The Auto Channel
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
Official Website of the New Car Buyer

1997 Ford Mustang Cobra (1997). . . Yes it is a Cobra!

Ford

5 June 1997

Ford is only making a few thousand Mustang Cobra buzz bombs. They sure as heck aren't sporty cars for everyone. The base price for a pure vanilla V-6 Ford Mustang coupe for 1997 is $15,250, but if you want to drive the full-house rip-roarin' tire smokin' 4.6 liter V8, DOHC powered convertible with 305 HP, the sticker rises to 28 grand. So if you want a Corvette baiter, you pay for the performance.

We zapped around in the Cobra coupe, distinguished on the exterior by a neat rear spoiler and a Shelby Cobra-like coiled serpent s emblem on each flank. Mustang? Flank? Get it?

This four place sporster is not a car for the faint of heart--nor, for that matter, for anyone who lives in a sedate, quiet, hospital zone-like neighborhood. The V-8 wails. It differs from its stock baby brother Mustang thusly: One inch longer overall One inch higher Half-inch less front tread width 200 lbs heavier One inch less leg room on Cobra Gas mileage: Cobra, 18/26; standard V-8, 17/26

We found the 5-speed trans in the Cobra to be extremely smooth, especially when grabbing reverse gear--and especially since we had just had a grim experience (with 4th) in a well known 2 seater sporty car that cost $13,000 more than the Cobra.

As expected in any car that emphasizes speed and performance, the 4-wheel disc brakes on this special edition Mustang are built to take punishment: the front discs are 3-inches larger than the stock stud, rears are one-inch larger.

Ford has come up with a new security system called PATS--passive anti-theft system. It uses an encoded ignition key with a transponder to electronically disable the engine if the transponder code does not match a pre-set code in the electronic engine control system. Each Mustang transponder has one million billion possible codes.

The stoplight grand prix giveaway as to the "real" identity of the Ford Mustang is the beautiful V-8 motor rumble and the wide 17X8.0 Goodyear tires that spell performance.

The Mustang is 33 years old and it just keeps rompin' and stompin'-- not only in legal GT street fun, but SCCA Trans-Am racing as well.

Bill Maloney -- The Auto Channel