Vehicle Description
Ford invested heavily in the Cobra to make it different from the
GT, and by 2001, the Cobra was a world-class performance car with a
silky-smooth 32-valve V8, chiseled lines that were also
traditional, and a leather-lined interior that looked like it
belonged in a much more expensive car. Today, these are screaming
bargains, offering 300-horsepower performance for pennies on the
dollar.
The truly shocking thing about this 2001 Cobra convertible is that
it's almost completely unmodified. If you're familiar with
Mustangs, then you're familiar with the world's biggest performance
aftermarket, and it's downright amazing that none of those hop-up
parts have found their way onto this car. Obviously owned by
serious collectors in the past, this black Cobra keeps to the stock
look, with only big red calipers behind the SVT wheels deviating
from the factory spec. The paint is incredibly well-preserved and
shows off a lifetime of being waxed on Saturdays and driven gently
to shows (after all, it only has 51,288 miles after 19 years), but
never raced or abused. Cobras received their own front and rear
fascias, so they're easy to identify on the roll, and they weren't
so crazy low that the chin took a beating. This car looks a couple
years old, not decades, and given the usual life of a Mustang,
that's a rare find indeed.
The two-tone tan leather interior is simply gorgeous. Is this
really a Mustang? Suede inserts are grippy, which is what you want
in a car that can corner like this, and there are Cobra emblems
everywhere you look (what, was this car built by Carroll Shelby?).
Cobras came only one way: loaded. As a result, things like A/C,
power windows, locks, and driver's seat, cruise control, and a tilt
wheel were standard equipment. The seats show almost no wear, again
a testament to both the quality of the Cobra and the care it has
received. Everything works, of course, and your new Cobra only came
with a 5-speed manual gearbox in 2001. A power convertible top
straps down easily and offers a clean profile when it's stowed, and
even the trunk is reasonably-sized for a weekend getaway.
The 4.6-liter DOHC V8 rips through the gears with a zeal that the
old 5.0 could only dream of. Smooth and willing to rev, it was
highly developed by Ford to represent the very best powerplant they
could muster. The bottom-end was virtually indestructible and the
heavy-breathing heads made it feel like it could pull forever. And
yes, there are an insane number of performance upgrades available,
none of which made it on to this car save for a K&N filter and
a Magnaflow dual exhaust that sounds great. That means no street
racing, no abuse, no questionable workmanship, making this the
right car for the guy who appreciates a great pedigree. The 5-speed
manual transmission snaps through the gears easily and the 8.8-inch
rear end will stand up to the 4.6 for years to come. The chassis is
a lot stouter than the old 5.0 you remember, and with special
suspension tuning, the Cobra actually rides rather well. Giant
4-wheel disc brakes with ABS take the drama out of all that
horsepower and live behind some of the most gorgeous wheels ever
fitted to a Ford. Those polished SVT alloys carry stock-sized
245/45/17 Cooper performance radials, so it's ready to rock.
With just five careful owners, a clear vehicle history report, low
mileage, and its original owner's manuals, this is an awesome way
to get some top-down Mustang fun with big horsepower without
breaking the bank. Call today!