Vehicle Description
8807 original miles (not a typo). Completely stock and original,
right down to the tires. Awesome color combination. Properly
maintained and stored in a climate-controlled environment. Ford's
surprisingly sophisticated pony car, just as amazing as you
remember!Mustang fans were skeptical of the 'modular' OHC V8 that
replaced the perennial favorite 5.0, but those skeptics were
silenced in 1996 when the killer 4.6-liter DOHC V8 landed in the
Cobra. With four whirring camshafts, 32 valves, and 305 of the most
silky smooth horses you've ever experienced, it completely
transformed the Mustang from 'crude but fast' to 'is this a better
car than a BMW?' Showing just over 8800 original miles, this
awesome Laser Red 1996 Mustang Cobra reminds us just how special
these cars were. Physical changes over the GT were subtle: round
fog lights, different wheels, twin nostrils in the hood, and COBRA
lettering on the rear valence, but it was enough. The Laser Red
paint is beautifully preserved, and it's the kind of color that
will have onlookers asking you, 'What color is that?' It's deep and
rich, with a bit of metallic to make it glow in the sunlight. Oddly
enough, Laser Red is rarer than the special Mystic paint, with only
1940 coupes built in Laser Red. There's obviously no damage, no
rust, and even the chin spoiler and rockers are virtually unmarked.
This is still a great-looking car!The tan leather interior is
simply gorgeous. Gone are all the hard angles and plastics of the
Fox platform, replaced by a highly functional dual cockpit design
that was a big step forward. This was the most expensive Mustang
ever made (to that point) and Ford designers knew that 'cheap but
fast' wasn't going to cut it. The seats are every bit as
comfortable as they look and they're highly adjustable. The fat
steering wheel tilts and frames the big white-faced gauges, which
were unique to the Cobra. Of course, as the top-of-the-line model,
everything was standard: A/C, power windows, locks, and mirrors,
cruise control, rear defrost, and a decent AM/FM/cassette stereo
with a CD player underneath. It's all beautifully preserved and
fully functional, and we'd guess that nobody's ever been in the
back seat. The trunk is unmarked and includes a space-saver spare
that's never been down.The heart of the Cobra was an all-aluminum
4.6-liter V8 with four cams and 32 valves, showcasing Ford's
commitment to eliminating pushrods. In practice, the Cobra V8 was a
jewel, impeccably smooth yet torquey, and the exhaust note sounds
like ripping silk. It's the most civilized pony car you'll ever
drive. It was so special that the guy who assembled it put his
signature on the valve cover. There are myriad modifications
available for these engines and if you want more than the stock 305
horsepower and 300 lb.-ft. of torque, there's a whole industry to
back you up. But when you're buying, what you really want is a car
that has never been modified, never abused, never raced, and that's
this car. From the air filter to the mufflers, it's 100% OEM Ford.
It runs beautifully thanks to the wonders of modern fuel injection
and it's every bit as quick as you remember. A slick-shifting
5-speed was the only transmission available in the Cobra, and it
spins standard 3.27 gears in the rear end. The suspension was
heavily modified compared to the GT, with a more civilized-yet more
competent-ride. Brakes are giant 13-inch rotors with 2-piston
calipers up front, same ones used on the track-only Cobra R. You'll
note that the underside was lightly undercoated by the dealer back
in 1996 and everything else is unmarked and it has obviously never
seen inclement weather. Unmarked aluminum wheels were also unique
to the Cobra, and wear their original 245/45/17 BFGoodrich radials
(we recommend new tires if you're going to drive the car regularly
or at high speeds). The factory owner's manuals are included. If
you were there in the mid-90s, you wanted one of these. And
fortunately, this is one of those legends that lives up to the
hype. Sure, it's no match for today's 600 horsepower monsters, but
there's something special about all those cams and valves spinning
along at 6000 RPM that other cars just can't match. Add in the
traditional Mustang rear-wheel-drive playfulness and you get one of
the best pony cars ever built. Call today!Harwood Motors always
recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any
vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.
