The SVT Cobra was a special Mustang model first released in 1993. It featured many upgrades over the already impressive GT. This model was only available as a fox body for one year, so these cars are relatively collectible. There are still many nice low-mileage ones around, but it can be hard to find an affordable driver-quality car. And that’s a shame because driving is what these cars did best!
Cobra-specific upgrades included a souped-up engine, upgraded tranny, tuned suspension, rear disc brakes, and special rims. The engine featured GT-40 heads, a special intake and cam, and more. Even the exhaust was modified for high flow. This all added about 30 horses and 10 foot-pounds of torque to the already decent output of Ford’s 5.0 liter V8.
This particular car is #22 of 4,993 built, so it is a pretty early car. This may or may not add value to you. It’s nice to see the certificate confirming that it’s a real-deal Cobra. It’s doubtful that people have cloned these yet, but you never know. There are a few issues that need to be discussed though.
The seller claims that the wiring harness got toasted by some cheap aftermarket headlights right after they purchased the car. That would have been discouraging. They turned it into insurance and had Ford install a new harness. Apparently, they fixed everything except an airbag module. So, as a result of all this, the car now has a rebuilt title.
The title status may turn off collectors, but it shouldn’t deter those of us who want to drive a Cobra! Hopefully, it just means that it’ll sell for a little less. The odometer is showing 70k miles and everything looks to be in great shape. This Mustang is located in Delmar, Delaware, and is listed here on eBay, where you can make a bid or buy it now for $21,500. What do you think? Does it look like a potential bargain for a special pony car?
All I know about “rebuilt” titles is that I’ve been told some insurance companies get itchy when you ask to insure a car so branded. I have heard also that some states will replace that with a clean title, but don’t know the steps involved. I’d bet it takes time and money, though….
For me, it wouldn’t mean a thing if I could afford the car, which alas, I can’t. These were exceptional drivers’ cars, which I presume this would still be, as a replacement wiring harness isn’t likely to take the fun out of hitting the twisties.
Try to talk the seller down a bit, then buy it and drive the daylights out of it.
21k for a car that burned up? Rebuilt titles are red flags and often represent fraud and worse. So the car got de-registered as a totalled vehicle at some point and car was fixed well enough to get registered again?. A carfax with original registration should find the truth but in the meantime, run away!
jv smashpalace
I just checked Carfax. Besides the salvaged certificate/rebuilt title, mileage reporting is all over the place. Not even sure of the 70k miles reported?
Very familiar w/R titles. Basically means it took a “donor car” to put the car back together (frame damage) or the Ins company just totaled it and sold it to the owner or a dealer auction for $500 letting them fix it. They usually are completely rebuilt which is the good news. Now for the really BAD news. NO insurance company will put full coverage on the vehicle, liability ONLY. So when someone breaks it (accident) you bought it. Parts only. Have a friend drives a $350K Bentley, gave $40K wrecked and fixed. How’d you like to back into something and not get anything for it? Bottom line, don’t invest any money that you could loose in a second.