1993 Mustang Cobra vs. 40th Anniversary: Which would you prefer?

[Mark E.]

In 1993, I lusted for a new 40th Anniversary Corvette. A ZR-1 would be the ultimate but a LT1 6-speed would be okay too. Problem was, I couldn't afford $40,000, let alone $70,000 for King of the Hill.

So I settled on a 1993 Ford Mustang Cobra- the last hurrah for the Fox body. It featured a 5.0 with GT40 heads, special intake and larger throttle body to deliver 20HP more than other V8 Mustangs, Goodyear Gaterbacks with unique 17" directional wheels, special suspension bits, 4 wheel disc brakes (lesser Mustangs still used disc/drum), unique bumpers, rear quarter windows, rear spoiler, body cladding, badging.

Since it was fall of 1993, production ended and only a few Cobras remained on dealer lots. After a three day telephone search of Ford dealers in a 200 mile radius of Dallas (this was pre-internet), I found one with the color and options I wanted in Waco. A buddy of mine flew me from Dallas to Waco in his Cessna to pick up the car from Bird Kultgen Ford. MSRP was $22,000 and I got a deal for $21,000 including TTL because it was sitting in the showroom for seven months.

Compared to the Corvette I really wanted, it had 65 less HP, one less gear, no ABS, no traction control, a live rear axle, an econo-car interior with hard plastic everywhere, and seat backs that bent backward when I sat in them. But it was mine, and I really enjoyed its uniqueness and fun factor before I sold it four years later.

Fast forward to 2022: A twin of my Cobra with 6,900 miles sold for $72,000 at Mecum Orlando this week. That's over 3 times the price (and market value) of the 14,000 mile 40th Anniversary coupe I acquired last week. In the Cobra's defense, it is more rare with fewer than 5,000 produced.

Now I can't afford the Mustang. How times change.

Here's a photo and link to my first new car's twin that sold at Mecum Orlando this week:

https://www.mecum.com/lots/FA0722-529301/1993-ford-mustang-svt-cobra/

1993 Cobra.jpg

[Keith B.]

[Leif A.]

Re: 1993 Mustang Cobra vs. 40th Anniversary: Which would you prefer?

Being a kid in the 90’s it was Mustangs vs Camaros never Mustangs vs Corvette. The Mustangs never impressed me at all and they are everywhere today

Being a teenager in the '60s, it was Mustangs vs Camaros...never (even remotely) Mustangs vs Corvette.

[Mark H.]

Re: 1993 Mustang Cobra vs. 40th Anniversary: Which would you prefer?

mt 67.JPG

My .02: The only time I can recall any Corvette/Mustang comparison is with Shelby Mustangs. That ended when Shelby stopped making cars. But Ford had the rights to the name "Cobra" and proceeded to slap on whatever they saw fit. There was a low budget version of the Torino with a 428 to compete with the Plymouth Roadrunner that Ford called a "Cobra". They even had a "Cobra" version of the Mustang II. As to why '93 Mustang Cobras are gaining value I think there's two reasons: A) First year of the Mustang "Cobra" and B) Last year of the Fox body. And then you can also factor in on your example that of the three colors available, Red, Black, and Teal, there were fewer teal than the other colors.

[Owen L.]

Re: 1993 Mustang Cobra vs. 40th Anniversary: Which would you prefer?

Being a teenager in the '60s, it was Mustangs vs Camaros...never (even remotely) Mustangs vs Corvette.

My turn...
Being a teenager in the '70s, it was Camaros vs Mustangs. The Corvettes were in a league of their own against Jaguars and Porsches.

[Duke W.]

Re: 1993 Mustang Cobra vs. 40th Anniversary: Which would you prefer?

I drove an '88 Saleen Mustang in the '89 Silver State Classic Challenge. I recall the engine was rated at 220 SAE net HP @ 4200, but I installed the Ford Performance Parts, H-pipe that eliminated the cats, an underdrive crank pulley, bumped up the initial timing a few degrees, and removed the fan for the race. It was definitely stronger up top and the best sounding V-8 exhaust system I've ever heard.

We recorded 4550 peak revs in fifth and were radar gunned at 159 MPH, but I think we did as high as 161. Our average was only 140 because the first third of the 92-mile course was wet due to an earlier rain shower, and I held it to 130. Once the road dried out and I floored the throttle it got up to 140 pretty quick, but the next 20 MPH was gained fairly slow. If we had been able to run flat out all the way we would have averaged over 150.

It was a sweet ride.

I've always considered those Fox body Mustangs to be the "'55 Chevy" of the nineties.

I helped a relative special order a '90 Mustang GT two door sedan (notchback with a trunk), red with a black interior, four-speed OD automatic, and the little known, no cost optional "performance axle ratio" (3.27:1, 3.08 was standard). We did the deal with a broker friend of mine, and IIRC the price less tax and license was less than $12K - a hell of a deal!

That was a GREAT car! Tons of low end torque, with lazy high speed cruising, excellent handling, and ABS. I wanted one myself, but I already had too many cars.

Duke

[Brad Hillhouse (37766)]

Re: 1993 Mustang Cobra vs. 40th Anniversary: Which would you prefer?

Over the years I was lucky to own each color of the 1993 Cobra variants, a "7-up" convertible and two Chrome Yellow convertibles over the years. If you know the rare ones of those years, I had a 96 Cobra with Mystic paint that was a show stopper. Had the opportunity to buy a 93 R code, but just couldn't swing it at the time. sigh....

The Fox body Saleens were a ton of fun to drive as well, here's a pic of my 7,000 mile 1989 that I owned 20 some years ago.

There was something magic about the sound of a 302 with Flowmasters that I have never been able to replicate in a Corvette

89Saleen 079.jpg