2001 Ford Mustang Cobra SVT

Description

Ford invested heavily in the Cobra to make it different from the GT, and by 2001, the Cobra was a world-class performance car with a silky-smooth 32-valve V8, chiseled lines that were also traditional, and a leather-lined interior that looked like it belonged in a much more expensive car. Today, these are screaming bargains, offering 300-horsepower performance for pennies on the dollar.

The truly shocking thing about this 2001 Cobra convertible is that it's almost completely unmodified. If you're familiar with Mustangs, then you're familiar with the world's biggest performance aftermarket, and it's downright amazing that none of those hop-up parts have found their way onto this car. Obviously owned by a serious collector, this black Cobra keeps to the stock look, with only a clear nose protector deviating from the factory spec. The paint is incredibly well-preserved and shows off a lifetime of being waxed on Saturdays and driven gently to shows, but never raced or abused. Cobras received their own front and rear fascias, so they're easy to identify on the roll, and they weren't so crazy low that the chin took a beating. This car looks months old, not years, and given the usual life of a Mustang, that's a rare find indeed.

The two-tone tan leather interior is simply gorgeous. Is this really a Mustang? Suede inserts are grippy, which is what you want in a car that can corner like this, and there are Cobra emblems everywhere you look (what, was this car built by Carroll Shelby?). Cobras came only one way: loaded. As a result, things like A/C, power windows, locks, and driver's seat, cruise control, and a tilt wheel were standard equipment. The seats show almost no wear, again a testament to both the quality of the Cobra and the care it has received. Everything works, of course, and your new Cobra only came with a manual gearbox in 2001. A power convertible top straps down easily and offers a clean profile when it's stowed, and even the trunk is reasonably-sized for a weekend getaway.

The 4.6-liter DOHC V8 rips through the gears with a zeal that the old 5.0 could only dream of. Smooth and willing to rev, it was highly developed by Ford to represent the very best powerplant they could muster. The bottom-end was virtually indestructible and the heavy-breathing heads made it feel like it could pull forever. And yes, there are an insane number of performance upgrades available, none of which made it on to this car. That means no street racing, no abuse, no questionable workmanship, making this the right car for the guy who appreciates a great pedigree. The 5-speed manual transmission snaps through the gears easily and the 8.8-inch rear end will stand up to the 4.6 for years to come. The chassis is a lot stouter than the old 5.0 you remember, and with special suspension tuning, the Cobra actually rides rather well. Giant 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS take the drama out of all that horsepower and live behind some of the most gorgeous wheels ever fitted to a Ford. Those polished alloys carry stock-sized 255/45/17 performance radials, so it's ready to rock.

With just 18,211 original miles and a bunch of original SVT documentation, this is an awesome way to get some top-down Mustang fun with big horsepower without breaking the bank. Call today!