Click above for a high-res gallery of the Ford Mustang FR500CJ Cobra Jet
We first told you about Ford's new Mustang Cobra Jet factory drag car in June of 2007 and last week Ford posted a video on YouTube of a test session with the new car showing its stuff at Milan DragWay. Now we've received some fresh high-res pics of the Cobra Jet in our inbox from Ford. Last we heard Ford is only building 50 of these drag race specials all of which are powered by a blown 5.4-liter 32-valve V8 based on the GT500 motor. This engine has been breathed on a little more heavily then the GT500 and the car looks like it's been stripped down. With the usual drag combo of skinny front and fat rear tires, this Cobra looks like it might be a contender.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Justin @ Oct 7th 2008 9:36AM
There are more than enough Mustang variants out there...but I like the looks of this.
Kitko @ Oct 7th 2008 9:44AM
Smokin' pix, kind of sums up what this car can do.
I'm wondering why we never see photos of this car negotiating tight and twisitng mountain roads, corners on a racing circuit, cutting chicanes and driving aggressively over the kerbs...
jeepnautique @ Oct 7th 2008 10:53AM
um, maybe because this is "Ford's new Mustang Cobra Jet factory drag car".
last i checked drag cars aren't made for much more than going straight, and hopefully only 1/4 mile at a time.
Brad @ Oct 7th 2008 10:53AM
This was released yesterday:
FORD MUSTANGS CLINCH ROAD RACING CHAMPIONSHIPS IN NORTH AMERICA AND EUROPE
http://forums.bradbarnett.net/showthread.php?t=473347
Christian @ Oct 7th 2008 11:21AM
Brad, you forgot to mention the Championship Winning cars are identical chassis to the dealer bought versions, same suspension design, including the exact same "archaic" wagon solid rear axle.
Mustang > M3, 997, 350Z, GTO and > all the loser class cars like Cobalt, Accord, RSX, TSX, civic and Z4
Red @ Oct 7th 2008 9:53AM
Another week. Another Mustang variant.
Yaroukh @ Oct 7th 2008 10:23AM
whatever
John @ Oct 7th 2008 2:00PM
Another week, another useless post adding absolutely no value to the discussion.
Randy @ Oct 7th 2008 2:37PM
Make that 3 posts! Well, um, now 4!
See what happens?
jcar302 @ Oct 7th 2008 10:17AM
Another week another whiner.
Get over over it. At least say why you don't like the car if you are going to go through the trouble of posting. There's a million posts about mercedez variants, i hope you complain there to.
I'll reserve my judgement on this car until i see the weight of it, and the timeslip.
Bluestreak @ Oct 7th 2008 10:26AM
That paint job is retro in a bad way. Some things should stay buried in the past. Otherwise I like the stripper looks, but it's too bad the functionality of the hood scoop really hurts the visual appeal. Lack of a rear wing is always a plus.
Overall I'm not much for straight-line antics. I'd like to see a 'Stang modified for the twisties, maybe even with a (lighter) blown V6. Alternatively, it'd be nice if Ford offered a RWD lightweight for canyon carving.
cavediver @ Oct 7th 2008 10:36AM
Just like 'back in the day' when Tasca Ford developed the original Cobra Jet and Ford went on to produce them in limited numbers for NHRA competition in 1968. They kicked butt then and had the 'rat motor' Chevy's and 'hemi' Mopar's on the trailer early everyplace they ran.
Hats off to Ford for keeping their racing heritage alive and well!
416Hammy @ Oct 7th 2008 10:36AM
Those cobra stickers and window louvers will look WICKED with my new mullet.
nighttime @ Oct 7th 2008 11:04AM
wait.
Mustang FR500CJ Cobra Jet
so thats Ford Mustang Ford Racing 500 Cobra Jet Cobra Jet
...?
Holden Miecranc @ Oct 7th 2008 11:31AM
Instead of complaining, maybe people should appreciate the fact that Ford is putting forth the effort to showcase the Mustang in as many ways as possible. Factory involvement in projects such as this and the Challenger drag package, harken back to a glorious part of American automotive history. Just because drag racing may not be your first choice of automotive competition, doesn't mean others don't appreciate it.
Would you rather manufacturers let vehicles wither on the vine and die or showcase them in various ways to appeal to as many customers as possible? There more they sell, the more likely the version you like best will stay or become available.
mcrev @ Oct 7th 2008 11:36AM
Bahh I thought they would have used the new 7.0L hurricane rather then the 5.4 truck motor for this special edition. 7.0L -700hp @ 7,000rpm even if detuned seems like a better option.
Ford needs to stop all the special editions with the same old 4.6L or 5.4L engines. No more new special editions unless a different engine lies under the hood as it was back in the day. The mustang would not be what it is today in terms of history if ford had kept a 289 V8 in every model yet called them the Cobra Jet, GT350, GT500 etc. A different name means both more bark & bite, creating special edition names with the same old engine = all bark no bite.
I remember when saleen introduced the S351R in 95-96, at least that beast sounded like something far different then the standard 4.6L mill.
Jay Evans @ Oct 7th 2008 12:47PM
Look folks this car is built to NHRA specs for Stock Eliminator class. It's not a street car.
It had to approved by the NHRA and that's why it's a detuned supercharged 5.4 with 400 HP and not the 500 HP Shelby engine.
You people need to read more and bitch less.
MONTE @ Oct 7th 2008 11:52AM
For people that like real acceleration a car like this is ideal. I love drag racing and have been wanting to see a car along the lines of the Fox body LX coupe come back, and this is pretty close. Everyone can compare slalom times all they want, but for acceleration, cars setup like this and the Challenger drag pack are what I want. Give me the option to buy a stripped manual door/window car with no fancy electronics but the top end engine and I will do it, just like so many people did in the '80s and '90s.
Brad @ Oct 7th 2008 12:34PM
This isn't a special edition. It's a race car. It's not street legal, and they're only making 50.
John @ Oct 7th 2008 1:04PM
To all the complainers, given then choice to own "another lame Mustang variant" and your car, I'll choose the lame Mustang variant.