If you’re like me, you harbor a deep desire to have enough money and space to assemble your dream garage. Tastes vary, so no two dream garages will ever be the same. If I were in that fortunate situation, this 1993 Mustang SVT Cobra would look mighty tempting. It presents in as-new condition, which is no surprise since it has a genuine 16 miles showing on its odometer. Why someone would buy a classic like this and not slip behind the wheel is hard to fathom, but since the car is currently roadworthy, that situation could change once the hammer falls. If unlike me, you have the money and space to park this classic in your garage, you will find it located in Waterbury, Connecticut, and listed for sale here on eBay. The seller has set the BIN at $119,950, and while that figure seems eye-watering, it is not without precedent.
I need to come clean because if I were compiling my dream garage, this Cobra wouldn’t gain a spot. That’s not because I see anything wrong with it. The truth is that if I were spending that amount of cash, I would choose a Teal example the same as featured by our own Bruce Johnson in this excellent article. Our feature car rolled off the line wearing Vibrant Red Clearcoat, which is one of the three shades offered on the ’93 Cobra. Technically, there were four colors available, although, with Vibrant Red provided with or without clear, it is considered by many enthusiasts as a single shade. Regardless of which theory you subscribe to, it is 1-of-1,775 to wear this color. It seems that a dealership in Boaz, Alabama, may have originally ordered the car, and it remained in their possession in an undelivered and unmolested state until 2008. At that point, the current owner acquired the Cobra and retained it untouched. It has led a sheltered existence, which means that its overall immaculate condition is no surprise. The paint is flawless, the panels are laser straight, and there is no evidence of any plastic deterioration. Climbing under this Ford reveals floors that are in as-new condition, with not so much as a speck of surface corrosion. The distinctive 17″ alloy wheels shine beautifully and have never reached the point where their center caps have been installed. These are present, but they remain securely wrapped in their original plastic. When the dealership ordered this gem, they handed over an additional $355 for the flip-up sunroof. As with everything else, its condition is faultless.
After the misery of the 1970s and 1980s, the 1993 SVT Cobra must have been a revelation for performance car enthusiasts. The First Generation Mustang developed into a car that went from lean and mean to heavy and serene as it reached its twilight years. Ford attempted to address the shortcomings with the Mustang II, which was lighter and more nimble than its predecessor. However, that generation was hamstrung by tightening emission regulations that strangle performance and left the 302ci V8 wheezing and asthmatic. During the 1980s and into the 1990s, automotive development gathered pace as manufacturers experimented with new metal technologies and came to grips with the dark art of electronics and fuel injection. This creative thinking resulted in a dramatic improvement in the performance and the fortunes of the humble V8. The figures tell the story because while a 1979-vintage 302ci V8 would stumble its way to 140hp, our feature Cobra utilized this newfound technology to churn out an “official” 235hp. Many knowledgeable people believe that Ford had understated the truth, and the performance figures suggest that the actual output was somewhere closer to 260hp. With the five-speed T5 manual transmission and a Traction-Lok rear end, this Cobra should blast through the ¼ mile in 14.1 seconds. SVT didn’t end their pursuit of perfection once the Cobra was a jet in a straight line. Apart from power steering, the Cobra benefitted from four-wheel disc brakes and suspension updates to springs and shock. The history of this car is slightly vague, but it sounds like it may have recently had its fluids changed and be in a roadworthy state. The owner indicates that he holds the original battery and oil filter, along with all of the original dealer documentation for the car, the SVT Certificate, Window Sticker, and Owner’s Manual. He says that the vehicle runs and drives well, leaving the door open for the new owner to take this beast back onto the roads where it belongs.
I used the term “Never Unwrapped” to describe this Cobra, and this photo clearly demonstrates what I mean. All of the original protective plastic remains intact, with nobody having performed the pre-delivery service and check. This is close as you can get to grabbing a car fresh off the production line, even if the car in question now has twenty-eight years under its belt. Hiding below the protective film is an interior trimmed in Opal Gray leather. When combined with Vibrant Red Clearcoat, this was a popular choice amongst buyers in 1993. Of the 4,993 SVT Cobras produced in that year, 1,000 buyers selected this combination. As you would expect, everything is in as-new condition, with no issues or flaws. The interior is also nicely appointed. It features air conditioning, power windows, power locks, a four-way power driver’s seat, power lumbar support on both buckets, power mirrors, cruise control, a rear defroster, and the premium AM FM radio and CD player.
When the original owner purchased this 1993 Mustang SVT Cobra, I’m sure that he didn’t expect to see its potential value climb well into six-figure territory. However, it has managed to do that. The BIN on this car doesn’t make it a cheap buy, but it also doesn’t make it the most expensive that we’ve seen go to market recently. The record stands at $143,000 for an identical car that sold last year. That raises the question of what the future holds for this classic. Those who think with their head will keep the Cobra stored away in its current state, hoping that the value will continue to increase. Those who think with their heart will remove the plastic and hit the road. They will feel that classics like these are meant to be driven and enjoyed as their makers intended. Personally, I’d find the temptation of the open road too challenging to resist. However, I believe that this Cobra’s future will see it sitting in a museum or stored in a private collection. What do you think?
