In my years of involvement in the classic car scene, I have never heard an owner say, “I wish my car had less power.” Usually, the quest is for additional ponies under the hood, and if you feel that way, this 1998 Mustang SVT Cobra could be the car for you. In standard form, it offered impressive power and performance. However, this one wears a supercharger that should take things to the next level. The owner has decided that the time is right for it to find a new home, and when you consider what this classic offers, the asking price looks hugely competitive. Located in Jacksonville, North Carolina, you will find the Cobra listed for sale here on Barn Finds Classifieds. You could drive off into the sunset by handing the owner $15,750, although reasonable offers will also be considered.

This Cobra is a tidy classic that has no immediate cosmetic needs. The seller indicates that a previous owner treated it to a repaint in Pearl White, and it presents nicely. He notes some blemishes where the rear wing once was, but the rest of the paint appears very presentable for a vehicle of this age. It holds an impressive depth of shine, with no glaring faults or flaws. The panels are as straight as an arrow, with none of the bruises or marks that you might expect after twenty-four years of use. It comes with a clean Carfax that indicates no prior accident damage. There is no visible rust, and since the Fourth Generation Mustang has not developed a reputation for those issues, it would be safe to assume that this car would be no different. The plastic trim has weathered the years and UV exposure well, with no cracks or physical damage. Rounding out the exterior package is a set of black 2004 Cobra wheels that add a touch of menace to this Mustang.

The Cobra’s performance potential was nothing to sneeze at in standard form. Its DOHC 4.6-liter V8 punched out 305hp that found its way to the rear wheels via a five-speed manual transmission. Anyone who doubted its credentials was forced to eat their words when it proved capable of storming the ¼ mile in 13.8 seconds before winding its way to 140mph. Our feature car offers potential buyers all that and more. The owner has treated the little V8 to a rebuild using stock internals. The process includes new seals, gaskets, belts, a Ford Performance oil pump, ARP head studs, and stainless steel valves. All of this is merely the entree because the main course is a Vortec V3 supercharger producing six pounds of boost. The owner employed a performance specialist to calibrate the engine to a safe level. They didn’t have access to a dyno, but it would be safe to assume that plenty of extra ponies are set to find their way to the road. The buyer may choose to hand the car to a shop to confirm the power output and see if they could squeeze more from the setup. However, since the package is safe and reliable as-is, they may decide to leave it untouched. The Cobra runs and drives well, and the owner says that its manners are good enough that it could serve as a daily driver. That’s an intriguing prospect.

Ford produced 5,174 examples of the SVT Cobra Coupe in 1998, and a mere 434 of those featured White paint and Saddle leather trim. This is one of those cars, and its interior presents well for its age. There is some visible wear on the wheel rim, but I have seen owners successfully restore the damage in a home workshop for peanuts. The leather on the deeply-contoured front seats has developed the normal creases that are part of this material’s character, but there are no rips, wear, or other physical damage. The remaining trim and upholstery looks excellent, and the Cobra is not short on luxury appointments. These include driver and passenger airbags, power windows, power locks, a power decklid release, a power driver’s seat, power mirrors, cruise control, a tilt wheel, and an AM/FM radio and CD player.

The 1998 Mustang SVT Cobra confirmed that Ford had rediscovered its performance mojo and that model offered performance levels that hadn’t been seen since the late 1960s. Our feature car provides all that and more. It should produce the sort of power that would allow it to compete with newer models in a package that gives no clues of the potential hiding beneath. If you look at this classic purely from a “bang for your bucks” perspective, it is a genuine winner worthy of careful consideration.