Blasting through the Arizona desert, it seemed like a good idea to find out if the 2000 Cobra R could live up to its highly-touted top speed. Ford’s Special Vehicle Team engineers designed this R-model to hit 170 mph. It turns out, as your scribe witnessed, this ultra-limited rocket was up to the task and it did some with ease and stability.
With a snarling, naturally aspirated 5.4-liter engine under the hood, this Cobra R marked the end of a trinity of SVT Cobra Rs that began in 1993 and picked up again in 1995. Only 300 Cobra Rs from the year 2000 were sold, and number 52 is headed for the Mecum Auction ( www.mecum.com/lots/SC0520-414242/2000-ford-mustang-svt-cobra-r/ ) scheduled for June 23-28 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
As with all 2000 Cobra Rs, this example is painted in Performance Red and features a Spartan interior highlighted by Recaro seats. It rides on a highly-tuned suspension, upgraded with Bilstein monotube dampers, Eibach springs, and more. Big Brembo brakes slow its roll, while BFGoodrich tires plant the 385 horsepower from its 7,000-rpm powerplant.
