Forget About the Shelby GT500, Ford Just Unveiled the Fastest Drag Mustang in History

TopSpeed

By Ciprian Florea

Published Aug 16, 2018

Runs the quarter-mile in less than nine seconds!

Anxiously waiting for Ford to launch the Shelby GT500? So are we, but you need to forget about it for a while as the Blue Oval just introduced the fastest and most powerful Mustang ever! For drag racing that is. Meet the 50th Anniversary Mustang Cobra Jet!

When the sixth-gen Mustang was unveiled with an independent rear suspension, many enthusiasts complained that the modern layout will bring an end to the Cobra Jet. But the drag racer is back, and it's more aggressive than ever. Described as the "hottest, fastest, most powerful drag racing Mustang ever," the new Cobra Jet arrived exactly 50 years after Ford built the first Mustang-based factory drag car.

The coupe is powered by a bespoke 5.2-liter V-8 based on the familiar "Coyote" unit, beefed-up with a 3.0-liter Whipple supercharger. The chassis is also custom, using a nine-inch solid rear axle, a four-link rear suspension, and two-way coilover shocks with adjustable ride height. Ford didn't say anything about the output, but bragged that the Cobra Jet will run the quarter mile in mid-eight-second range and cross the line at around 150 mph. Impressive!

We also learned that it uses features like the mandatory, NHRA-certified safety roll cage, FIA-certified seats, and that exterior colors are limited to Race Red and Oxford White. Both come with a black hood with a massive bulge for the supercharger. Pricing starts from $130,000, while production is limited to only 68 units. Get them while they're hot folks, these drag racers won't be around for long!

Further reading