1996 Ford SVT Cobra Was the Car Mustang Fans Needed

Competition with the Chevrolet Camaro is in the Ford Mustang’s DNA and it was one of the driving forces behind the 1996 Cobra.

These days, you can go into a Ford dealership and choose from a variety of high-output Mustang models. The Mustang GT is more potent than ever with 460 horsepower. The heritage-inspired Bullitt has an additional 20. If you have Shelby money, you can select either the GT350, more focused GT350R, or go for max horsepower in the new GT500. Even EcoBoost fans can get a four-banger ‘Stang with 330 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque. As this retro road test from MotorWeek shows, it was a much different story in 1996. Back then, the Cobra was the most potent Mustang available.

Snakes are often seen as evil, dangerous creatures, but the Cobra was welcomed into the garages of Blue Oval performance enthusiasts. They had been wanting a Mustang that had the numbers to take on GM’s most powerful versions of the Chevrolet Camaro and Pontiac Trans Am.

Ford gave them a naturally aspirated 4.6-liter V8 with 305 horsepower and 300 lb-ft of torque. The Cobra routed that power through a notchy BorgWarner T45 five-speed manual gearbox, a set of 17-inch wheels wrapped in BFGoodrich rubber, and rear-wheel drive. Flat out, the Cobra could hit 60 mph in 5.5 seconds and go a quarter mile in 14 seconds at 102 mph.

The Cobra was more than just a straight-line car, though. The 4.6-liter V8 forced Ford’s SVT performance division to rework the Cobra’s suspension geometry. According to host John Davis, “While you can still steer by throttle, this Fox chassis is far less tail-happy now.” Thanks to its variable-rate springs and a new power steering setup made the all-American icon feel more European and made it “the sweetest-handling pony car yet.” The suspension hardware also gave the ’96 Cobra a firm, civilized ride quality that could easily soak up the worst parts of the road ahead.

Davis and his colleagues were less unanimous in their evaluation of the Cobra’s exterior styling. On one hand, its fog lights, hood nostrils, and badging didn’t visually separate it enough from lesser Mustangs. On the other hand, the Cobra (like other ’96 Mustangs) had vertical taillights – just as a Mustang should.

Knowing how much Mustang interiors have improved since the ’90s, it’s easy to scoff at the Cobra’s cabin. But back then, it was nothing short of “the best cockpit in the American pony car class.” MotorWeek praised it for its clear gauges, user-friendly controls, and supportive bucket seats.

Sadly, there is no modern Mustang Cobra. That’s a shame. It’s such an iconic model with such a cool name. The good news is that we have plenty of alternatives that can strike harder at Camaros than the Cobra ever could.

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Derek Shiekhi

Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.

After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.

While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.

Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.

In addition to writing for a variety of Internet Brands sites, including JK Forum, H-D Forums, The Mustang Source, Mustang Forums, LS1Tech, HondaTech, Jaguar Forums, YotaTech, and Ford Truck Enthusiasts. Derek also started There Will Be Cars on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

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