license or own a race team. This was done after many 1993 R models had ended up in private hands as collector vehicles; however, several 1995 Rs were purchased by collector car owners. 1995 Detailed Production Numbers Cobra Coupe Cobra R Coupe Cobra Convertible Total 1994–1995 production ==1996–1998: SN-95 Modular Cobra==

}} }} }} 1996 For the 1996 model year, Ford retired the aging Ford small block engine#302| "5.0" V8 in the Mustang GT and SVT Cobra, with a new aluminum 4.6 L DOHC modular unit that was smoother and had slightly better fuel economy. Starting with the 1996 model year, every Cobra engine was hand-assembled by two-person teams at the Ford Romeo Engine Plant in Romeo, Michigan, a practice that continued through the remainder of SVT Cobra production. Each engine had a label (later, a metal plaque on the 2003–2004 Cobra engines) bearing the names and signatures of the two engine builders. The Romeo engine, as it was called, produced and of torque, enabling the new Cobra to go 0-60 mph in 5.9 seconds and do the quarter mile in 13.99 seconds at 101.6 mph. However, Car and Driver magazine was able to hit 60 mph in 5.4 seconds and the quarter mile in 14.00 seconds at 102 mph during a comparison test in their December 1995 issue. The 1996 Cobra engine redlined at 6,800 rpm, with fuel shut-off occurring at 7,000 rpm. Ford's modular V8 debuted in the 1991 Lincoln Town Car as a single-overhead-cam (SOHC) setup, and then the engine really displayed its power potential with 32 valves, dual overhead cams (DOHC), and in the all-new 1993 Lincoln Mark VIII. The modular engine's aluminum block was cast in Italy by Teksid, a firm that produces parts for Ferrari and Formula One racers. SVT fitted the 1996 Cobra with the Borg Warner T-45 5-speed manual transmission, 1996 detailed production numbers Cobra Coupe Cobra Convertible Total 1996 production 1997 The 1997 Cobra was basically a carryover of the 1996 model. The previous honeycomb grille was deleted to allow more airflow into the larger radiator that was standard on the entire Mustang lineup, and the 1997 Cobra had a larger diameter fan. Also new was a parallel-flow air conditioning condenser that was exclusive to the SVT Cobra. The rear spoiler was now optional, as it had been standard on all previous models. Paint and interior trim The only other major change for 1997 was in the color palette. The 1997 Cobra was available in four exterior colors. The interior choices were the same as what was offered in 1996: black cloth, saddle cloth, black leather, and saddle leather. On Cobra convertibles, the vinyl top was again available in black, saddle, or white, and was the same one used on regular Mustang convertibles. 1997 SVT Cobra base prices All prices below are in United States dollars when the vehicles were sold new at a Ford dealership before any available options were added. 1997 detailed production numbers Cobra Coupe Cobra Convertible Total 1997 production 1998 The 1998 Cobra remained mostly unchanged from previous model years. The wheels were similar to the cast-aluminum units used on the 1995 Cobra R, but the wheel cutouts were painted gray, and the wheels were 17x8-inch, instead of 17x9-inch versions on the 1995 Cobra R. Tires were the same BF Goodrich Comp T/A versions as before. Other minor changes included a redesigned console in which the dashboard-mounted digital clock pod was deleted, and the clock function was then integrated into the radio's digital display. Also, the standard premium sound system now included a single-disc CD player. This was also the last year of the return-style fuel system, as it was replaced with a newer returnless system for 1999. Paint and interior trim The 1998 Cobra was available in five exterior colors,. Chrome Yellow was added midyear on the 1998 Cobra. The interior choices were the same as before: black cloth, saddle cloth, black leather, and saddle leather. However, the leather pattern changed. On Cobra convertibles, the vinyl top was again available in black, saddle, or white, and was the same one used on regular Mustang convertibles. 1998 SVT Cobra base prices All prices below are in United States dollars when the vehicles were sold new at a Ford dealership before any available options were added. 1998 detailed production numbers Cobra Coupe Cobra Convertible Total 1996–1998 production == 1999–2001: New Edge Modular Cobra ==

}} }} }} }} }} 1999 For the 1999 model year, Ford restyled the fourth-generation Mustang utilizing Ford's New Edge design language. The facelifted car featured redesigned body panels that followed Ford's new worldwide styling direction. The interior was basically a carryover from the 1994–1998 Mustangs, and most of the parts were interchangeable. All 1999–2004 SVT Cobras featured independent rear suspension, the first to be fitted to a production Mustang model and unique to the Cobra. A new returnless fuel system was used to meet emission standards. The new 1999 Cobra had an upgraded 4.6 L DOHC V8 engine rated at and of torque. which came to pass when the Cobra returned two years after the 1999 performance debacle in 2001 with said changes. Paint and interior trim The 1999 Cobra was available in four exterior paint colors, as shown in the table below. Interior color choices were limited to two offerings: dark charcoal and medium parchment. The standard leather seats were the same optional leather units used in the 1999 Mustang GT, but without the embroidered running pony logo on the front seatbacks. Cloth seats were no longer offered on the Cobra, as they were never popular with buyers in previous model years. On Cobra convertibles, the vinyl top was available in black, parchment, or white, and was the same as used on regular 1999 Mustang convertibles. The new Cobra R became the sole high-performance Mustang for the 2000 