The 1993 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra is amongst the most desirable American production cars to emerge during that decade. Its combination of looks and performance was a fitting way to bid goodbye to the venerable Fox-Body, and pristine examples command very healthy prices. Our featured Cobra isn’t pristine, but its cosmetic shortcomings are the least of its problems. Lifting the hood reveals a lot of fresh air, because its V8 and transmission are long gone. The buyer could scour the usual auction sites for replacements, or they could throw caution to the wind by dropping something more potent into the engine bay. The seller has listed the Cobra here on eBay in Milton, Florida. They set their BIN at $19,900 with the option to make an offer.
With its replacement waiting in the wings, Ford sought an appropriate way to send the Fox-Body Mustang out with a bang. It had formed the Special Vehicle Team, or SVT, in 1991 as a tuning house producing limited-edition high-performance models. The 1993 SVT Cobra was one of its first offerings, with the company producing 4,993 examples. Buyers could choose from four paint shades if you count two variants of Vibrant Red. This Cobra is 1-of-1,854 ordered in Black, making it the most popular color. Scrutinizing the photos reveals paint deterioration across several surfaces, along with chips on the hood and scratches on the hatch and rear spoiler. However, with most of the exterior presenting quite well, the buyer might be able to address these shortcomings with isolated repairs. The panels are straight, and the underside shots confirm that the car is rust-free. The distinctive spoilers and aerodynamic additions are in good condition, as are the beautiful 17″ alloy wheels.
This Cobra features the most popular paint and trim combination, with 1,079 buyers teaming the Opal Gray leather interior with a Black exterior. Its condition is pretty respectable for its age. The leather has the typical wrinkles that develop with age, but no significant rips or other problems. The carpet is clean, and the plastic hasn’t succumbed to abuse or UV rays. Someone added an Alpine head unit with Apple CarPlay and a rear-mounted camera. Otherwise, it is as it left the factory. Luxury touches abound, with this car featuring air conditioning, power windows, power locks, a six-way power driver’s seat, power mirrors, cruise control, and a leather-wrapped tilt wheel. The A/C is inoperative, and we’re about to discover why.
The 1993 Mustang SVT Cobra was a very respectable performer, thanks to the attention lavished on it during design and construction. Its 5.0-liter V8 featured a long list of upgrades, including GT40 cylinder heads, an improved intake, an upgraded camshaft, larger injectors, and an improved exhaust. The results justified the effort, with Ford quoting power and torque figures of 235hp and 280 ft/lbs in its Sales Brochure. There is a widespread belief that both numbers were underestimated, and the car’s performance supports that. The V8 wasn’t the only area to receive attention, with all Cobras featuring a five-speed T-5 manual transmission with internal upgrades, while the suspension received Tokico shocks and struts, and linear-rate springs. That is great in theory, but the reality is that this Cobra no longer has its original motor or transmission. It is unclear why they were removed, but aftermarket upgrades to the suspension and brakes may suggest a history of competition. Whatever the reality, the buyer faces some choices before this classic returns to its rightful place on our roads. They could scour the usual online auction sites, hoping to find a Cobra V8 and five-speed, or they could throw caution to the wind by choosing something different. The final choice will depend on their desire for authenticity.
This 1993 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra has attracted plenty of attention, with the seller’s listing receiving over 660 views today. This has only translated to 55 people adding it to their Watch List, and there could be a sound reason for that. The price looks extremely impressive for a car that presents so nicely, and it might be that many of those people only discovered its mechanical shortcomings once they had clicked on the listing. The Watch List tally is still respectable, but do you think that the interest shown will translate into sales success?
Let me be the first to say this is a prime candidate for a 350 chev engine. Trying to locate a 5.0 COBRA engine would be very difficult and then coming up with the cash to buy it would be outrageous to say the least. The new owner could just go to their local boneyard and find hundreds of used small block chevie engines for a couple hundred bucks and then go to J C Whitney catalog for some cheap high performance equipment. Probably for less than a thousand bucks you could have a real barn burner. It’s your car, no one should tell you what to do with it. There, I said it.
Then while you’re at it? Rip off all the Cobra and SVT badging, because you just turned a bonafide collector car into a turd.
Agreed. If you’re going to do an engine replacement, why not at least keep it in in the Ford family, with a Ford crate motor, either a Coyote or a Ford small-block. Ford and several other aftermarket engine suppliers offer 347 or 363 V8’s that would be a virtual drop-in replacement for the 302/5.0L that once graced the engine bay of this otherwise good example! The Coyote, with its DOHC heads, is quite wide, so some surgery in the engine compartment may be necessary to make it fit, but it’s certainly doable. A Ford “Power Module”, a 5.0L Coyote engine with a matching transmission and all of the wiring and electronics to make it all work, will set you back about $20k or so, not counting the labor to install it. If you do the work yourself, the labor is free, of course!
Two or three years ago a friend of mine was for a 302 based engine to swap into his 1971 Comet GT. Stroker 302’s using aftermarket blocks, aluminum heads and aftermarket manual transmissions are plentiful on the secondary market, many with low or no miles. There is no reason to get a Chevy engine, unless it’s an LS. This body is expensive, but it is a Cobra, with a lot of upgrades, it could be enticing to someone looking for an open track day car.
