2023 Mustang Round Up highlight – 2001-2 Cobra
Presented by the Victorian chapter of the Mustang Owners’ Club of Australia (MOCA VIC), the Mustang Round Up welcomes all eras of the iconic Pony Car. This annual event hosts the MOCA Victorian State Concours, Shelby Nationals and Boss Mustang Display Concours for MOCA members, as well as a Show ‘n’ Shine for non-MOCA members and everyday Mustang owners. After a few years of cancellations caused by COVID and weather, the Mustang Round Up was back in 2023 and attracted almost 500 cars.
The Round Up is heavily populated with first-generation (1965-73) and sixth-generation (2015-23) cars: the former because they’re the classic that everybody wants and the latter because they were the first to be factory-built in right-hand drive and officially released in Australia. Between those two periods, most Mustangs here will have been private imports, or brought in by classic car brokers and vehicle import specialists.
A small number of RHD-converted, factory-backed Mustangs were offered before 2015, though. The first time was in 1966-67 to promote the new V8-powered XR Falcon. Enthusiasts then had to wait until 2001, when the Mustang Cobra was released by Ford Australia to combat the rebirth of the Holden Monaro.
When Holden announced the Monaro was making a comeback after the overwhelming response to a Commodore-based coupe concept presented at the 1998 Sydney International Auto Show, Ford Australia needed to respond. Making their own 2-door Falcon wasn’t an option (although a few attempts were made by third-party companies), so Ford turned to the parent company in the US and specifically to the Mustang.
At this time, the Mustang was in its fourth generation, known internally as ‘SN-95’, which was a modified version of the third-generation ‘Fox’ platform that had been in production from 1979 to 1993. Only available as a fastback or convertible, the SN-95 Mustang brought a new look that was more rounded than the previous generation, with a 3.8-litre V6 as standard and a 5.0-litre V8 optional. From 1996, the 5.0 V8 was replaced with a new, modular 4.6-litre version, which would be offered for the remainder of SN-95 production.
The Cobra name had been applied to the Mustang as far back as 1976 (referencing the Shelby Cobra roadsters and hi-po Mustang engines of the previous decade), but it wouldn’t be until the early 1990s that it gained real credibility. The Cobra and Cobra R from 1993 were the product of Ford’s Special Vehicles Team (SVT) and featured a more powerful 5.0 V8, strengthened driveline, four-wheel disc brakes and tuned suspension, amongst other changes, while the R version was stripped of interior trim for racetrack use. The Cobra name continued to be offered when SN-95 replaced the Fox platform for 1994, adding improvements along the way that peaked at around the time the Mustang shown here was first offered in Australia.
It's alleged that the first batch of 100 or so Mustang Cobras that came to Australia in 2000 were units that SVT had “rejected” due to problems identified in the 1999 models. Apparently, the exhaust system on those cars was crimped to accommodate the independent rear suspension that was a production Mustang first and exclusive to the Cobra back then. This robbed the cars of horsepower, so they only produced around 290hp (216kW), instead of the 320hp (240kW) advertised. SVT only brought the model back to the US market in 2001 once the problem had been rectified.
If this story is true, Ford USA’s loss was Ford Australia’s gain, with those Cobras destined for the US market instead coming to Australia for conversion by Ford Tickford Experience (FTE).
Aside from the RHD conversion, changes made by FTE for the Australian market included new extractors and engine internals, with FTE finding a way to return the 4.6 V8’s full 240kW, too.
The interior received a professional RHD makeover, but LHD quirks remained, like the bonnet release ahead of the passenger and an external lock on the left-hand door only.
Released in February, 2001, the Australian Mustang Cobra actually beat the Monaro to market by several months and had the bonus of also being available as a convertible, which Holden couldn’t offer. Price was an issue, though, with $85,000 before ORCs (more for the convertible) being around $30K dearer than a Monaro. The Mustang wasn’t a match for the Monaro dynamically, either. Handling was considered sloppy and steering got very light at high speeds. As such, the Mustang didn’t really make a dent against the Monaro. On sale for the 2001 and 2002 model years, it’s believed that less than 400 Mustang Cobras were sold, with some lingering in showrooms until 2003.
The car shown appears to be from that batch converted by FTE for the Australian market and not a US market model. Finished in Oxford White, which was one of six colours available locally, the blue XC Cobra-style stripes must be a personal addition, as there’s no indication this treatment was offered by Ford Australia. Parked alongside an earlier SN-95 Mustang at the Round Up, this 2001-02 Mustang shows the difference in the New Edge facelift over the original design. The lights in the bumper were an Australian exclusive and actually house the high-beam units, as the factory lights apparently didn’t meet our ADRs as is.
For JUST CARS report on the 2023 Mustang Round Up, click HERE.
