Ford is bringing back the Cobra Jet Mustang for 2013. The company is offering two versions, one supercharged and one naturally aspirated. Both are based on the 5.0-liter V8 Coyote engine in the Mustang GT.
The introduction of the Cobra Jet dates to the 1968 NHRA Winternationals. After countless wins, the company revived the famous name in 2008, when Ford offered a limited run of the 40th Anniversary Cobra Jet. That car saw NHRA national-event wins in 2009, 2010 and 2011.
This new version has three seasons of testing behind it and, according to Ford, features the latest drag-racing technology for greater speed and consistency.
The naturally aspirated version comes with the Cobra Jet induction system, CNC ported heads, high-lift cams and a low-drag accessory drive. The upgraded version gets a 2.9-liter Whipple supercharger with CNC port-matched manifold and heads and a proprietary 10-rib supercharger drive system for high-rpm use without a belt.
"The 5.0-liter has all the attributes to make a world-class drag-racing engine and is ideal for the Cobra Jet," said George Goddu, business manager, Ford Racing Performance Group. "Both the naturally aspirated and supercharged engines will be competitive as delivered."
Ford improved the chassis of the Cobra Jet as well. The body is lighter than the last version, and the electric-power-steering system decreases parasitic horsepower loss. A new roll cage was designed for chassis rigidity while the brake pedal was revised for better modulation. New rear-suspension geometry will deliver faster 60-foot times, according to Ford.
Only 50 copies of the 2013 Cobra Jet will be built with an approximate price of $86,000 for the naturally aspirated version and $93,000 for the supercharged car. More options and full specs will be announced in January.
Get your checkbooks out because Ford is accepting orders now on a first-come, first-served basis. But even if you miss the limited run, many of the Cobra Jet components are for sale through Ford Performance Parts.