Steve R
Even an LS or LT wouldn’t be worth it, IMHO, as a Chevy engine destroys the value of the car for resale. True, a Ford crate engine wouldn’t be a “numbers matching” drive train, but since the original engine and transmission have gone to points unknown, that ship has sailed, unfortunately. At least a Ford powertrain would retain more of the value of the car than a Chevy engine swap of any kind. Oh, and BTW, a Ford “crate” 363 puts out 507 hp and 450 lb.-ft. of torque, so there’s that! The 347 puts out “only” 360 hp and 400 lb.-ft. of torque! Whee! Quite an upgrade over the stock engine’s 235 hp and 285 lb.-ft. of torque, LOL! The Coyote was slightly less power, at 480 hp, but more torque, at 415 lb.-ft. of torque, and the aluminum block will save some weight over the cast-iron block in the 302 and its variants.
Robert, I would look for a used or new but uninstalled engine. New crate engines from the OE manufacturers are overpriced compared to what an industrious person can find on the secondary market.
There are bolt in engine crossmembers for Fox body Mustangs made for an LS swap, LS equipped Mustangs are common at drag strips and probably other race tracks due to their low price and high output. My buddy with the Comet GT installed one in his 1969 F100 short, wide. It’s a bolt in if you use the Crown Vic front suspension.
Steve R
Blue Print Engines is one such aftermarket supplier, but the price is about the same as a Ford “crate” motor. Blue Print Engines is a recommended supplier for Factory Five Racing, the folks on Cape Cod who build Cobra replicas, among other kit cars (see link below).
https://blueprintengines.com/
Congrats, you won today’s ignorant comment of the day.
“Stupid is as stupid does, Sir!” – Forrest Gump.
Just get a long block out of a 5.0 explorer, pretty much identical to the engine that came in this cobra, do a cam swap and you have the same hp as a stock 93 cobra.
I’d see it crushed before I totally ruined it with a Chevy motor! The pride of owning a really cool car would disappear and you’d never want to pop the hood!
Whats the point?? Why not just buy a running 93 camaro????
Its probably worth less after you drop a lousy Chevy 350 motor in it.
A 347 stroker would be a more logical choice.
Theres a special place in automotive hades for you. Blasphemer!
way over price it’s just a fox body with no engine are trans !
It’ll sell for 20k no problem since Ford isn’t making anymore. If it was teal it would bring even more. These aren’t worthless like 3rd gen f bodies are.
$20k for a roller, I think not.
It’ll sell, simply because it’s a real 93 cobra.
I feel it would be a bargain at $3K. Any more than that and you would find yourself upside down in a hurry. I don’t know why the seller has set their expected opening bid so high. They are not selling a Cobra, while it is missing what actually makes it a Cobra. Sure you can recreate the missing engine and transmission and all of the other missing parts that went with it, It will no longer be a numbers matching car. The end value won’t be there.
Great roller for an owner that has a good powertrain and a car that just got totaled. Otherwise, just continue to part it out. Best of luck getting $20K for it.
The Good: General condition, no rust, lots of power options and suspension upgrades, 44k miles on the clock. The Bad: The engine and transmission have gone AWOL, needs a freshening of the paint and interior. The Ugly: The price, given the cost and effort required to source and install a new drivetrain. The Verdict: $5k is closer to a reasonable offer for this rolling project car. A new engine and transmission will likely set you back at least $25k, more if you pay someone to install it for you!
Go Go Godzilla 🎯
Ok, what am I missing? I have read through this twice and don’t understand a $20K mustang with no powertrain from an early 90’s Cobra. You won’t see the same year ZR1 priced this high with no drivetrain. And it beat these in every measurable category, including looks!
Because Chevy makes 100k corvettes every year. There is no high end sports car that depreciates faster.
When new, only rich retired guys who never had a cool car can afford them. They hardly get driven , and sell for pennies on the dollar 20 years later
My 04 cobra will easily get 10 or 15 k more than any vette produced in the same time period. Ironically, it was 15 k cheaper than a vette when new.
Please do your research, data is a wonderful thing. GM never got near 100,000 Vettes in a year. 53,000 was the high water mark in 1979. Compare that to over 600,000 Mustangs in 1966. When men took their wives to the dealership on Saturdays to show the wife the Vette, he was quickly reminded about the kids and the high sticker price. Then his eyes wandered to the Chevelle. Yes Corvettes were higher and complexly built and most were kept in garages. For some additional research, checkout the overall resale value of the Corvette vs the Mustang to present day! As with any vehicle built over the years, there are a few Unicorn models that become holy grail cars like the 67 L88 Vette and the Shelby GT. Mustang.
I have two 5.o complete part cars motor and transmission one automatic convertible other is 5 speed
If you like attention and have deep pockets I would give Jon kaase a call..imagine rolling up to a car show with a big big big block ford
SOLD – Best Offer Accepted.