model year, as plans to produce the standard Cobra for that model year were shelved after the public outcry over the performance of the 1999 Cobras. It came standard with a DOHC V8 engine with a 6,500 rpm redline that was rated at at 5,700 rpm and of torque at 4,500 rpm. However, independent dyno tests showed that the Cobra R produced rear-wheel output that nearly matched both of those numbers, suggesting the engine may have been underrated. The cast-iron block was based on the 5.4 L block that Ford used in its trucks at the time. The cylinder heads were later used in the 2005–2006 Ford GT, albeit slightly modified. Some sources claimed that the Australian FPV GT's engine was very similar to the Cobra R's engine. As with previous Cobra R models, the 2000 model lacked many of the comforts of the standard Cobra, and as such had no radio/audio equipment, air conditioning, cruise control, or a rear seat. 1999 Cobras had regular Mustang GT seats. • A rear bumper that reads "COBRA" to combat the rival Holden Monaro (which eventually formed the basis of the 2004–2006 Pontiac GTO in the U.S.). The vehicles were based on the 2001-spec SVT Cobra, and included modifications such as the steering wheel being mounted on the right hand side of the car rather than the left (to accommodate for the appropriate road traffic direction in the region), and other changes such as differently mounted windshield wipers (which wipe from left to right instead of right to left) and additional driving lights in the lower front fascia to meet Australian lighting specifications. Total 1999–2002 production ==2003–2004: Terminator Cobra== 2003 Debuting in the spring of 2002, the 2003 Cobra came with a supercharged, 32-valve DOHC, 4.6-liter V8 engine rated at and of torque. Code-named "Terminator" by the SVT development crew led by John Coletti, numerous improvements were made to the powertrain and driveline to handle the power increase from the previous model's set-up. A cast-iron block was used, instead of the previous Teksid aluminum unit, with stronger internals including Zollner pistons and forged Manley H-beam connecting rods that were modified with a wrist pin oiling hole by the SVT engineers. The 10th Anniversary models were only available in three exterior colors: Black (775 models), Torch Red (734 models), and Silver Metallic (494 models). The 10th Anniversary Edition package (order code 375A) was a $1,495 option. 2003 detailed production numbers Cobra Coupe Cobra Convertible Total 2003 production 2004 The 2004 Cobra was a carryover of the 2003 Cobra but with a few minor updates, including a slightly updated exhaust system and rumors of a 20+ horsepower increase over the 2003 model. The addition of a newly integrated shift light negated the $1,000 gas guzzler tax that was charged on the 2003 models. One notable new option across the entire Ford lineup was the available Sirius satellite radio; the distinguishing feature between the 2003 and 2004 factory sound systems was the "SAT" button on the 2004 system. The 2004 Cobra was produced between November 2003 and March 2004. It was a short model year for the 2004 Terminator Cobra, as well as the entire 2004 Mustang lineup, due to a number of reasons. The 2004 Mustangs and Cobras were the last Mustangs to be built at Ford's historic Dearborn Assembly Plant in Dearborn, Michigan, and Ford Motor Company had made the decision to end Mustang production there rather than updating the plant for the 2005 models. Thus, 2004 production was scheduled to wrap up by May 2004. Another reason was the hype over the all-new 2005 Mustang, which meant that Ford needed to start production as soon as possible at the newly updated Flat Rock Assembly Plant in Flat Rock, Michigan, then known as AutoAlliance International. Paint and interior trim The 2004 Cobra was available in eight exterior paint colors, as shown in the table below. Zinc Yellow was replaced by Screaming Yellow alongside the 2004 40th Anniversary Mustang GT and V6 models. According to SVT's press release, the Mystichrome Cobra was produced to help commemorate the Mustang's 40th anniversary year. As the Mystichrome paint is still very expensive, any kind of exterior damage to the car is financially problematic. If a damaged Mystichrome Cobra requires repainting at a reputable Ford dealer's body shop, a Ford employee from Dearborn headquarters is required to bring the paint in person and supervise the usage of the special paint. The damaged car must be verified that it is a factory-built Mystichrome Cobra. Once the body shop is finished using the Mystichrome paint, all unused paint must be put back in the can and sealed, and the supervising Ford employee returns to Dearborn with the unused paint. SVT worked with Garden State Tanning to produce the Mystichrome leather found on the car's seat inserts and the steering wheel at the 10, 2, and 6 o'clock positions. The production process for the Mystichrome leather included tanning and dying the leather jet black, spraying the Mystichrome paint directly onto the leather, and sealing it with a clear layer to protect and prevent damage to the Mystichrome-painted leather. The Mystichrome Appearance Package (order code 68M), as it was officially called by Ford, was a $3,650 option. A definitive history of the Terminator Cobra and John Coletti's SVT operations was captured in the non-fiction book Iron Fist, Lead Foot by Frank Moriarty. File:2004 Mystichrome front.JPG|The front of a 2004 Mystichrome Cobra coupe. File:2004 Mystichrome seats.JPG|The seats of a 2004 Mystichrome Cobra coupe. File:2004 Mystichrome rear.JPG|The rear of a 2004 Mystichrome Cobra coupe. File:Ford Mustang Cobra Mystichrome Interior.jpg|Mystichrome Cobra interior 2004 detailed production numbers Cobra Coupe Cobra Convertible Total 2003–2004 production ==References==