This 1969 Ford Cobra has held up well following a repaint in the 1990s. It was its owner’s pride and joy, but sadly, he recently passed away. Therefore, his family has decided to part with a classic that will offer its next owner a perfect blend of performance and comfort. Located in Leesville, South Carolina, you will find the Cobra listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has reached $20,100, but the reserve hasn’t been met. Barn Finder Larry D seems to have a keen eye for great classics, so thank you for spotting this one for us, Larry.

The last owner of this Cobra treated it to a repaint in its original Candy Apple Red back in the 1990s, and this has lasted exceptionally well. It still shines beautifully, with no noticeable faults or defects. Apart from a tiny spot in the lower-left fender, the panels are free from any tin worm. It is relatively insignificant, and it’s the type that could be addressed with a patch as time and circumstances allow. Beyond that, the panels appear to be perfect. The seller supplies some photos of the Cobra’s underside, and if anything, it is more impressive than the panels. It is rust-free and structurally sound. There is barely a hint of any surface corrosion, which means that it is an area that will require no attention. The trim and chrome are faultless, as are the original wheels. The original owner ordered this Ford with tinted glass, and it seems to be free from scratches, chips, and other defects. The hood scoop and badges are a clear indication that this is anything but your average Cobra and that the engine bay houses something special.

Much is made of Rolls-Royce’s “bespoke” program. This allows buyers to rock up to their Rolls dealer (although I guess that most Rolls buyers don’t actually “rock”) and order a truly unique car. It seems that the American performance car industry of the late 1960s offered potential buyers a similar service. The number of choices and variations of makes, models, body styles, and engines was pretty incredible. It seemed that the companies catered for the needs and tastes of every individual. Ford was no exception, and if you couldn’t find something in their range to meet your needs, you were the exception to the rule. The company developed the Cobra as a direct competitor to Plymouth’s Road Runner. It was designed to be an affordable muscle car but wasn’t loaded with the sort of trim and equipment that would push the price too high. However, it had the right equipment where it counted, and that was in the engine bay. This one features the 428 Cobra Jet Ram Air V8 that produced an official 335hp. Once again, it seems that Ford was coy on that score because the actual figure was considered to be substantially higher. This Cobra also comes equipped with a C6 automatic transmission, power steering, and power brakes. If an owner pointed this car at a ¼ mile, they would be rewarded with a sub-15-second ET. It seems that this car is in excellent order. The late owner treated it to upper and lower control arms, new spring seats and front springs, as well as a new power steering control valve and hoses. It is a numbers-matching classic, right down to components like the carburetor. The seller says that it runs and drives nicely, and that it has a genuine 58,800 miles showing on its odometer.

Apart from the steering wheel, radio/cassette player, and the gauges mounted under the dash, it appears that the interior of this Cobra is original. The upholstery on the seats is spotless, as are the dash and pad. There is no appreciable wear on the carpet, while the remaining trim and upholstered surfaces are in excellent order. The original owner didn’t go overboard on the order sheet because apart from the bucket seats, the only nod to comfort was an AM radio. As stated, that has been replaced. However, the buyer shouldn’t have much trouble locating a factory unit if they want to return the interior to its original specifications.

It appears that the owner of this 1968 Ford Cobra cherished his car, and this is evident in its overall condition. The buyer won’t have much to do, and even its single rust issue could be left untouched for a reasonable amount of time without causing concern. It is a numbers-matching classic, and reversing the few changes that the owner made would not be difficult or expensive. Values have ridden a bit of a rollercoaster in recent times, and they have dropped by around 10% across the board in the past 12 months. However, they have leveled and are now showing a hint that they might be starting to climb again. Buying a classic car purely as an investment is a risky business. We’ve all seen stories of people who have squirreled away a vehicle for years in the belief that it will become a desirable “must-have” in the future, only to watch its value plummet down the toilet. If values are beginning to climb, and that trend remains consistent, now could be the time to look seriously at a car like this Cobra. It could represent a sound financial investment and an enjoyable motoring experience. That sounds like a winning combination to me.