2008 Ford Racing Cobra Jet Mustang dubbed FR500CJ
June 16th, 2008 by CobraMatt
Details have emerged on the new 2008 Ford Racing Cobra Jet Mustang also known as the FR500CJ. The new Cobra Jet Mustang (FR500CJ) will join Ford Racing’s two other successful road racing Mustangs, the FR500C and FR500S as turn-key race cars available through Ford Dealers. The cars will be built in December of 2008 and shipped to customers in February of 2009.
The FR500CJ will be a factory-built race car with a 400 horsepower 5.4L DOHC supercharged engine with a 6-speed manual transmission that is standard, an optional automatic will also be available. The car itself will be lightweight at 3,300 lbs and will be NHRA legal to 10.00 second ET’s along with the interior being NHRA Stock Eliminator legal interior. It will come with a unique trim and appearance package, drag race wheel/tire combination and a Cobra Jet graphics package. Ford says there will be an initial 50 unit production run with the MSRP being $69,900.
Press Release:
In 1968, Ford took the NHRA Winternationals by storm with the Cobra Jet Mustang. Only 50 units were built and released to Ford Dealers and Ford racers, and in its first appearance, the Cobra Jet won.
Forty years after this historic event, Ford Racing is happy to announce that they are exploring the development of a new NHRA-legal race car - the 2008 Cobra Jet Mustang. Some details of this exciting program have already begun to surface, and we want to ensure you hear about it from us first.
The 2008 Ford Racing Cobra Jet Mustang (FR500CJ) will be a factory-built race car, ready for the drag strip with only minor additional prep required. While details are intentionally limited at this time, the following should help you assess the product and its appeal.
Ford Racing Part Number: M-FR500-CJ
Program Intent:
- Provide a Mustang that is a true A Stock competitor
- 50 units initial build
- Off-road only (VIN replaced by serial number)
- Estimated pricing, $64,990 WD, $69,990 MSRP
- Model Year 2008 designation
- Build in December 2008, vehicles delivered February 2009
Vehicle Content:
- 400 hp (est.) 5.4L DOHC supercharged engine
- 6-speed manual transmission standard; optional automatic TBD
- NHRA legal to 10.00 sec ETs
- NHRA Stock Eliminator legal interior
- Lightweight - 3,300 lbs (est.)
- Unique trim and appearance package
- Drag race wheel/tire combination
- Cobra Jet graphics package
Orders/Feedback:
- Vehicle orders should be placed with the Ford Racing warehouse at 1-800-367-3786.
- Priority delivery will be given to orders of multiple vehicles.
- Priority delivery will be given to orders of multiple vehicles
This order is a placeholder; dealers will not be billed until delivery of the vehicle to the dealer - An “off-road only” competition release will be required prior to delivery of a Cobra Jet to the dealer
- Only 50 units are under consideration for 2008, so dealers are encouraged to submit their orders before June 30. Delivery will be prioritized based on order entry date.
The Cobra Jet Mustang (M-FR500-CJ) joins Ford Racing’s two successful road racing Mustangs, the M-FR500-C and M-FR500-S, as turn-key race cars available only from Ford Dealers. We encourage you to take advantage of this unique opportunity to help rewrite history by ordering and campaigning this new race car.
Jim Says
400 horsepower? Yeah, right…I’m thinking something closer to what was originally stated, somewhere in the 600’s at least.
Jun 19th, 2008 at 2:14 am
mauri reeder Says
I’ve always thought the name “Cobra Jet” should be used for a Sat. morning cartoon, not a high performance car.
Jun 22nd, 2008 at 2:45 pm
speedzzter Says
Cobra Jet is a brilliant and historically significant name for a LEGENDARY high performance car. One only hopes that the revival can perform up to the legend.
Hopefully, this long-awaited 2008-2009 revival of the famed Cobra Jet Mustang (and the factory-backed racing of it) will last longer than it did in the 1960s.
And hopefully, the “Cobra Jet” program will trickle down to some more affordable “street/strip” Mustangs, in reprise of the evolution from Tasca’s 428 Interceptor-powered ‘68 Mustang, to the Winternational-invading production 428CJs followed by the expansion of “Cobra Jet” power to the broader Ford performance vehicle line.
And then, before the EPA, CARB and CAFE kill the whole thing, we’ll see some “Boss”/Cobra Jet Mustangs based on the upcoming wide-bore-center ‘Cammer V8 . . . .
Jul 9th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
Jim Says
It’s not going to turn 10s with 400hp - 600hp I would have to guess.
Jim
Oct 6th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
CompOrangeCobra Says
It’s great to see ford finally getting back into grassroots drag racing and not a minute too soon as I read that mopar will be releasing their own versions as well. I think 400-500hp could get a 3300lb car into the 10s if it was on bigs and littles and has the right suspension, and coming from ford as a purpose vehicle, it should. Welcome back Cobra Jet!!!
Oct 6th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
Jasper Says
400 hp out of a 5.4 liter supercharged engine???
A regular breathing 3.5 liter v8 can do that. Ofcourse it’s all about the torque here, but cmon…
Nov 2nd, 2008 at 4:38 am
bill dozer Says
I was at the track, with proper tinning she went a best of 9.91 151. not shabby. 70g good price for stock elimator.
Nov 12th, 2008 at 9:32 pm