The most valuable of the street-going Fox Body Mustang Cobras is undoubtedly the ’93 model, the ultimate version of this long-running platform. With a 235-horsepower 5.0 V8 and SVT-tuned suspension, it’s hard to argue with the market, but one must always follow one’s heart, and my heart’s favorite Cobra is the 1980 model. Whether it was a result of hours thumbing through the brochure when I was a little kid or the sheer gaudiness of the vibrant decals on the hood and flanks, the ’80 model with its ’79 pace-car-aping ground effects is the one for me. You can have this one for a fraction of the price of a ’93 Cobra: $9,950 on eBay (in New Milford, Connecticut).
The Cobra’s standard engine was Ford’s 2300 turbocharged four, but this car has the optional small-bore 255 V8 (the ’79 model’s 302 was discontinued for 1980 and 1981). With about 115 horsepower, it doesn’t quite fit the car’s extroverted appearance, but that’s 1980 for you. Only available with a three-speed automatic, the new owner can just live in the period and be content with cruising like it used to be. According to the seller, this was a one-owner car for over 35 years, and that owner clearly loved and maintained this car. But is it really a Cobra?
The seller seems to express some doubts. Real Cobras had optional Recaro seats and a “black engine-turned design appliques on [the] instrument panel,” according to the sales brochure; the steering wheel looks correct, but the wood-grained dash raises an eyebrow. The seats come from a later model. Regardless, the blue interior harmonizes well with the Bright Blue (aptly named) paint.
The carpet on the load floor doesn’t match the original, but blue carpet is undoubtedly hard to find these days, so it’s probably just an expedient replacement. The seller says that the weatherstripping is in good condition and the factory sunroof is leak-free, which has to be some kind of a miracle.
The decals look correct for the year, and the unique wheels that were designed for those Michelin TRX metric tires that didn’t quite take off are still right where you’d expect them to be. The bad news is that those tires are old and should be replaced; although they’re available, a quick search of jegs.com reveals that they cost $359…each! Well, that’s the price for driving old cars, and I guess we should be happy that they’re even available. Not surprisingly, aftermarket wheels that resemble the originals (but in a more common size) are also floating around out there. With mostly original paint and a few touch-ups, this is a nice-looking original Mustang that will make somebody very happy. The seller says it’s rust-free and the price seems fair, regardless of whether it’s a real Cobra or not (I’d guess that it is). If you’re feeling nostalgic for the early 1980s, this might be the buy for you.
Alas, the unloved 1980 Cobra. Mostly because of the turbo 4, or the 255 V8 (automatic only). Otherwise this was a good-looking four-eye, as long as you are content with the 1980’s body-claddiing, loud-graphics look.
I think it is a real Cobra (a Marti Report to the rescue?). And I agree with the theme of your write-up Aaron, there’s actually quite a bit to like here. Very, very seldom seen, even at big Mustang shows. Who knows why it doesn’t have the engine-turned dash trim; could be simply because– the day this car came down the line, they were out of that piece. I’m also thankful that the TRX tires are being reproduced. I like the loud blue paint. Good shape. And to top it off, not expensive.
Very, very seldom seen, even at big Mustang shows.”
As the owner if a ’74 Mustang II, I’ve seen first hand how the 10 years from ’74 to ’83 are the black hole of Mustangs. Very few have survived, and if you bring one to a Mustang show, you’ll most likely come home with a class trophy, simply due to a lack of competition.
I see some Mustang IIs every now and again at shows but not very many pre-1982 Fox body Mustangs. The 1982 and up GTs and SVOs are so far superior, it doesn’t make a ton of sense to expend the garage space on an early model with the wheezy 2.3 liter turbo 4 or one of the very low HP smog era V-8s.
In Oct 79 I went to the local ford dealer with my dad to order a new Mustang. I was 18. My have to have was a stick shift and the largest engine you could get with a stick was the 3.3 (200 ci) six. So mine was a black coupe with red interior and pinstripe, handling package, sunroof, 200 , 4 speed., AM-FM cassette. One year later someone crossed the center line and hit me head on and totaled it.
Thanks Toth, enjoyed that article.
