The Fox-body Ford Mustang came in many forms, but one of the less often spotted variants is the Cobra model with the 2.3-liter turbocharged engine. This example is said to be a barn find that was stored in a garage since the 1980s, and it appears to have emerged in unscathed condition. While the Cobra branding may be a turn-off to tried-and-true Mustang enthusiasts when equipped with a turbocharged engine, the Mustang was at least a respectable performer with less than eight cylinders, and this example has the added appeal of being in unmodified condition. Find the Mustang here on craigslist in Fort Lauderdale, Florida for $4,900.
The Mustang Cobra was definitely scaled down for the early 1980s and in the preceding years with the Cobra II. Ford, like many other manufacturers, was grappling with how to be a muscle car manufacturer while paying mind to the need for reduced fuel consumption and greater efficiency. The answers weren’t always the best at this point in our history, but turbocharging has clearly become a mainstay of the industry and a proven way to extract more power while not consuming as much fuel as an eight-cylinder model. The interior of this generation of the Cobra wasn’t particularly special, not even getting the Recaro seats that came in the pace car editions. The cabin does look complete, but a bit tired.
The bodywork is nice and clean, looking laser-straight down the sides. The original TRX wheels are still mounted, which can be a pain to find tires for, but it speaks to the originality of this example. The Cobra also wore subtle badges and came with a hood scoop, both of which are accounted for here. Overall, the car appears to be very original, and whatever storage arrangement it had has at least kept the cosmetics looking fresh. While Florida can be hit or miss depending on how close vintage tin is parked near the ocean, this Mustang looks to have been kept somewhere away from the salt air.
Even if we don’t consider the turbo Cobra to be much of a muscle car, it at least was considered desirable enough at the time to get its own scale model kit tribute. The Fox-body is growing in appreciation every day, and that includes survivors of every configuration. While the turbo Cobra isn’t collectible by the standards of being a true performance car, cars like this are certainly worth preserving for their stock mechanicals and (presumably) rust-free body. Throw in the fact that it’s a manual and the asking price seems fair to my eyes. What do you think – is this barn find Mustang Cobra worth the $4,900 ask?
From the (typically-skimpy) Craigslist ad, it doesn’t look bad, just neglected–apparently for decades. The turbo four wasn’t well-sorted-out, I wonder if that was why it was parked. Lots of surface rust underhood, but maybe no body cancer. I can’t tell if the interior is moldy or if the plastics have started to decompose, which isn’t uncommon. Can’t tell if the dash grille areas are cracked (that is common), but at least there aren’t any big cracks.
The price isn’t bad but beware, there will be lots of things to sort out and spiff up on a car which, in top condition, isn’t particularly valuable. At least not yet. And that original or repro parts are surprisingly hard to find, as compared to the newer Foxes.
The TRX tires are available, just expensive. The repro 16″ TRX wheels look very similar and is the way many people now go.
I like these Cobras, they are rarely seen at big Mustang shows despite respectable sales numbers. I hope a Fox Body fan will bring it back to life.
Aside: who would have thought at the time that the humble Fox Body platform would be around for well over a decade and would spawn Mustang models which now trade for $50k-plus. Or that turbo four cylinders would be a staple of today’s cars.
I built that kit as a kid!
At this point in time the Cobra was living on its past reputation. As mentioned above, these were not well sorted out engines. As a non running car that’s been sitting for decades that will need an unknown amount of work to make it road worthy and reliable, anywhere approaching the asking price someone would be better off finding an 87 and newer 5.0 Mustang, preferably an LX. They will wind up with a better car and one with a ready market if they ever choose to sell.
Steve R
Plenty of these restored and a few simple mods can upgrade they’re performance ability . The fuel injected turbo make more power but these were a stepping stone to better performance from fewer cylinders. The great grandfather to todays 2.3 turbo mustang.
That interior has been under water. Dirt in the stitching of the wheel? Dirt, silty dirt, everywhere.
lota struggles in the 80s (CFI, TBI, size, style, weight, & more), this aint bad tho.
Pluses for me? the hatch, TFI, turbo, fox (sz, suspension, mod-ability), Lima (I think) motor…
Thnx for bringin it Jeff. The yr/model is centered in the current nostalgia buying public. I have prepped them fr this type of sale for awhile now~
I had a ’79 Ghia hatchback with the turbo and four speed. Nice car, until the camshaft wore out and gave it a slight miss. Second child came, so I traded for a Country Squire, Wish I still had the Country Squire…