I guess I’ll sit back and see what this “wrapper car” fetches. Six figures looks to be what a select few of these Cobras can now bring.
If I wanted one to drive, the logical thing is to look for something with low to moderate miles, for a much lower price. And I’m with Adam, I like the teal ones the best.
I wouldn’t drive it, but not because I wouldn’t want to. Instead, I’d be to worried about all those seals, hoses, gaskets, and other soft-ish rubber parts that haven’t been used for almost 30 years. All can be protected, and look as if they have been in this case, but in the end, deterioration always sets in….
Knowing there are collectors who prize these no-mile Time Capsules, I have to say the price is about what I’d expect. The BaT crowd will go bonkers over this one; expect to see it there within weeks of the eBay auction ending.
But I’m with Bob_in_TN: give me a SVT Mustang with, say, five digits showing on the odo and I’ll drive it as far and fast as I can. Especially if it’s Teal!
Not to change the subject but these had bookoo wheel gap from the factory. Wow! Anyway, pretty cool but I don’t see the point of buying something like this. You wouldn’t be able to drive it. But I suspect there’s a rich person or 3 out there who’ll see it differently.
Took me a minute to figure this one out……..but I believe the word you’re looking for is beaucoup (it’s French)!
Me? I’d literally drive it like I stole it. After I got out of the Crowbar Hotel, I would likely settle down, especially since like Joe Walsh “I lost my licence, now I don’t drive”. It would be one hell of a trip though.
All kidding aside. Letting a vehicle like this just sit is a crime in my mind. It deserves to be driven, much like a beautiful trophy wife.
$119,500 would buy you a nice fleet of Yugos.
Yugo, boy!
The big question with this car is WHY? Reminds me of a kid I knew who owned every match box car made in new condition and never played with them. Sad.
From the age of eight, I started buying Matchbox cars. Sixty years later, I’ve completed my collection – numbers 1 – 75 off of eBay, including buying the boxes I didn’t have. My neighbor and I put a lot of miles on them as kids. ( just not in the mud ) Most of them were bought for .50 cents back in the day and are now worth AT LEAST $50. Some of the rare ones in their original box, are worth over $300. ( I had to buy a couple of them recently to finish the collection ) Not that they will ever be sold, just passed on to the younger ones in my family. I have them all displayed in a lighted cabinet for anyone to see who comes to my house.
So another car that you can’t drive if you buy it or you just lost a ton of money as you paid a premium for only 16 miles. Road and Track had it at 14.5 seconds in the quarter mile, slower than a 2013 Ford Mustang with a V/6 and the performance package.
16 miles? Really?
IMHO, I would think just getting from the production line, to the dealership, to the purchaser’s garage would take more than 16 miles.
I got to admit it is a cool car with pretty much zero miles. But the question is, is it $119,950 worth of cool. Not in my world or for most normal peoples world but I would think a car museum somewhere might snatch it up.
Totally agree with you. When I saw the headline, I thought this is a 30k car at best. I imagine a new Stang off the show room floor for $50k or whatever would run circles around this one. Not worth 100k+ in any world I’m livin in.
Way too many miles for me, i am looking for something less than 10.
@Howie- Yep. And sitting on that plastic would suck in the summertime.
Well my guess is that the seller got drunk at either the Barrett Jackson or the Mecum Auto Auction and they over paid and sold it to their wife that it was actually a investment so they are now trying to prove that. Good luck but with today’s crazy market they might actually get it.
This Cobra has already been on Bring a Trailer in August 2021. It was bid up to $90,500 and was a no sale. BaT is a good indication of the market, lots of bidders paying top dollar since you don’t have all the travel and bidder fees and commissions associated with going to the big auctions. Now the Seller is seeking $30k more. Wow. Good luck!
Def. a nice Mustang, however, if I remember correctly, these cars didn’t come with a tilt wheel! your arms were hanging from the roof almost in these, Also, horrible wheel gap stance, with the back ends actually slightly higher than the front, almost “Pro Stock” looking.
That’s the first thing that caught my eye. There’s like 4″ of gap between the back tires and quarter panel lip, LOL! Beaucoup gap, as I was corrected. But whatever, I think that’s factory original. It looks weird now because most subsequent owners have fixed that with lowering springs or coilovers.
Without the original oil and fluids it’s just another old car.
What do you think about the air in the tires?
Nice car…but what a waste. Needs to be driven and enjoyed.
I never understood the rational of buying a car to just look at.
What’s left to be said? Hilarious.
But….there’s an ass for every seat……….as my late sainted father once observed.
Worth 10k maybe. It’s still just a stock mustang.
If I could afford this car I would get rid of the 302 and transmission for a 427 or a 429 scj with a supercharger. Then get rid of the computer and fuel injection and add dual 4 barrel carbs with a 4 or a 5 speed manual transmission and beef up the suspension and subframe that can handle the engine. Then put bigger rear tires on the car.