Performance cars come and go like the changing of the seasons. However, those special few set themselves apart from the rest, those that leave a set of tire marks so thick and smoky that people still talk about them passionately today.

The Terminator Mustang is one such car. It's a vehicle so awesome that it deserves a movie franchise all of its own. It sits amongst those hallowed few cars that came and simply conquered. Rubbing shoulders with the likes of the Lancia Delta Integrale Evoluzione, the Terminator Mustang is an iconic street-focused racer that will simply obliterate all in its path.

Rocking a nickname that matched its character perfectly, the 2003 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra slithered onto the scene and blew its competition away. The Ford's arch-rival, the muscular Chevrolet Camaro, didn't stand a chance as The Terminator locked it into its sights and wiped it off the road. Often overlooked as a second-hand weapon of choice, here are 10 things gearheads forgot about the Terminator Mustang.

10 Wiping The Slate Clean

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As the new millennium rolled around, the then-current Ford Mustang was viewed as something of a disappointment. For proper muscle car fans, it just didn't cut the mustard, and Ford was well aware of this thanks to a huge recall operation.

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The naturally-aspirated 1999 Mustang Cobra was advertised to have 320 hp, but was discovered to be making about 20 hp less when tested on a dyno by many disappointed owners. Ford figured out what when wrong, figured out a fix and recalled those '99 Cobras. As the fix was discovered too late for the 2000 model year, Ford had the Cobra skip that year. For 2001 the Cobra came back, sporting all 320 horses. Still, Ford performance fans wanted more. That "more" came in the form of the Terminator.

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9 What Makes A Terminator

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Simply thinking that the SVT Cobra is a revised version of the Mustang would not be doing it justice. Consisting of a strengthened iron block, Manley forged rods, and a screaming supercharger, its incredible engine made it a whole new machine.

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Thanks to that Eaton M112 supercharger, the Terminator was rated at 390 hp. Actual testing would prove this wrong, but this time for the better as actual output was in the 420 hp range. Each engine was hand built by a specialist team devoted to the SVT cause.

8 Plenty Of Power On Tap

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With the new SVT Cobra dishing out more power than advertised, Ford had managed to win back favor. Having so much firepower on tap also meant that it blew its tradtional muscle car competitors into the weeds and now went toe-to-toe with the Corvette.

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Unload in a Terminator, and the 0-60 mph dash is obliterated in as little as 4.6 seconds. Keeping the throttle pinned will see the speedo hit 100mph in less than 11 seconds. Those are impressive numbers today, let alone 20 years ago.

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7 Stacks Of Accessible Speed

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The Terminator was always set to be a no-compromise performance car. Whatever the gear, a firm press of the accelerator would be rewarded with swift forward motion. Even a base level 350 hp Corvette had to eat humble pie.

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Having its top speed electronically restricted to 155 mph meant that the Terminator wore a muzzle. Without this, the fearsome machine would continue to run all the way up to 180 mph, with relative ease.

6 The Wonders Of SVT

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To get all of that power to the ground, a Tremec T56 6-Speed transmission was chosen. The handbuilt engines kicked out 390 lb-ft of torque and the supercharger generated 8 psi of boost. It meant business from the second it rolled out of the factory.

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Also fitted with Brembo vented disc brakes, Bilstein dampers, uprated springs, and 17-inch wheels, the Terminator felt planted at speed. Aim it at a corner, and the well-thought-out setup would allow the car to grip, and just go.

5 Judgment Days

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At the time, there was nothing that could compete with the SVT Cobra Mustang. Its rivals were either well off the pace or just completely slaughtered when they took on the Terminator.

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Even its more expensive European rivals couldn't save face. The BMW M3, Mercedes-Benz C32, and Audi S4 all ran for cover as the Terminator challenged them. At its price point, the SVT Mustang Cobra was a steal.

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4 Not Like Other Mustangs

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The SVT Cobra took the Ford Mustang muscle car guide book and set it on fire. It now offered up levels of performance that previously could only be obtained by visiting an exotic car showroom and parting with serious cash.

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Not only was it affordable, it made other cars look seriously overpriced. The aforementioned base model Chevrolet Corvette, which lost out on power and raw speed, would cost an additional $10k on top of a Terminator list price.

3 Rise Of The Machine

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Upgrading a Terminator to supercar slaying levels of performance can take just one hour. Thanks to the supercharger, fitting an uprated pulley and increasing airflow will rocket the car to around 500 hp. Who wants to go hunting Ferraris?

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Those looking to annihilate anything and everything in their path can look at more powerful superchargers. Fitting an upgraded unit will result in enormous gains, increase throttle response and allow the Terminator to just keep on embarrassing its would-be rivals.

2 Top Of Its Classics Tree

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In a game of early 2000s Top Trumps, the Terminator is unstoppable. There is nothing, within reason or price, that can match it. Those fans of the revised, 2004 Pontiac GTO would have to swallow a massive 70 hp deficit in bragging rights. Although the '05 and '06 GTOs had considerably more power (400 hp), they'd still have a tough fight on their hands.

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The SVT Cobra is set to be an appreciating classic. Decent examples are already climbing rapidly in value. Given the current state of the muscle car market these prices will only continue to soar. It's definitely a modern classic to track down, buy, enjoy and cherish.

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1 An Unstoppable Force

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Upon its release, the SVT Cobra Mustang was a genuinely groundbreaking offering. It paved the way for the massively powered modern muscle cars that are now offered. The Terminator proved that affordable high-performance was indeed possible.

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Pulling up alongside one of these at the lights today would very likely end in embarrassment, with many a modern fast car having to simply bow out gracefully. Blessed with power and grace, the SVT Cobra is an unstoppable icon that keeps on coming back for more.