Ford to launch Mustang Cobra Jet factory drag racer this summer
1968 Ford Mustang Cobra Jet
Ford has a long history of creating factory-built racers based on its regular production cars. Over the past four decades, most of those have have been derived from the Mustang. Since the mid-90s, that has included several runs of Cobra Rs, and today, a couple of variants of the FR500. Later this summer, Ford will revive another Mustang variant from the first generation when the Cobra Jet is reborn. The original Cobra Jet was built as a drag racing special with a high-torque long-stroke 428 cu. in. V8. Forty years later, Ford will be building a new Cobra Jet this summer.
The new Cobra Jet will be powered by a supercharged 5.4L 32-valve V8 based on the GT500 engine. The Cobra Jet engine will be built on the same niche engine line as the GT500 and will have plenty of capacity for modifications by racers. (note: post edited at the request of the manufacturer) Ford is only planning to build 50 new Cobra Jets at the behest of a handful of dealers, who may end up buying all the cars and then re-selling them. The new drag racing specials are expected to be priced at $69,900.
[Source: Ford]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Parkerman 11:21AM (6/15/2008)
Add yet another "special" mustang to the list..
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Ohso Clutch 11:41AM (6/15/2008)
70k?
What is the market for something like this....Oh yeah. Stupid people with too much money.
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Jake 11:56AM (6/15/2008)
They should just wait until they could drop the 6.2L in the mustang and make a n/a 400 hp with potential for a lot more.
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Stuka 1:41PM (6/15/2008)
Hardly. Swap the pulley on the SC, put on some headers and a bigger throttle body, and you have 600-700 horse power. To get that power out of an NA engine that has 400hp, you have to dump a LOT of money into it.
That One Person 6:22PM (6/16/2008)
Heck, do what Roush and Saleen did and use a blown 4.6L. Pretty sad when the same car with a smaller engine and something like 50+hp LESS and that costs about the same can blow the doors off of Ford's supposed "Super Stang".
fujia 12:41PM (6/15/2008)
This is getting to be pretty sad. Complete creative bankruptcy is what it is. From a country that can always make the best, Detroit is dead or dying. Come on Ford, do one good thing before you expire.
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BoxerFan 12:48AM (6/16/2008)
Ok...
This is different than a Shelby GT500 how, exactly?
retro style - check
live axle - check
supercharged 5.4 - check
hard plastic interior - check
few actual amenities - check
outrageous price for what you get - check
oh... a slightly different supercharger, and DE-tuned. Whoopie.
This makes almost less sense than a GT500KR.
But yet, they still want to kill Mercury, because there is NO WAY they could possibly re-body and re-dress the interior as a modern looking and feeling car like a Cougar, Capri, or whatever else they might want to call it... with a modern rear suspension that can actually handle real world driving on less than track-smooth streets.
Nah... tens of thousands of people would actually buy that (if properly done), instead of say, a G37 coupe.
Not to mention that they might want to build a RWD SPORT SEDAN, for people who have use for more than two doors, Mustang or otherwise.
But lets concentrate effort, energy, and management resources on a 50-unit drag-special that is no more than a pre-market modification, rather than an aftermarket modification.
Dumb move, not bold move.
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Greg \\\ 2:39PM (6/16/2008)
There are Mustangs for everybody--not just roadracers. It's everyman's performance car--and does it all well. It would take the rest of the afternoon to list all the championships won in Mustangs and the rest of the year plus some to list all the races won in Mustangs. There are reasons over nine million of them have been sold!
Greg "Eights" Ates
Jay 4:38PM (6/16/2008)
"This is different than a Shelby GT500 how, exactly?"
Ford Racing Part Number: M-FR500-CJ
Program Intent:
Provide a Mustang that is a true A Stock competitor
50 units initial build
Off-road only (VIN replaced by serial number)
Estimated pricing, $64,990 WD, $69,990 MSRP
Model Year 2008 designation
Build in December 2008, vehicles delivered February 2009
Vehicle Content:
400 hp (est.) 5.4L DOHC supercharged engine
6-speed manual transmission standard; optional automatic TBD
NHRA legal to 10.00 sec ETs
NHRA Stock Eliminator legal interior
Lightweight - 3,300 lbs (est.)
Unique trim and appearance package
Drag race wheel/tire combination
Cobra Jet graphics package
Orders/Feedback:
Vehicle orders should be placed with the Ford Racing warehouse at 1-800-367-3786
Priority delivery will be given to orders of multiple vehicles
This order is a placeholder; dealers will not be billed until delivery of the vehicle to the dealer
An "off-road only" competition release will be required prior to delivery of a Cobra Jet to the dealer
Only 50 units are under consideration for 2008, so dealers are encouraged to submit their orders before June 30. Delivery will be prioritized based on order entry date.
Duncan 12:35PM (6/15/2008)
Just a thought - 605 could also stand for 6.0 liters and 5 valves (per cylinder). With a supercharger attached, that could easily produce well over 600 horses.
On the note of creative bankruptcy, I am somewhat inclined to agree - however, there's always the thought that if nothing else, cars like this make people at least THINK about Ford. When you consider it, there's very little that the GT-R has to do with the rest of Nissan's lineup - but it's sure got us talking about Nissan, huh?
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Duncan 12:38PM (6/15/2008)
I just noticed the article does say "5.4L". My note still stands, in that an enterprising competitor could easily bore or stroke to 6.0 liters as necessary.
fujia 1:31PM (6/15/2008)
The GTR did get us talking about Nissan but Nissan like most suuccesful OEM's, are pretty creative. When the 350Z came out iin 2003, it beat the Corvette as the nr. 1 sports car seller in the US for two years running. It is not about forum buzz or hype, it is about successful products and more importantly PROFITABLE products. 50 years from now, we'll be looking at the Detroit auto industry as one that killed itself with itsw own hands.
Conor 3:16PM (6/15/2008)
Detroit will be here in 50 years. Maybe GM won't have 8 or 10 companies, and Mercury will be long, long gone, and Chrysler won't be making trucks, and Dodge will be making just Rams. Who knows. Americans will always be there.
TwinTurboVR4 12:38PM (6/15/2008)
with production numbers that small, i doubt any will ever even see a dragstrip. A shame, really...
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svt boost 1:23PM (6/15/2008)
this engine is the GT500 engine with a different supercharger, the TVS 2300--the ford racing unit you can currently buy. It is the same supercharger coming out on the new ZR1 corvette. With a pulley swap, a new throttle body, and headers, this blower combo on a GT500 is capable of 700rwhp. Its no joke at the drag strip.
This engine the "605" is also currently available as a crate engine, and in the Shelby Super Snake
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Parkerman 1:46PM (6/15/2008)
also.. I wonder how it will compare to the Stripped down Challenger Chrysler plans on making.
Parkerman 1:46PM (6/15/2008)
Ugh... Didn't mean to reply to that..
Yar 1:28PM (6/15/2008)
Factory drag racer? Let me guess, THIS one will have IRS.
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Stuka 1:43PM (6/15/2008)
IRS is actually terrible for drag racing. As when the back end squats, the tires change track and camber, causing you to loose a lot of traction. A solid rear axle is the *BEST* setup for drag racing, period. You will always have constant track width and constant camber. Which is why EVERY drag racer (top fuel, funny cars, bracket racers) use a solid rear axle.
Yar 1:57PM (6/15/2008)
I know, I own a GTO, I was being sarcastic. You know, Ford puts an SRA on the street car and IRS on the drag car, get it?