The Fox Body Mustang has always been a huge talking point among Ford pundits, mostly because the third-generation model has a widely polarizing design and an eventful 14-year production run that spanned from 1979 to 1993. There’s one thing everybody tends to agree on though - the Fox Body got the perfect sendoff with the 1993 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra.

Not only was the limited-edition ‘93 SVT Cobra an extremely capable performer, but it was also the first vehicle overseen by Ford’s newly established Special Vehicle Team (SVT), meant to compete against rivals such as the Dodge Daytona IROC, Pontiac Grand Prix, and the Plymouth Laser.

The idea behind the release of the 1993 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra was for the SVT division to showcase its full potential as a racing developer, which is why it went all out. The result was a scarily good performance car that was better than pretty much any other national rival, and it still holds its own today. Here’s why the 1993 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra is an affordable classic performance car.

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The 1993 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra Has An Awesome V8

1993 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra engine
Via Hayes Auction Services

Despite not being able to fabricate outrageously powerful engines due to tight regulations that lingered on as a consequence of the fuel crisis, SVT still did as much tinkering as it could to create a peppy power plant. To power 1993 the Mustang Cobra, Ford’s racing division built upon the regular Mustang GT’s 5.0-liter high output V8, which was good for 205 horsepower right off the shelf. In order to flex its performance muscles as much as possible, SVT and its engineers made a plethora of upgrades to the engine, gracing it with upgraded High Flow cast iron cylinder heads from the GT-40, enhanced intake manifolds also shared with the GT-40, a heavy-duty camshaft with custom roller-rocker arms, high-performance fuel injectors, as well as custom pulleys and a revised low-restriction exhaust system.

All these changes translated to a total power output of 235 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, making the ‘93 Mustang SVT Cobra one of the most powerful options in the industry - and some say that the 230 hp rating was a rather conservative estimate by Ford.

Now, 230 horsepower was definitely a lot at the time, and even though it might not sound like much by today’s standards, pure power was the least of the Mustang SVT Cobra’s concerns. The true essence of its modified mill was just how perfectly it put down its power, smooth and responsive in what made and still makes for a glorious driving experience.

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The 1993 Mustang SVT Cobra Received A Glorious Drivetrain And Immaculate Chassis Tuning

1993 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra Rear shot
Via: Mecum Auctions

SVT wasn’t just content with significantly upgrading the Cobra’s mill, and it also went to work on its equally-important drivetrain. The Borg-Wagner T-5 manual transmission from the regular Mustang GT was already great in its own right, but in order to prepare it for the new engine’s improved torque output, SVT reduced the T-5’s 1-3 gear ratios by 10% while also making the entire setup more durable overall. The SVT Fox Body ‘Stang also received a high capacity clutch with a high clamping force pressure plate, and together with the rest of SVT’s upgrades, it was capable of blasting from 0-60 mph in just 5.9 seconds. The 1993 Mustang Cobra could also tear up the drag strip, able to achieve the standing quarter mile in just 14.5 seconds.

But it wasn’t just limited to straight-line acceleration, and SVT’s intent from the get go was to make the new Mustang Cobra feel more like a sports car than a purebred muscle machine. Compared to the rather stiff GT, Ford’s performance division opted to equip the Cobra with aftermarket custom Tokico shocks and struts, featuring slightly softer spring rates and a thinner front anti-roll bar, resulting in more forgiving overall ride quality. There was adequate compensation to boost the ‘93 Mustang SVT Cobra’s handling capabilities though, starting with 17x7.5-inch wheels - the largest ever fitted to a Mustang at the time, paired with ultra-sticky 245/45ZR17 Goodyear tires. The wider and sticker tires along with a relatively absorbent yet sufficiently stiff suspension allowed the 1993 SVT Cobra to grip the road with maximum confidence even when cornering at high speeds, and it was able to handle unlike any of its predecessors, becoming the ultimate American-made track weapon.

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The ‘93 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra Is A Rare Gem

Red 1993 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra
Via: Mecum Auctions

To send off the Fox Body Mustang with a bang, Ford and SVT only manufactured 5100 total Mustang SVT Cobras, of which 107 were extremely rare Cobra R’s - an ultra-track-focused lightweight version of the regular model. Despite being relatively rare, finding well-kept versions for sale today isn’t too difficult, and there’s an array of low mileage options to choose from.

The average 1993 Mustang SVT Cobra can go for anything between $50,000 and $100,000 with mileages that range from less than 1000 to about 15,000. That isn’t cheap by any means, but when you consider the fact that this was the last and most extreme Fox Body Mustang ever that’s still capable of providing a thrill-inducing ride, it begins to appear more like a bargain.

Sources: Ford, Mustangspecs