Well, it's official, Ford will produce another Cobra R model Mustang, and it will be delivered in 2000. Recently, a production version of the 2000 SVT Mustang Cobra R was unveiled at Charlotte Motor Speedway during the 35th Anniversary celebration for the Ford Mustang.

Talks to individuals "in the know" within the Ford ranks to find out more specific details on the Cobra R. I gathered a few more pieces of information that you won't find currently from other sources.

This car is going to be a fine piece of machinery. The word I have received has it that the new Cobra will sport a 5.4L, 32-valve, Modular V8 similar to the one used in the Lincoln Navigator. The engine will also be enhanced with performance pieces supplied by various, well known after market companies in the industry. For example, the engine will have a Canton drag oil pan, with headers and an exhaust system built by Borla. Away from the engine, the Cobra will have functional spoilers to help keep the car on the ground, in addition to functional vents in the hood with an air extractor to aid in cooling this beastly engine. Reports from an excellent source within Ford say that, "this things going to be producing 400 to 450 horsepower as delivered naturally aspirated. It'll really fly!"

Fly yes, and to help stop once propelled down the track, it will feature a Brembo braking system behind 18 inch wheels that sport BFGoodrich g-Force race tires. It will also have a Tremec racing transmission and suspension components from Eibach and Bilstein. The car will be devoid of A/C, radio, and rear seat. Instead, a rear wall will be in place with a fuel cell in the rear. In addition, the interior will feature Recaro racing seats. This baby is just built to pull off the showroom floor and race! However, word has it you may need a competition-racing license to buy one. That is if you can pull your checkbook out before the limited quantities are gone. It seems only 300 will be produced.

If you're just hot to get one, the scuttlebutt is that the 2000 SVT Cobra R will arrive in November next year. Until then you can read the official Ford press release on the web at www.mustangworks.com/news

Happy racing.

d

Whew! Here it is May already. From the way the month started I thought that I might have to take up ark restoring as hobby instead of Mustangs. But now I have my first sun burn so summer must be here!

It sure was fun getting the convertible out and not having to bundle up like I was going to the North Pole. There is a reason you see all those people running around with the top down and a big grin on their face. The grin is frozen on your face from the cold, but I paid good money to have the top go down and if it’s sunny I like to have it down!

Maybe that’s why I can’t keep a girl friend!

This has been a month of discovery for your fearful leader. After several tries at dialing in my Carter carb I finally called in the reserves and had someone else look at it. A couple of small vacuum leaks and a new vacuum advance unit for the distributor and WOW! I am impressed! Proves once again NEVER assume that everything is ok with the old part that you put on a new motor.

The show in Pueblo was fun! Thank you to all of you came down and showed, drove, sold or looked. We had 6 cars cruise down to the show and 6 others show up later. I would like to thank the Pueblo club for putting on a fine show and for the hospitality they showed the show participants.

After the awards dinner we had a chance to cruise out and see the way Pueblo does their ‘hamburger stand’ cruise in. Saw lots of neat cars. When we had finished looking at the cars we drove out to Pueblo West to the Sonic for some ice cream. When we had all the cars parked every spot had a Mustang in it. Now that’s the way a drive in is suppose to be! Too bad they weren’t around to do a Sonic commercial.

Congratulations to the Lindley’s on their new purchase and to the Kay’s on their new purchase and for winning an award at the Pueblo show. Stu says that his coupe is coming along. He just needs time and money to work on it.

I don’t know why, but every year I put off getting the cars ready to drive and show until the last minute. This year was no exception. It never ceases to amaze me how a car that sits in the garage most of the time can get so dirty.

Mustang Monthly has a nice article on cleaning up your car in this month’s issue. I have a couple of things I would like to add. One is under specialty tools; cheap foam paintbrushes. They work real well for doing dash vents and other places where a rag on the finger just won’t fit. They can be used dry or with a cleaner. The second is Meguiar’s Gold Class Endurance tire protectant. It comes with an applicator and a bottle so you only put the solution where you want it not where the spray can wants to put it.

The summer is shaping up nicely. We have lots of things planned in the weeks ahead. The AMC club liked the bowling beating so much that they have challenged us to a volley ball match. This will be fun! I’m sure that we can muster up some "ringers" for that too.

Some of the other things coming up include the Abbey show this month. Next month we have the Roundup and a night at the races at Becon Hill. Plus we can have a cruise and a burger some time during the week. Plus we still have the Royal Gorge, the Cobra museum, All Ford day, and the drive in. Once again this is your club so if there is something that you want to do please let us know. The more events we have the better chance there is for everybody to participate.

A couple of tips to pass on. One is when you are taking things apart it is always nice to take plenty of pictures or if you can video of the process. Writing what and where the screws, nuts, and bolts came from on a piece of paper then putting it in a plastic zip top bag helps keep you from saying "where the heck do these go?!" later on. Writing the bag with a marker does not always work since the marker rubs off if the bag gets moved around a lot. But as we all know once everything is off the car it never gets moved until you are ready to put it back on the car! Yeah, right!

The second thing to pass on is if you are a Fordaholic like me you have more than one set of Ford keys. If you take both sets of keys to the hardware store and carefully explain to the person cutting the keys that you want one side cut with on key and the other side cut with the other key then you can cut the number of keys that you have in half. Since only one side of the key moves the lock tumblers. Use a hack saw to notch one side so you know which side works in which car.

I was going to tell you about the adventures that I had with my new pickup but that will have to wait for another month.

Found this on the Internet today.

http://www.mustangranch.org/

Full Service Car Restoration.

Specializing in 1955 to Present Mustang and Ford Cars. Hmmmm ???

WebSite: www.protsys.com/rmmr