Neat Mustang here. Great summary by Bob on a Ford as usual 👍
I’m gonna have to comment on this car, having owned several Mustangs from this era, even a 1980 Cobra. In the late 80s I needed a daily driver and I found a 1979 Indy Pace Car, rough around the edges but it had a 5.0 with a 4-speed owned by a college girl. So naturally the front spoiler was beat to death. One day driving down 44th Ave in Wheatridge CO, sitting in front of a gas station was a 1980 Mustang Cobra with a for sale sign in the window. It had the 4 cylinder turbo and a 4-speed, a perfect front spoiler but the key lock on the steering column had been destroyed. I got it for $500 and drove it home. Took it apart and kept the good stuff. The rest went to the crusher, I know, my bad. I wish I had that to do over again. If I remember right, it had a round, black plastic emblem in the doors that said COBRA. I might still have those. I don’t think this is an original paint car, looks too custom to me. Someone found a decal set and repainted this one. And I don’t think RECAROs were standard equipment. In the 79 Pace Car, yes. This is a very nice looking Mustang. Wish I had my $500 beater back.
This is a very nice very clean example. I agree with all the above, not many survived, or at least weren’t butchered. I completely forgot about the Ford 255 V8. If this were mine, I’d keep it exactly as it is. I’m sure the 255 will keep up with modern traffic and it looks great very nice color combination too. This is a great find and write up Aaron, thank you for posting it. I enjoyed it.
I love how automotive journalists always immediately contrast the Mustang II with its 139(net) HP V8 with a 1970 375(gross) HP Boss 429, but apologize for this 1980 V8 Mustang (with 24 less HP than a Mustang II) as simply being a “product of its time”. Hilarious. By the way this definitely a Cobra clone, it’s missing blackout window trim, a right hand mirror, black instrument panels, and a Cobra emblem on the dash or doors. Interior would be black not blue because you couldn’t get blue Recaros.
It’s hard to find road tests from this era featuring the 255, but here’s what I found (for comparison):
Hot Rod tested a ’79 Mustang (not a Mustang II, the new Fox) with a two-barrel 302 and recorded a 16.7-second quarter-mile time at 81 miles per hour. Motorweek tested an ’82 Thunderbird with a 255 (I know, a little heavier but still a Fox-platform car) and recorded a 20-second quarter mile at 67 miles per hour. That is a big difference. Even if the 255 Mustang was in the 18s, that’s a lot.
Added to that the bones are there for any 5.0L from any era to add cheap and easy HP, a 255 V8, not so much, which makes the ’79 Cobra infinitely more valuable with the 5.0L .
Recaros were optional on the Cobra. Otherwise it came with standard Mustang interior. And Recaro interior was available in Wedgewood Blue in any case, so it could have a blue interior.
https://oldcarbrochures.org/United%20States/Ford_%20Mustang/1980-Ford-Mustang/1980-Ford-Mustang-Brochure-Rev/slides/1980_Ford_Mustang_Rev-12-13.html
This one seems to have later model 1987-93 GT/LX 5.0 sport seats though, so you can’t tell if it’s an original Recaro car. Judging from the back seat, it probably had the standard vinyl interior originally.
The decals look right on the outside, though the car could have been repainted. According to the original brochure, it’s supposed to have a black engine turned dash so you’re right on the dash applique being seemingly wrong. Ditto for chrome trim around the windows. Good catch.
https://oldcarbrochures.org/United%20States/Ford_%20Mustang/1980-Ford-Mustang/1980-Ford-Mustang-Brochure-Rev/slides/1980_Ford_Mustang_Rev-08-09.html
I don’t know who would bother cloning a 1980 Cobra with a 255 but it’s worth getting it verified you’re going to pay relatively big money for this.
Pretty good looking example of peak emissions era motoring. Love the styling details on both the inside and out. One of the best looking steering wheels, ever.
BTW, if anyone believes that the factory didn’t want to build an engine with more horsepower is sorely mistaken. Today we’ve cracked the code and can seemly do almost anything, as long as it passes legislation and people will buy it.
Okay, not a lot of oomph, but an awful pretty car. Isn’t that enough for many people? Certainly enough get up and go, to get up and go anywhere you need or want to go. Make the price reasonable and someone can have a classic in their garage to make them smile. I myself would prefer a Boss 429 with a SC under the hood, but Charlie down the street might be perfectly happy with this. There is a driving seat to fit any sized bum. I know a guy who has an iron duke four in a Camaro. Gets plenty of lookers at the shows. I was at the Iola car show years back and two Challengers sat side by side. Both hoods up. One was an obviously built big block, the other was a standard well kept slant six. Care to guess which one got more lookers and started more conversations? Maybe this is kind of the same thing.