The 4th-generation Ford Mustang was produced for 1994 right up until the 2004 model. We know it as the SN95, and it’s the last Ford to be underpinned by the famous Fox platform.
The Fox Body is already considered a modern classic and is quite collectible. It’s great as both a first-time V8 for you 16-year-olds to work on and a collectible that helps you re-live your youth. It’s only a matter of time before the same thing happens with the SN95.
The underpinnings were by no means modern, but there were a few amazing versions of that Mustang, mainly revolving around the SVT Cobra name. Here, we’re not going to talk about the initial 1995 Cobra, but the “new edge” design that came in 1999.
The “new edge” was a minor facelift, and you can identify it by the square edges of its headlights. From 1999 to 2004, the Cobra version also had one important distinction, independent rear suspension unique to the model.
Taking advantage of this superior handling was a famous engine, the 4.6-liter DOHC V8 which was officially rated at 320 horsepower. But that was only on paper. Owners complained that it felt slower than 1998 and it got so bad that Ford pulled it from production until 2001.
However, there were no such complaints with the Cobra R that made 385 horsepower. And for 2003 to 2004, the regular Cobra had a supercharged 4.6-liter making 390 hp. There were other interesting models in that era, the Bullitt and Mach I.
Cobras might become super-popular, the next Hoonigan drift cars or something along those lines. You’re probably going to want to slap a body kit on your $100,000 throwback to the 2000s.
The Cobra R is pretty cool on its own, with its natural 5.4-liter V8, its Bilstein dampers, or Brembo 4-piston aluminum calipers. Motor Trend timed it at 0 to 60 in 4.4 seconds, which is amazing for 2000. But just to make it extra-special, artist Rostislav Prokop decided to make a widebody.
In a way, this modernizes the design, turns it into a cool race car. Gone is the outdated SVT-developed rear wing, replaced by a smooth spoiler. Also, the headlights have been narrowed down to futuristic LEDs.
The widebody kit itself is subtle enough to where it might actually work in the real world, adding only a couple of inches to the sides. And we like how all the lines of the Cobra R become sharp here. Doesn’t it look a bit like a Nissan S14 240SX, especially with that roll cage and lowered stance?
As far as the RPM Potential (real project in the making), we’d give it a high score of 8/10. Rostislav’s body kits can be wild, but this one looks ready for production. And Cobra tuning projects are quite common/popular, often leading with such lowered suspension setups. Bolt-ons? What young Mustang driver doesn’t want to drill holes in his ride for the ‘Gram!