If I had to pick a classic from the 1990s to park in my garage, a 1993 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra would be at the head of the cue. I have always liked the Fox-Bodies, but these classics demonstrated that Ford was intent on providing buyers with motoring excitement. Our feature car stands out from the crowd not merely because of its flawless presentation, but the fact that its odometer shows 879 genuine miles. If you missed out on one of these Cobras in 1993, this is the next best thing. The seller has listed this stunning survivor here on eBay in Newburgh, Indiana. The price of admission isn’t cheap, with someone needing to hand over $90,000 to drive this Mustang home.
Okay, it’s confession time. When I said that I would like to park a 1993 SVT Cobra in my garage, I omitted one crucial detail. I probably wouldn’t select the Black cloaking this car’s exterior. I find the slightly rarer Teal Metallic more attractive, which is a matter of personal preference. However, if someone offered me this car for free, I couldn’t grab the keys and drive off into the sunset fast enough! Production figures confirm that while 4,993 of these classics left the factory in 1993, the tally of 1,854 cars made Black the most popular of the four shades offered. As you might expect, finding anything to fault with this Cobra is impossible. The paint is perfect, the panels are as straight as an arrow, and the wide array of listing shots confirms that it is rust-free. How or why it became so beautifully preserved is a mystery, but it may well be the best remaining example in existence. The first owner splashed an additional $355.00 on the factory sunroof, further increasing the desirability factor. The plastic is immaculate, and the distinctive 17″ alloy wheels are in as-new condition.
This image shows the Cobra’s underside, further reinforcing how immaculate this car is. There is no evidence of corrosion, and the frame retains its original factory markings. It is also as close as we come to seeing the engine, one of the defining features of the SVT Cobra. This omission is surprising because it is the 5.0-liter V8 that sets the SVT cars apart from mere mortals. The company rummaged through its Parts Bin, adding GT40 cylinder heads and the lower half of the intake from the same source. Larger injectors, a revised ECU program, a unique camshaft grind, and an exhaust system that included headers and tuned mufflers allowed the eight to generate an “official” 230hp and 304 ft/lbs of torque. However, many people believe that these figures are underestimated, and the car’s performance seems to support this. The power feeds to a Traction-Lok rear end via a five-speed manual transmission, while upgraded suspension components from Tokico improve the car’s handling. Ford quoted an official ¼-mile ET and a top speed of 14.5 seconds and 150mph. Road tests at the time saw the ET eclipsed repeatedly, but some journalists found that the V8 ran out of breath tantalizingly short of the claimed maximum speed. The originality of this Cobra extends to its tires, while the buyer receives the crucial SVT Certificate, Owner’s Manual, and Window Sticker. It is unclear whether the vehicle has been appropriately maintained and is roadworthy, but I would expect nothing less for the asking price.
The ’93 SVT Cobra is a “big-picture” rarity, but this car lifts that to a higher level. Of the 1,854 cars produced in Black, only 327 teamed that paint shade with the Opal Gray cloth trim found in this gem. As you might expect, it is in showroom condition. There is no wear, no marks, and no evidence of neglect or UV exposure. Most of the protective plastic has been removed, although the cover remains over the stereo’s LCD. The first owner added enough options beyond the sunroof to make life aboard this classic pretty pleasant. Apart from the standard driver’s airbag, the new owner receives air conditioning, power windows, power locks, power mirrors, a four-way power driver’s seat, a rear window defroster, and an AM/FM radio/cassette player.
Classics like this 1993 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra pose a unique dilemma, mainly due to the odometer reading. These cars are desirable but, in this case, the mileage is one of its strong points. The fact is that it is this attribute that allows it to stand above a typical example. It deserves to be enjoyed as its creators intended, not squirreled away in a garage or museum to potentially gather dust. However, it is a harsh reality that every additional mile on its odometer will have some impact on its value, which is a factor worth considering. The seller’s price isn’t pocket change, raising the question of whether it is justified in the face of a 2024 market softening for these classics. That’s a hard call to make because I have located a couple of others with similar mileage that recently failed to sell when bidding hit $70,000. The Watch List and View totals are extremely low for a car of this caliber, suggesting that buyers may feel the seller’s figure is unrealistic. Of course, we are also only in the early stages of a thirty-day listing, so the situation could change at any time. The real question is if it does find a new home, will it be driven, or is this Cobra destined to spend its days as a museum piece?
Thank you Adam for the thorough write-up.
Peak Fox Body here. In essentially new condition.
Whoever bought a 1979 Mustang with a humble four or six cylinder powertrain never would have envisioned the platform lasting for over a decade, and how it would evolve into the Cobra and Cobra R.
I don’t typically comment on prices, but I will here. The collector car market may be softening, and maybe it isn’t; perhaps I just haven’t seen pertinent and credible data. But I don’t think it is softening for 1993 Cobras. As one data point, a black 1993 Cobra, with 477 miles, hammered this week at Mecum for $92k ($101,200 including fees).
That’s about as perfect a comp as you can find, the car at Mecum. I think the market is moving toward the 80s and 90s cars, and someday we’ll all wake up and discover that some 2000s that we all thought were ordinary have caught an updraft.
Clarkey… 🔎 does that parking brake need an adjustment 💁♂️
Does that mean I should squirrel away a Pontiac Aztec? Just kidding, but a G8 in mint condition? Could be worth something someday. This SVT is making me wish I had placed a bid on that 1997 SVT Cobra convertible awhile back. It went for around ten grand and it had almost eighty thousand miles but at least you could drive it and not worry about depreciation.
i WAS WONDERING IF THE TIRES ARE ORIGINAL!
Michelle Rand is on the ball. Kids who went to high school in late 80s and 90s now have money and these are the types of cars they want. I graduated high-school 51 years ago. My era is late 60s and early 70s cars. This is the normal trend. The guys older than myself are dying and you can buy the best Model A in the world for 20K. By today’s comparison, these 93 Cobras have less horsepower than most SUVS today , but the sale prices don’t lie.
This car presents something of a conundrum for a potential buyer. This somewhat uncommon cars price is based solely on the mileage. (A quick search revealed at least four comparable cars with under 30,000 miles for $ 26,000 to $35,000) The price doesn’t seem too crazy given the mileage, so here’s the question: Do you spend over 90K and NEVER drive it, or do you spend 35K max. and drive it when you want? Also, do some quick math on what 30,000 miles is divided by 35 years is. That’s not driving a car very much.
The person who buys this is probably not a car guy like you and I, so it matters not. It will be an investment, an ego booster, basically buy it just be cause they can as a lark on a day when they were bored. That is what the hobby has become. Frankly, you can spend a quarter of the hammer price here and buy a much better car in all respects that will drive much better then this could even in 1993 when it had fresh seals and actually could be driven. I never watch the TV auctions, they just bring out the grumpy old man in me. I fret over how unfair it is and also how much good that cash could do somewhere else, plus I speculate how buyers like that actually acquired so much wealth. My imagination runs wild on that last point, and usually it isn’t anything good. My only little bit of comfort comes from the idea that all men will someday be judged.
Or. He was a bricklayer for 45 years. A virtuous and clean living man who looked after mom and dad till the end.
Never cheated anyone or thumbed his nose at the establishment and will be judged a good man in the end. You can’t change the world Curt, just the way you look at it.
Bub; and just how did this “fine and virtuous man” acquire 100K to purchase a car only a fool would drive because of the mileage? Even a hypothetical needs some semblance or believability.
Only 879 miles?
Thanks for not banging you hot girlfriend and saving her for the next dude to knock the bottom out of it.
This has 4 cat converters?!
Woud prefer more numbers on the aux gages.