The Fox body generation of the Ford Mustang Cobra represented perhaps one of the broader introductions of a collectible Ford in the modern era. While cars like the Saleen Mustang and ASC McLaren cars had existed up this point, the Cobra served as a homecoming of sorts after years of dominance in the muscle car field with the Shelby Mustangs that were still considered the high watermark for collectible cars from the blue oval when the Fox-chassis Cobra was introduced. Today, it remains a collectible model, and low mileage examples like this one here on eBay command strong money.
Now, I am not suggesting that the Fox body Cobra is about to overtake the original Shelby cars for fast Ford dominance; not at all. However, when you think about what passed for a high-performance, limited-production Ford model in the 1980s, there wasn’t a lot that was destined to be a future collectible. Even the Saleen Mustangs – which are among my favorite Fords ever – were initially more about suspension tuning and styling than about raw performance. This particular Mustang Cobra has just under 18,000 miles on the clock and looks nearly brand new inside and out. It’s hard to say whether the sunroof delete makes it any more rare, but it’s generally preferred by enthusiasts to own a performance car with a solid roof.
The early 90s were a great time in general to be a performance car enthusiast. Both the domestics and the import brands were getting into it, with Ford producing cars like this along with the F-150 Lightning pickup, along with GMC building the Syclone and Typhoon. The import brands were pushing out some screamers as well, with the introduction of models like the VW Corrado and the Acura Integra GS-R. All in all, it’s not surprising to see cars like this Mustang Cobra and others from the era riding a nostalgia boom as new-age collectors seek to buy their dream cars from high school. Despite the low miles, this Cobra does show a few mods, like the smoked headlight lenses and a cold air intake.
There are a few other tweaks as well, including a Bassani SS cat-back exhaust, a B&M short shifter, Bilstein shocks, H&R lowering springs, and more. Frankly, I wouldn’t have touched a car like this, or I would have returned it to stock if I purchased it with these modifications as they are all easily reversible and don’t add any real value. The seller is asking $58,000 or best offer, which is a price tag that seems more realistic to be if it remained in factory fresh condition. Still, we’ve seen low mileage Cobras trading hands for over $40,000 pretty reliably, so a $50K sale is not out of the question.
I don’t think the lack of a sunroof should hurt this ‘Stang at all. In fact, that’s what I prefer.
What WILL hurt, in my opinion, is some of the changes. I still remember the Fox-body Cobras pretty well, and the last thing they needed was any aftermarket changes. And, being innately suspicious, I have to wonder about how hard the previous owner(s) drove it just to show off the alterations.
Never drove a GT 350, so won’t say the Cobra is better or worse, but stock examples are pretty wonderful just as they are.
The price is too high, at least now, but I’m sure it will go up for solid, original examples. Inevitably, that rising tide will lift modified Cobras as well.
My favorite color. If I could afford it, I’d be in play, and searching for factory replacement parts.
I will second RayT’s comments.
The Cobra was an excellent model as the exit ramp for the extremely long Fox Body run. They are highly desired today, with prices having rocketed upward in recent years. The teal ones seem to be the preferred color for lots of folks (me included). Normally these mods on a Fox would be no big deal, and for some, that would be the case here too. But it seems that the completely stock versions are most desired.
In any case, this is a nice example. I agree with Jeff, perhaps not to the asking price point. But who knows what it might bring in five or ten years. Also, it isn’t super low mileage to make one reluctant to drive it.
A buddy of mine had one back in the day with a sunroof. He tweaked the engine a bit and beat that thing like a rented mule. It didn’t take long for stress cracks to develop in the roof at the top rear of the doors. Didn’t matter much as it was too much car for him and he ended up writing it off anyway. Shame because it was a nice car when his parents bought it for him.
It’s not a “sunroof delete” car. The sunroof was optional, and it simply wasn’t selected for this car.
That hand brake needs to be adjusted.
Lol got that right Nick.
Nice cars w most of the factory hi-performance goodies and upgrades in one package.
Will somebody please explain to me why a cold air intake that draws from inside the engine bay is better than the stock location from inside the right fender? It seems like the air would be warmer. Also, that e brake is probably disconnected. I know, mine is too and I’ve been meaning to fix it. Got to be able to do those 180 degree brake turns. ;-)
You are absolutely correct. This is a HOT air intake and probably cost 10-20 HP. It’s one of the worst money-grabbing gimmicks in the aftermarket.
if a car has a sunroof optional and one isn’t ordered, how does that make it a ‘sunroof delete’?
wish writers would quit the term..
Indeed! Along with ‘radio delete’. Kiddies, when these cars were built if you didn’t choose (and ay for) an accessory, you didn’t get it. There was no ‘delete’ option.
I’m not a Ford fan, but the 92-93 Fox body Mustangs I’ve always liked. The ebay ad states the owner has some of the replaced parts, I’d start collecting the missing OEM parts, put them aside and enjoy driving the car, the mods make an already capable car a little more fun to drive.
58K? – it’s still a Fox body.
I’ll take a same year ZR-1 in excellent condition for 40K and spend the remaining 18K on a C6. 2 for the price of 1.