Ford called its 1969 Cobra “the nearest thing to a NASCAR stocker you can bolt a license plate onto,” and most Cobra buyers opted for the aerodynamic SportsRoof version. One of 3786 non-SportsRoof or Hardtops, this 1969 Ford Cobra in Nevada, Texas also came with power windows, one of 34 Cobra Hardtops so equipped. While the original 428 cid (7.0L) CobraJet V8 has gone missing, a bored and built 390 short-block (not installed) comes with the sale, along with CobraJet heads and other parts. Some assembly required! The listing here on eBay has attracted at least three bidders to the tune of $6,000 without meeting the seller’s Reserve.
In lieu of an engine picture (not included with the listing) take a look at that undercarriage! Aside from a dent or two it looks well-preserved and structurally sound. The $10 ratchet straps holding the transmission in place certainly inspire confidence. Joking aside, they are likely providing support in place of the never-installed engine.
That dainty shifter recalls the later Mustang II unit, though this one mates up to a sturdy three-speed C6 automatic transmission. A healthy C6 can withstand plenty of punishment, though the 3.00 rear gears suggest this car’s original buyer enjoyed frightening the competition with the Ram Air hood scoop more than shredding the tires for a block when the light turned green. In addition to power windows, this Cobra came with air conditioning, tinted windows, power steering, power brakes, and more. The seller includes a Marti Report with a full run-down in the listing.
Originally Brittany Blue, this Ford product acquired a Chevy-looking appliance white respray that still shows a little shine, or is that just water? My grandfather said “Never car shop in the rain,” because the paint jobs all look better when wet. Despite the SportsRoof’s use in NASCAR, Ford included the Hardtop prominently in its brochures. Only the rarest and most complete original muscle cars hold their value these days, and that may explain the tepid bidding on this Cobra. If you wanted a project car more than an alternative to your 401k, though, it’s hard to go wrong with an original Ram-Air Cobra, and this one looks pretty solid. Would you take a chance on this interesting hardtop muscle car?
Semantics aside, while it may be “hard to go wrong with an original Ram-Air Cobra…”, this sure isn’t one, other than the remaining shell, and a lot of scary looking colors at the boxes. Hard pass.
I’d like to know how many 4 speeds to automatics were built for a 1969 cobra.Any body out there know
Without the 428 what’s the point? Looks like lots of work for not much reward.
The bottom view of the undercarriage looks good but the interior view of the floorboards is suspect…Pass…
I wonder how you shift in a car with both a floor and column shift.
it’s called a “dual automatic”
What you never heard of double clutching?
That was pretty sharp car when it was new!
Should have taken the $6K. Even though a sucker is born ever minute, a sucker with $6K willing to buy that heap, not so much.
You are wrong.
The 1969 formal roof Cobra’s have been gaining popularity for years. Fastback versions have long been sought after, and are rare, the formal roof variant, even when new, were incredibly hard to find. Not many made and more than a few were parted out for their drivetrain. They have become very popular among hard core Ford enthusiasts over the last few years. One of my friends has been trying to find one that’s reasonably priced, but is yet to come across any. Expect this to finish between $10,000 and $12,000, possibly more. He would have instantly hit the BIN if this was priced anywhere close to the number you assumed was out of line.
Steve R
A fairly decent ‘Cobra’ (were these not called Torinos?) until you see the interior (or lack thereof).
In ‘70 the Cobra became a Torino. In ‘69 they were promoted as a stand alone Cobra although their body ID was the same as a standard Fairlane. Most just assume they’re Torinos. Ford definitely knew how to mix things up didn’t they?
This Cobra has potential but it would take a dedicated enthusiastic buyer/restorer to bring it back to its glory. If that C-6 strapped in is the original trans that backed the CJ it’s the best production C-6 Ford built. It would have the R code servo that provided an amazing hard shift into 2nd and a cast iron tail shaft housing.
