The relationship between Ford Motor Company and the name "Cobra" goes back more than three decades. The Cobra name was originally conceived and used by Carrol Shelby on the famous Cobra roadsters.
In 1960, Ford was developing a new powerplant that would go beyond the norm in power, efficiency and refinement. The engine was originally known as the Fairlane V-8. At about the same time, A.C. Cars Ltd. of Surrey, England, was looking for a new supply of engines for the Ace, its lightweight roadster. When Shelby tied the two together, the A.C. Cobra was born and history was made.
Cobra soon became a household word and became inextricably linked with Ford's "Total Performance" program in the early and middle 1960s. Before that tumultuous decade was out, Cobras had won scores of races around the world and wrested the coveted World Manufacturer's Championship for GT cars away from Ferrari - which had held it in an iron grip for 12 years.
A legend and an image were born. Over the last 30 years, Ford Motor Company has cast a number of high-visibility products bearing the Cobra name in the image, if not the likeness, of that original limited-edition version of the Mustang. the SVT Mustang Cobra continues the performance tradition to this day.
The history of the Cobra marque is a high-performance narrative spanning three decades.
1962
Shelby brings the Fairlane 260 engine and the A.C. Ace roadster together to form the A.C. Cobra. It's best known simply as the Cobra.
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A.C. Cobra's were powered by 260, 289, 427 and 428 Ford engines. It's a little known fact that many 427 Cobras were actually powered by 428 engines.
1965
Shelby creates a limited-edition, ultra high-performance version of the immensely popular Mustang and calls it the GT 350. GT 350's are adorned with Cobra insignias such as on the gas cap, center steering wheel hub and Cobra lettering on the engine's intake manifold and valve covers.
The GT 350's engine was a slightly modified version of the 289 "K" High Performance Mechanical Lifter engine. The GT 350's captured the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) national road-race championships in 1965, '66 and '67.
Shelby Mustang GT 350's were manufactured from 1965-1970. Pictured above is a 1965 model.
1967
Shelby introduces the all new GT 500. GT 350's are still offered, but continue to be powered by small block engines. GT 500's are all powered by modified big block 428 Police Interceptor engines. The GT 500's do something the Mustang 390 GT's couldn't do. . . .murder the SS-396 Camaro. The A.C. Cobra roadster is discontinued.
The 1967 GT 500's engine was a modified 428 Police Interceptor with dual Holley 4V Carburetors.
1968
Shelby GT Mustangs are now called Shelby Cobras. The GT 500's still come factory equipped with the same modified 428 Police Interceptor engine; however, only use a single 4V Holley Carburetor.
By mid year 1968, the GT 500 is dropped and replaced by the GT 500 KR (KR for King of the Road).
The GT 500 KR's use the new 428 CJ instead of the 428 Police Interceptor. During that same time, Ford also makes the 428 CJ optional on Cougars and Mustangs.
The GT 350 was now available with Ford's new 302, which replaced the 289. The 302 powered GT 350 was available with an optional SuperCharger.
By this time, Shelby was no longer a factor in the build of the Shelby Mustang.
The 428 Cobra Jet also appears in the Shelby Cobra GT 500 KR (KR for King of the Road).
1969
Performance enhancements along with special body and engine identification combine in the limited-edition Ford Fairlane Cobra. Ford drops the GT 500 KR and re-introduces the GT 500. The GT 350 drops the 302 engine and now comes standard with the new 351 Windsor 4V engine. This would be the last year for Shelby Mustang production - it would also be the last year in which the 428 CJ engine would be offered in all models.
1970
The new Ford Torino and Mercury Cyclone are introduced with the all new 429 Cobra Jet engine. A Cobra performance package with body and engine identification is a part of the model lineup. The 1970 Cougar and Mustang continue to use the 428 Cobar Jet engine, although this would be the last year a 428 Cobra Jet would be offered. Shelby Mustangs are still available, but they are re-titled 1969 models that didn't sell during the 1969 model year. This would be the last year a Shelby Mustang would be offered.
1970 Mercury Montego with the all new 429 Cobra Jet engine.
The last of the Shelby Mustangs were the 1970 models. 1970's were actually left over 1969 models that didn't sell, so Ford re-titled them as 1970's.
1971
Two new Cobra Jet engines appear in 1971. This would be the last year in which an engine would be identified with the Cobra name until 1993.
The first engine, the 351 CJ would be based off of the 351 Cleveland. It would appear in the Mustang until 1973 and in the Cougar until 1974.
The second engine, the 429 CJ would be the last big block Cobra Jet offered. It was only available for one calendar year - 1971.
1975
Mustang again dons the Cobra name, which comes with a bold exterior graphics package. Power comes from a 302-2V engine pumping out a not so impressive 110 horsepower.
The Mustang Cobra II was offered from 1975-1978. Pictured above is a 1975 model.
1978
The King Cobra Appears as the Mustang's answer to the Pontiac TransAm Bandit Special. Even though the King Cobra name is used, power still comes from a 302-2V that could only muster 110 horsepower.
1978 Mustang King Cobra
1979
The Fox-bodied Mustang debuts, featuring a Cobra model. Once again it's just a tape and graphics package.
1981 Mustang Cobra
1984
The made-in-the-USA Mustang GT Cobra debuts in Canada. These are extremely rare models.
1993
Ford Motor Company's Special Vehicle Team (SVT) introduces the 1993 Mustang Cobra and 4,993 are built. This specially engineered sports coupe featuring a high-output 5.0-liter V-8 is sold only through select Ford dealers. A lightweight competition version, the Cobra R, is also introduced. Intended primarily for hard-core SCCA club racing, only 107 of these nonetheless street-legal models with enhanced suspension, engine cooling and brakes are built.
1993 Mustang "R" Cobra. The "R" is for race
1994
Along with the rest of the Mustang line, the Cobra moves to the all-new SN95 Fox-IV platform. Cobra is selected as the Official Pace Car of the Indianapolis 500 and a specially modified convertible is built to lead the race. To commemorate the honor, 1,000 Official Pace Car Replicas are produced for retail sale. All of these convertibles have Rio Red Clearcoat exteriors, Saddle tops and leather-trimmed Saddle interiors. They are highly sought after by collectors. A total of 5,009 Cobra coupes are built.
1995
Cobra's exclusivity is further enhanced when only 4,005 coupes are built. Following the pattern set the previous year, the Cobra convertible is available in only one color scheme: Black Clearcoat exterior, Black top, and leather-trimmed Saddle interior; production of these is limited to 1,003. The first Cobra R model since 1993 is produced (pictured below), powered by a 300 horsepower 5.8-liter V-8. Only 250 versions of this street-legal competition model are built.
1995 Mustang "R" Cobra. The "R" is for race.
1996
A new chapter is written in Mustang history as a special version of the 4.6-liter four-valve V-8 powers the 305-horsepower Cobra.
Ford 4.6 litre V-8 engine.
1999
A major sheet-metal makeover distinguishes the SVT Mustang Cobra exterior, but the best news is under the new skin. The 4.6-liter 4-valve V-8 engine is upgunned to 320 horsepower, and the list of standard equipment includes sophisticated, all-speed traction control. For the first time in pony-car history, the Cobra exclusively features an independent rear suspension (IRS).
Copyright 1999
Warner Robert Publications
All Rights Reserved
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