Few other sports cars have had a long production run like the Ford Mustang. From the bare-bones interiors in 1965 to the tech-laden GT500s of 2021, the Mustang has traveled a long way. The Mustang has enthusiasts scattered across the globe and a spectrum of age groups. It has been the quintessential poster car for bedroom walls worldwide since 1965.
However, Ford had to tinker with designs for decades to get things right after losing its grip in the oil crisis of the ‘70s. Achieving perfection comes at a cost, and mistakes occur. The fourth-generation Mustang was among those mistakes. However, 1994 ushered in the second generation for the Mustang SVT Cobra and its spectacular performance.
Buckle up as we visit the past for a detailed look back at the second-generation Ford Mustang SVT Cobra: The SN95 Small Block Cobra.
Under The Hood
Despite an update in the exteriors and platform, the Mustang GT remained underpowered with just 215 horses produced from the V8. It was essential to emphasize the '94 Mustang SVT Cobra Mustang's capabilities competing against Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 and Pontiac Trans Am: both making 275 horses. The SVT Cobra suddenly became the protagonist in the muscle division and rivaled the overpowered competitors from General Motors. The most produced muscle car was in trouble.
The heart of the SVT Cobra remained similar to the 1993 version with the familiar 4.9-liter small-block featuring the GT-40 components. It also got larger valves along with free-flowing intake and exhaust manifolds for better airflow. All the performance upgrades with SVT tuning pumped out 240 horses, which was still not enough to take the 'Best Muscle Car' crown. However, Ford did not intend the SVT Cobra to bout with its rivals. Instead, it was an exclusive and refined vehicle for the people that wanted a balance between tack, drag, and a daily car.
There was a silver lining to the SVT Cobra. After a few private tests, it turned out that Ford underrated the GT40 enhanced V8’s power and its true potential. Ford claimed the SVT performed 0 to 60 MPH sprints in 6.3 seconds, but private tests showed it took just 5.7 seconds to hit the mark. The SVT Cobra could manage a top speed of 137 MPH, which was the same as the ‘94 Mustang GT. So much for the SVT tuning! The 1995 SVT Cobra remained the same with no changes in the mechanical department.
The Indy 500 Pace Car Replica!
1994 proved to be a revolutionary year for the Mustang as Ford finally brought the convertible back after a hiatus of 20 years. To celebrate the Mustang's 30th Anniversary, three unique ‘94 SVT Cobra’s tuned by Jack Roush served as the pace cars for the 78th Indy 500 race held on 29th of May 1994. Ford manufactured these replicas in a limited quantity, and only 1,000 left the factory.
The SVT Cobra Indy 500 Pace Replica cars had the Indy 500 wing-tire logo specially embroidered on the front seats and a chrome logo emblazoned on the deck lid. Ford did not put the ‘Official Pace Car’ decals on the replica cars. Instead, they shipped in the trunk for the owner to add. It was available in a single color, Rio Red, and saddle leather interiors with a matching vinyl roof.
Interiors
The SVT Cobra got the praised Mustang GT twin cockpit theme in the interiors. Driving in the SVT improved thanks to the comfortable bucket seats that offered great bolstering support. Front seats came with a power-adjustable feature and lumbar support to enhance passenger comfort. The interiors remained bland and offered basic comfort features like air conditioning and radio, as well as the Cobra branding on the seats and steering wheel.
Getting to the rear was a tough job. The switch behind the front seats would pop them down to make way to enter. The rear seats were not very comfortable for full-grown adults because of the lack of legroom. They were more suited for children or storing things. The SVT Cobra offered similar class-leading cargo space as the Mustang GT, which could increase by folding the rear seats.
Exteriors
This was the primary factor for the SN95 to receive flack from fans. With a new update to the Fox-4 platform, people expected the muscular and macho Mustang to make a return. However, the Mustang coupe design resembled the flat curvy designs of the Japanese imports. It wasn’t angular like the first-gen Mustang or the Fox body, and it was slower than the competition. The only thing that fans welcomed with the fourth-generation Mustang was the return of the convertible.
All these issues were trivial to the SVT Cobra: it had a reworked front fascia which was unique but not different from the Mustang GT. The SVT had better handling along with power. This made people look past the flaws of the Mustang when they saw the Cobra logo.