Blue Oval Icon: SVT’s Magnificent Monster, The 2000 Mustang Cobra R

Near the close of the 1990s, Ford’s Special Vehicle Team had something to prove. While capability was on the upswing, the 1999 Mustang Cobra had proven to be a misstep for Ford’s performance arm. Officially rated at 320 horsepower, Ford was forced to recall all 5,300 Cobras after dozens of complaints from owners that the cars weren’t making the advertised output.

“We know exactly what happened, and we’re going to make sure that it never happens again,” Tom Scarpello, marketing manager of Ford’s Specialty Vehicle Team, wrote in a letter to owners.

In the wake of that Snafu, the standard Mustang Cobra would sit out the following model year. Though that might have disappointed some potential owners, it also allowed SVT’s new top dog to take center stage. While the standard Mustang Cobra had offered a level performance that was a step above the GT, the 2000 SVT Mustang Cobra R was a different animal entirely ... read more