Any production car capable of scorching the ¼-mile in under 13 seconds is guaranteed to command respect, which is the case with this 2000 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra R. Twenty-three years have passed since it rolled off the showroom floor, and its performance still stands up against more modern offerings. SVT only produced three hundred of these cars, and it is rare for one to hit the market. However, this one needs a new home. The seller listed it here on eBay in Corona, California. They set a BIN of $75,000 with the option to make an offer.
For Ford enthusiasts in 2000, the SVT Cobra R represented the ultimate high-performance model. Its styling left little to subtlety, with an enormous rear wing, a front spoiler with a removable splitter, 18″ wheels that afforded a clear view of the Brembo brakes, a side-exit exhaust, and a racing-style Fuel Safe fuel cell visible from the sides and rear hanging below the rear bumper. This Cobra retains those features and is #268 from the production run of three hundred vehicles. The company offered a single paint shade of Performance Red, so there are no prizes for guessing what color graces this car’s panels. The overall presentation is good, but it is worth noting that it isn’t perfect. There is a collection of small chips and marks on the prone front spoiler and splitter and a seam split on the hood’s leading edge. Addressing the problems would be a walk in the park for any paint shop, and most potential buyers would choose that option. The hood is worthy of special mention as it is a unique item featuring a “power dome” to clear the beast under the hood. The panels are straight, and life in California has left this classic rust-free. The wheels are in good order, as is the glass.
Now we can sink our teeth into what transformed the already impressive 2000 Mustang into the fire-breathing SVT Cobra R. The engine bay houses a handbuilt 5.4-liter DOHC V8 equipped with upgraded cylinder heads, a vastly improved intake, an aggressive camshaft grind, tubular headers, and a Borla side-exit exhaust to churn out an “official” 385hp. I use the term “official” carefully because independent dyno testing in 2000 revealed that power figure was available at the rear wheels. The horses feed via a six-speed Tremec T-56 manual transmission to a Gerodisc hydromechanical rear end. The mechanical package is rounded out by Brembo brakes and lowered Eibach springs and shocks. Performance is all you might expect, with this classic capable of demolishing the ¼-mile in 12.8 seconds. It is only aerodynamic drag that prevents it from scorching beyond 170mph. This Cobra R is in excellent mechanical health, with a fully documented ownership and service history. It has a genuine 32,100 miles on the clock and is a turnkey proposition for its new owner.
They say that less is more, which is undoubtedly true of the Cobra R. Occupants are not overwhelmed by luxury appointments because there is no air conditioning, power seats, or stereo as standard from the factory. It is a genuine two-seater, with the back seat deleted during the build. The driver and passenger are gripped tightly by cloth-upholstered Recaro seats, with the driver confronted by a cluster of white-faced gauges. This car’s interior is in excellent order, with no wear or physical damage. The seller added a sound system to relieve boredom on long journeys but includes the blanking plates to reverse the change. A touch of practicality comes in the form of a pair of Simpson full racing harnesses that should clamp the driver and passenger firmly in their seats. The only factory creature comforts worth noting are power windows, power locks, power mirrors, and a rear defogger.
And that’s the view most owners hoped the opposition would receive of their 2000 Mustang SVT Cobra R as it sailed off into the distance. The car undoubtedly possessed the potential to achieve that because this was as hard-edged as a Mustang could be in 2000. This car presents well, but it isn’t perfect. Their rests part of its attraction because a new owner could enjoy all it offers without the fear that an errant stone will compromise its condition. With only 300 cars built, it is a relatively rare beast. If something special wearing a Blue-Oval badge has been your dream, this classic could make it a reality.
I don’t know if it is true, but it seems the majority of these were put away and driven sparingly (if at all). Good to see one which has been used; that removes the issue of whether to drive it. With lower miles they are now well into six figures, so the ask may not be that far off.
Completely agree. It’s nice to see that this one was driven.
It’s worth mentioning that SVT built the Cobra R as a halo car on the heels of the 1999 Cobra fiasco. Ford got a real black eye for delivering cars that year that produced less than the advertised 320 hp, and exhibited irreparable vibration problems from their new IRS design.
After numerous recalls and vehicle buy backs, SVT took a year off the mainstream Cobra product to get everythingrught in 2001. In the meantime, the diabolicalnl John Coletti commissioned the wicked Cobra R to rebuild credibility in the SVT brand. The real beauty of this beast is it’s a rolling showcase for aftermarket suppliers to demonstrate their products on a Ford sanctioned project. It was a winner in that regard and I’m sure it helped Mustang Cobra sales in 2021 and beyond.
There are a hell of a lot more Fords out there that I’d spend $75k on, than this thing.
These are intended as track racers for the twisties, not a straight-line runner. That rear wing is really aggressive. (I installed one on my 98 GT and it firmly planted the rear tires to the ground even with speeds a low as the 60s.) A decent number found life as weekend racers. I’d certainly love to have it, but it’s well outside of my budget.
The rear wing looks cheesy, a real eye sore.