My Fox Body Cobra Find

[sonic_4.6]

Four Eyed Fox that is. This place was ridicules. Pretty much a graveyard for a lot of unique cars. The Cobra pictures are way at the bottom.

You're probably wondering why the hell I would even bother with a '79 Cobra. Well, my father ordered one brand new back in '78, so I've always tried to keep an eye out for another red one. The body is surprisingly in great shape. Ford made the Cobra from 79-81 and most of them were 302s, however, this one (just like my father's) is a 2.3-Turbo 4-speed. It was a limited-production Mustang, and the factory turbo examples are extremely hard to find anymore since they had reliability problems which sent them to an early death. This one was traded into a Ford dealership in 1992, and the guy drove it to his farm and just parked it. Kinda sad.

My long-term goals with this car is to get it presentable, then modernize it with a 4v Modular. Like I said, it isn't anything to look at right now, but I've started out with worse. Here are some pictures of the farm that the Cobra was found at:

Trailer?

Factory 427 4-speed Corvette

Side pipes

Very cool Mags

See were it says "Corvette"?

Look closer. I believe it is a front clip off a '53 Corvette. Notice the housing for the headlights & grill?

Superbee

Poor 79/80 Pinto.

WTF?

LTD XL

'67 Galaxie 500

Galaxie 500 interior

Cobra pulled out of the tree line.

No more TRX wheels.

Still has all three Cobra interior emblems.

Loaded up.

Update: Cobra's new home.

There is hope under there.....

Buffed a small spot on quarter.

 

[93sspcoupe]

how do people let cars go like that???? btw nice find. what are the plans for it?

 

[sonic_4.6]

Here is what each year Cobra looked like. Notice how Ford starting using the Mustang Pace Car's front clip, rear spoiler, and cowl hood in 80-81. You could also opt for the Pace Car's Recaro seating after '79. Sunroof was optional in late 79-80, and T-Tops became available in '81. Engine choices were the 132hp 2.3L Turbo or the 140hp 5.0L in 79-80. The '81 model went weaksauce, and only an 88hp N/A 2.3L or 120hp 4.2L V8 was offered do to no 5.0L availability that year.

1979

1980

1981

Pace Car for reference:

 

[sonic_4.6]

how do people let cars go like that???? btw nice find. what are the plans for it?

I'm working on a very limited budget, so it's going to be a slow process. This car will eventually be going Modular. I will keep an eye out for a cheap 93-98 Mark VIII 32v.

I know it doesn't look pretty, but I grew up loving these year Cobras. Very cool cars IMO.

 

[USNjocson]

So its pretty much an SVO?

 

[VtekII]

kool man, i grew up with my mom drivin a 83 gt... i did some work to it made it pretty nice then sold it... now its a ragged POS sitting out forsale on the way to waverly. still thinkin about buyin it back but he wants a ton for it and its beat to hell.

 

[sonic_4.6]

So its pretty much an SVO?

Unfortunately no. I guess you could say this is what SVO had to originally work with when the SVO Mustang was being designed. The Cobra's optional 2.3-T was before the time of fuel injection, and also lacked the later SVO's intercooler. Ford did best with what little technology they had in the late 70s. The Cobra did come standard with the TRX package which included heavy-duty front/rear stabilizer bars, unique shocks, along with the Cobra's 3.45 gearing, semi metallic pads, and OMGOMG aluminum rear brake drums. Haha.

Power output wasn't shit, but keep in mind that Corvettes weren't even pumping 200 horsepower back then. The car also only weighs 2,550.

 

[svtsmo]

nice find. i love the look of four eyes

 

[2007ShelbyCobra]

nice find, I always DROOL on junkyard finds like this, cars that are just chilling somwhere in the woods.... very cool

 

[sonic_4.6]

Did a my first buff stage on half of the car. Looks better.

I broke my turbo emblem. It happens.

Looks like that door has been repainted and doesn't match for shit. Oh well, it's better than it was.

 

[Nick_B95GT]

nice find gonna be a nice ride,,,i cant wait to get my '85 4-eyed fox from my friend to rebuild

PS i wouldnt mind restoring that corvair spyder turbo,,,pretty rare car

 

[sonic_4.6]

PS i wouldnt mind restoring that corvair spyder turbo,,,pretty rare car

Isn't that sweet! I couldn't believe even that "Turbocharged" sticker was still on that shroud. :beer:

 

[silverbullit]

Nice!

 

[JSZ03]

great find! Too bad about that 427 Vette....unreal how people can let cars like that go to hell

 

[sonic_4.6]

Touched up the bumper.

Before:

After:

 

[Double"O"]

nice find!!!!!!!

why can't i ever find cool shit like that? lol

 

[MBoyle1]

Thats some farm Growing old cars like that!

 

[Gallows]

Wow what a shame all those cars are slowly returning to the earth. Nice find on the Cobra and it's surprising how the paint is buffing out.

 

[japan4racing]

nice find! there is alot of cars i would like out of those pics! i subscribed to this thread to keep track of your build! this is gonna be sick!

 

[5point0guy]

It's sad to see all those cars rotting away like that. But at least you were able to save that Fox. The paint is polishing up pretty good!