2003 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra

Mileage
55,000 mi
Engine
4.6L
Horsepower
500 BHP
Fuel
Petrol
Gearbox
Manual

Description

Highlights

  • Supercharged last-of-the-line Mustang Mk 4 with one owner from new
  • Race, track or hill-climb prepped with full roll cage
  • Extensively reengineered to develop over 500bhp
  • Bassani X-pipe sports exhaust and uprated supercharger
  • Six-speed manual with amazing V8 soundtrack

Overview

In its most mainstream of forms, the fourth-generation Ford Mustang might have looked a bit of a damp squib compared to its predecessors – plainly styled and underpowered, it wasn’t a car that could match the model’s past glories. But this one is not one of those cars.

Luckily, while Plain Jane fourth-gen Mustangs were ticking boxes in showrooms, there was a small team of engineers working out of Ford’s Dearborn HQ in Michigan who recalled past glories. The SVT, or Special Vehicle Team, were busy making Mustangs great again – the SVT Cobra being a 390bhp supercharged flagship.

This one is a Terminator. It’s not the official name, of course, but we can guarantee it’s the only you’ll use when talking about it in the pub because, quite frankly, car names don’t get much cooler. The moniker applies to the very last of the fourth-gen SVT Cobras, built in 2003 and 2004 and was its internal nickname given by the engineering team. It was also the very best of the breed.

To turn it into a Terminator, improvements were made to the engine and drivetrain to handle the increased output from the previous model, with a power boost courtesy of an Eaton M-112 roots-type supercharger, a lightweight aluminium flywheel and a Tremec T-56 six-speed transmission – each assembled by a crack team of powertrain engineers and every engine hand-built on a special niche line inside Ford's Romeo, Michigan engine plant. Two engineers were assigned to each car, both signing the unit with a special valve-cover mounted plaque.

In standard tune, the Cobra would blast from 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds and could reach a top speed of just under 180mph if the 155mph restrictor was removed. In short, it was a bit of a beast.

This one, though, takes things a step further. As well as having an independent rear suspension set-up (rare for a Mustang, but standard on the SVT) the car was extensively modified in 2004 for its one-and-only owner by Paul’s High Performance in Jackson, Michigan, with a roll cage, adjustable caster and camber plates, a Basanni X-pipe and cat back exhaust system, revised supercharger, throttle body and intercooler to increase boost to 2 bar. It has been dyno tested to over 500bhp and was used on numerous track events by its owner, who bought the car new in 2003 and brought it back to the UK with him in 2006. He was involved with the Ford SVT association in the States and used the car as his daily commuter, even with the roll cage.

He has since been based overseas for several years and the Mustang kept in storage back here. Reluctantly, he’s now decided to sell it as he recognises he’ll probably never use it as much as he wants to, so the time has come to find it a new home. The Cobra has been kept in dry storage for over a decade and while it is presented in good overall condition, any bidders should keep in mind that it may require some light recommissioning.

History and documentation

  • UK registration document in the name of the private vendor
  • Owned by vendor since new, he purchased the car while based in Detroit in 2003
  • Imported to the UK in August 2006
  • Kept in dry, secure storage since 2007, but started and run regularly
  • A fresh MOT has just been obtained, making it a road-legal race car
  • Original handbook and owner’s pack
  • Some spares kept in boot
  • Extensively tuned and modified for the vendor by Paul’s High Performance in Jackson, Michigan, and Dyno tested to over 500bhp, but vendor cannot find the paperwork to show this

Interior

  • Grey Alcantara Recaro shell sports seats
  • Four-point racing harnesses fitted by vendor in 2006 to meet SVA requirements
  • Full roll cage
  • No rear seat
  • Supplementary oil temperature and boost gauges
  • Alloy sports pedals
  • Premium Mach Audio stereo system
  • Alarm system not currently functioning

Exterior

  • Smart Silver Metallic (YN) paint
  • Five-spoke 18-inch Terminator-only alloys
  • Matching Goodyear tyres all-round with decent tread on the front, and the rears close to needing replacement, according to the MOT advisory
  • Some paint damage and marks from previous track day decals
  • Still wears side decals from last track outings in the USA
  • Unique SVT rear spoiler with brake light
  • SVT side trims and front splitter
  • Missing one front fog lamp and surround
  • Appears in great order underneath with no obvious signs of corrosion
  • Track tyres and rims included in sale
  • Scuff on right-hand bumper corner
  • Paint chips to leading edge of bonnet

Mechanical

  • 4.6-litre supercharged V8, hand-built at Romeo, Michigan, SVT engine plant
  • Engine bay plaque signed by both builders
  • Six-speed Tremec manual transmission – engages all gears smoothly with progressive clutch action
  • Dyno-tested to over 500bhp
  • Eaton M-112 supercharger
  • Bassani X-pipe and full cat-back stainless exhaust – sounds amazing!
  • Independent rear suspension
  • Car was given full suspension and steering alignment on arrival in UK and has had little use since
  • Exhaust shortened to meet UK regs but this was discreetly done
  • We were able to conduct a short road test on private land and can confirm that the car starts, stops and steers as it should, but the buyer is advised to give it a full service and check over before use as the car has seen very little use since 2007

Summary

As well as being a legendary Mustang variety – the SVT Cobras have a passionate following all of their own – this one is something pretty special in its own right. Essentially a road going race car, it oozes power and sounds incredible. You’ll have to look long and hard to find anything quite as potent or with as much presence for the price.

Mustang icon, road regal race car (subject to MOT) or track and hill-climb special, it’s a car with a double character and acres of attitude.

To arrange a viewing, please request this in the Q&A section. You can click through to the seller's profile and use the 'Email Me' function to arrange a viewing privately. This car is located in Essex.

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Photo gallery

Exterior

Interior

Mechanical

Documents

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