This is a well optioned and rare car. Bidding near the end should be interesting. Serious Ford enthusiasts understand what they are looking at, the rest don’t matter. This was a sleeper when new and is still the sort of car that gets ignored by most.
Steve R
In high school I had a 69 fastback Torino, and my (future)brother inlaw had a 68 fast back Torino. Friends dad had 68 fastback Fairlane. All the same car just different badges. This car is identical to my 69 minus the roof. Ford also threw a Talladega badge on the fastback.
‘My grandfather said “Never car shop in the rain,”.’
My dad said ‘never buy a car at night, they all look good.’
Car turned from blue to white if report is right.
Fords answer to the Road Runner without the sports roof is a sleeper style cop car with Cobra emblems. A real runner in its day, even those pathetic highway gears can’t hold back the wheel spinning power of a CJ428. And that’s probably why it’s gone MIA. Nobody was interested in these Fords for years and years anyways. Even still,
I looked to buy one of these in ’84 after high school and had one serious problem…there weren’t any around at least for sale. Zero to be precise. I figured Ford only pretended to build them they were so rare. Ha ha.
I see them now and over the past decade or so more than ever before.
I did a Google search and the only ’69 Cobras that showed up were fastbacks. (?)
I was working at small town, Grandview, WA, Ford dealership in the summer of ‘69. I was, still am, a Ford fanatic. Geo. Muggli Ford Sales was so small the showroom had room for only one vehicle. Separating the dealership by only an alley was the Mopar dealership. A much larger operation with many Roadrunners, Super Bees (they were a combination Dodge-Plymouth dealer) GTX’s and RT’s. Even a couple 6 Pack Super Bees were sold there that summer. I was able to convince the owner and sales manager of Muggli Ford that we needed at least one performance oriented Ford on our lot rather than all pickups and LTD’s. So they relented and let me order one. I checked the boxes the order form for a black on black formal roof Cobra with the only options being a radio, the automatic (sales manager did mandate that option … he didn’t like 4 speeds), Ram-Air and best of all – the Drag Pack with 3.91 rear gearing. The closest drag strip was north of Spokane – Deer Park Drag Strip. NHRA Sanctioned. Three or four fellow Muggli Ford employees would pile into the Cobra for the 225 mile drive to that strip on many Saturdays. We’d check in getting classified as C Pure Stock. I got to be the designated driver for that summer due to my somewhat limited experience drag racing my ‘66 Fairlane 390GTA. That Muggli Ford Cobra would run consistently in the high 13’s at 101/102 mph. I found leaving the column control C-6 in Drive was best. Just mild power braking, launch carefully allowing the Polyglas GT 14” bias plies to hook and then nail the accelerator allowing the Holley 735 CFM gulp fuel and cool air. When that R Servo’ed C-6 made its shift to 2nd – hold on! The Cobra would fishtail as it burned those Goodyears. The best ET that Cobra got that year was when “crew-member” and dealership owner’s son took over. He ran a 13.6! He was at least a 100lbs lighter than me. We won a trophy for C Pure Stock every time put but once – “pro-driver” red lighted.
What a car. Sold to a local kid in the fall. He totaled it just before Thansgiving.
Did business improve after the Cobra arrived?
Not as far as selling Ford Performance cars. We did sell one Boss 302 via a dealer trade and one Mach I with 351W 4bbl. /4 speed. I returned to college. Geo. Muggli Ford Sales continued to do well selling Ford trucks, LTD’s, and Mavericks. Grandview was an agriculturally based town. Trucks were necessary.The parts department guy, there was just one, ordered a beautiful ‘70 Cobra, Calypso Coral (Orange) 429 Super CJ (Drag-Pack), automatic, 3.91s and the Shaker Scoop Ram-Air. It also was an excellent performer.
