Just when you think you’ve got a good grasp on cars from a certain era, a new model pops up that wasn’t on your radar at all previously. As someone who spends a lot of time reading about cars from the 80s and 90s, this 1995 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra R caught me by surprise. While the standard Cobra from the SN95 era is a known quantity, the R is a true one-of-250 model that was marketed heavily towards owners who planned to take their cars to the track. Although not wildly different from the standard Cobra, it’s still a very rare machine that doesn’t pop up very often. This is car number 244 listed here on craigslist for $42,000.
The Mustang Cobra R was not unlike the third-generation Chevy Camaro 1LE: a stripped-down, firmed-up, and moderately tuned muscle car whose true capabilities would shine on the track. Some distinguishing characteristics include deleted fog lights, a revised front fascia, a raised cowl on the fiberglass hood to accommodate a unique intake plenum. The bodywork also featured a fixed rear spoiler, and you could get it in any color you wanted as long as it was Crystal White Clearcoat. On top of all that, you also had a limited window of opportunity to put your name in the hat for the chance to own one of these, and they went quickly with only 250 examples available.
The seller doesn’t include many photos, but if he did take some of the interior, you’d see that the R package also came with a deleted backseat, no A/C, removed sound insulation, and no radio. It seems most of them that come up for sale came with a saddle cloth interior, and if I had to guess, this SN95 has the same set-up. Other improvements that came with the R package include Koni shocks, dual exhaust, a limited-slip rear axle, oil cooler, and a more robust radiator. Curb weight is safely under 3,400 pounds, and other weight-saving measures include deletion of power windows.
The certificate shown here confirms that this is indeed the limited-production 1995 “R” model that likely is in even shorter supply today than when new if you account for the likelihood of some cars being wrecked or parted out. The SN95-era Cobra has struggled to find respect in the marketplace, no doubt hurt by the fact that its performance wasn’t overwhelmingly superior to the standard GT. This Cobra SVT R makes a more compelling argument for the premium price tag due to its race car personality, and its improved output of 300 b,h.p. and 365 pound-feet of torque. Overall, I suspect it will take an SN95 fanatic to want to pay over $40,000 for a car like this, but I also believe it will be worth every penny when they do. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Curvette for the tip.
oOoOO, I loved my ’95. Okay, it wasn’t a Cobra, a mere red V6/5 speed, but I was somebody with that car. On a trip to Texas, apparently a Texarkana police officer thought so too,,, :0
so, what happened?
Apparently,,,I was on a well known druggie route, and a single person in a red Mustang with Wis. plates looked awful fishy. He searched the car, let me go, and I didn’t slow down ’til I was almost to Illinois.
Not a big fan of the SN95 in general, but this is the one to get, and unless it has been beaten to within an inch of its life, the price is reasonable, if not an actual bargain.
I spent a week with one of these when new and, while Jeff says it wasn’t much different from the “regular” Cobra, it definitely FELT much different. Better, too, as SVT’s suspension changes made the R feel light and precise in a way no other production-line SN95 could match. My seat-of-pants dyno tells me the stated 300 horsepower was quite conservative.
A little raucous — you might be surprised how much difference sound-deadening material makes — and a bit sweaty in California sunshine thanks to the lack of A/C, it was nonetheless a joy to fling around.
IIRC, original buyers were supposed to have a competition license before their orders were accepted. I don’t know how rigidly this requirement was applied.
Good analysis Jeff. A largely overlooked Mustang model. As Jeff points out, due to several factors: not hugely different performance, deletion of creature comforts (e.g. a/c), only one color, marketed to only the racers. I don’t think it was a bad car, it just had a limited audience. Ford knew that; only 250 built. I wish there were more pics.
That said, with Fox Mustangs being so popular today, and with their specialty/performance models getting quite expensive, I wonder if the SN95’s will begin appreciating.
Hagerty pegs a concours example at over $80K, so $42K for an ultra-low mile version is probably easily attainable. The 5.8L engine is what separates them from ordinary Cobras and drives their value, more so than the deleted equipment.
Just parted out a 97′ Cobra. They look like oversized Toyotas to me. The 4.6 Cobra is going into my brother’s 68′ Cougar. A much better looking car. Fox bodies will always be my preference. These cars are great for parts upgrades on Fox bodies! Unless, it’s a Cobra R model. They get a pass.
Only 4 photos of the car? GLWS.
Let’s see, $42,000 for this or $39,900 for the 1978 King Cobra, the choice between the two is obvious.
Steve R
If I remember correctly, these were not meant to be street legal. Supposed to be a track only car, like the Cobra Jets.
A Google search says it was street legal, but as mentioned above sales were restricted to people that had competition licenses. I knew someone that had one and would drive it often, he owned a marketing company that served several big performance manufacturers. If you lived on the west coast and saw a semi trailer with displays at an NHRA event or big car shows such as the Goodguys, the odds were great that at least one was run by his company.
Steve R