Wow. The reluctant owner who barely let you order it allowed you take a brand new car drag racing? Or was it that he didn’t work on Saturdays…
The “reluctant owner” was the dealership owner. He and the sales manager thought it would be fun knowing the Cobra would be offered for sale in the fall of ‘69. Pure Stock drag racing mandated no modifications. The Cobra was well cared for to say the least.
@McQ…enjoyed your story, thanks for sharing it
Love this body. 390 with a 4 spd would be the way to go for me.
And it’s a Cobra, not a Torino.
In my opinion a little pricy. Wouldn’t mind getting my hands on it though.
I agree. No 428CJ or even a replacement 428 makes this a no go. $6000 for a rusted body shell and it hasn’t met reserve? Walk away people!
I’ve bid up to 7500. I have attempted to contact the seller no less than 4 times…4 times folks. I would be interested in pursuing the car. BUT, I can’t do so with confidence when the seller will not provide an answer to any of my questions.
If I had the $$$ & weren’t in such poor health, I’d buy this car in a heartbeat. Do a full resto & depending on the included 390, might opt for a Roush 427. I’d paint it Presidential blue & use a black vinyl “period correct” interior. I don’t understand the “rarity” comments. These cars were plentiful in TN in the 80’s.
My friend JD had 1 in high school. Originally light blue with a white vinyl top, JD along with his Dad & brother Tony, completely rebuilt & restored the car but changed it to fire engine red with a black vinyl top. It was his pride & joy.
But an old lady ran a red light & t-boned him. So he bought a 2nd 1 & did the 2nd 1 the same as the 1st, only for another lady to smash into him & crush the car against a power pole.
After that, he bought a new F-150 “sleeper race truck”, 302 & 5 speed.
Yeah Mark, I think the rarity thing also had to do with where you lived. For myself in suny San Diego these really were a needle in the haystack, so to speak, the land of Chevrolet.
Pre- internet/social media era the 80’s were car shopping was very limited for a seventeen year who needed wheels like yesterday.
I tried, I really did try and find a midsized Ford with fangs under the hood that could nearly pull the front tires off the ground And pass the newly enforced smog inspection program California had passed, with no luck at all. Mustangs were everywhere, including my own ’66, but the idea of a Fairlane, Torino…only one I had a stab at was a ’66 GTA street machine, had a 428 with 427 medium riser heads, intake, solid cam, etc, etc. Nothing Ford had offered, and was talked out of it. Absolute butt kicking screamer, smog was not happening so I walked…..oh if only I knew.
These actually are quite rare with that roof and Cobra jet power.
Yes I agree with your assertion of regional availability. I lived my life hearing the myth of SoCal car culture. But so many people do not know of the mid-south car culture. There was & still are tons of people with barns & buildings packed FULL of old cars. Many extremely valuable. Tom Cotter’s made a career of showing it. “Barn Find Hunter” on YT. Back in 1992 (?) I was helping work in the garden @ my friend Ralph’s grandparent’s, his GranDad came out to go into his “hanger” & asked if I were into old cars. I said yes, of course & he showed me a collection of pristine Camaro’s 67-80 & he had 1 Mustang. A 69 dark green Mach 1 that he’d gotten from a friend as payment for a debt. (Grandad was a Chevy guy) & said I could have it for $2000. All it needed was pinch rollers for the windows, a battery & new tires. But I didn’t have the cash. I regret that day, nearly as bad as the day I moved away from East TN.
Be well & have a Blessed day my friend !!!!!
Oh btw, when Grandad passed away, the family sold all those cars for pennies of the dollar :-(
That was in 1995 but wouldn’t you have paid $3000 for a museum quality 69 Z-28 ?????
I’m a Ford guy but I sure would have.
This is not a ram air car. The ram air scoop is the breather coming thru a hole in the hood. This car has a bolt on scoop
This missing numbers matching engine is an invitation to make this a really nice restomod without worrying about ruining an original car
Reserve not met at $9,700. No sale
Looks like carpet padding is still on floor , bottom view looks in great shape , looks like California car judging by plate on rear bumper