80 & 81 Cobras

[Boyd]

I can see 10 or more 79 Pace cars before I see another 80 or 81 Cobra,, at least here in Minnesota. Did most of them come with 2.3 turbos or? Also does anyone know what colors they were available in. A black one with with the all the green decals on it would come into the Dairy Queen I worked at in Rochester Mn back in 86 & 87. I think it was a 2.3 turbo. Nearly perfect shape. The owner lived just 4 blocks from this store but I think they moved or sold it. They knew I loved the car. I got my first Pace car aug 23 of 87 after I left that Dairy Queen. I don't think theres much demand for these Cobras, but I would love to find one. I have seen: baby blue, black, white with red stripes. I think they made some white with blue stripes. I drove a butterscotch brown one once.

[1985 Motorsport Capri]

I dont remember seeing too many running around when they were new.
they have always been my favorite fox-mustang. IMHO, the silver with blue/blue stripes & the blackout treatment was one of the most attractive mustangs period!
would love to pick one up.

[grabbergreen84]

I'll take mine in black, with green graphics.

[pextor]

I'll take mine in black, with green graphics.

i'll have what he's having.

[Hissing Cobra]

i'll have what he's having.

Me too! I LOVE that color combination.

[93-331-29PSI]

I am not picky about color, I'd just like to have one in any color.

[eric5oh]

Mine was green with green graphics and black on the bottom. I NEED to find another one. I'm Jones'n pretty bad.

[429bigblock]

I agree that these are some of the most attractive mustangs ever made. Ill have mine orange (caramel) with black graphics.

[boss82gt]

Mine was green with green graphics and black on the bottom. I NEED to find another one. I'm Jones'n pretty bad. That was what I had. If only one would pop up at the same time I had money to buy it. I'd have to http://www.madisonmusclemustangs.com/forum/images/smilies/chairshot.gif
if someone got between me and another one.:hehe:

[02Z06]

With all of these people wanting black/green ones it looks like I might have to watch my back when I park mine. lol. Black and Green is classic, but they are all so freakin' cool I wouldn't be picky if I found another one. I lucked out that the one I found happened to be that color combo.

[Marz]

With all of these people wanting black/green ones it looks like I might have to watch my back when I park mine. lol. Black and Green is classic, but they are all so freakin' cool I wouldn't be picky if I found another one. I lucked out that the one I found happened to be that color combo.

Indeed... and if you hadn't of bought it... I would have... ;)

[Sellis1012]

Could the Cobras be hitting classic car status???? This thread smells a bit like it!

[02Z06]

I think they will be soon.... they might never be worth a ton, but I think we can expect to see values come up at least a little bit before the decade is over. That's if the economy doesn't tank.

[K PONY]

I remember back in 81 a guy a few streets away from where I lived bought a new 81 bright red Cobra with a turbo and recaro seats... side stripes were orange/red in color... sweet car.

[85T-TopGT]

Mine was black with orange stripes. T-top with 255 V8 (replaced with a 302). Wish I had it back.

[79pace]

Hey guys, gotta agree the black & green colour scheme is cool, but I also like white with red and orange stripes. Here's a couple of models I built, hope you like them:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y207/79pace/Mustang%20models/78055883a8fc18493cfd4ac09ac121c9550.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y207/79pace/Mustang%20models/212958180f895297b0bdfb91d4c6ac4e003.jpg

[Sellis1012]

Hey guys, gotta agree the black & green colour scheme is cool, but I also like white with red and orange stripes. Here's a couple of models I built, hope you like them:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y207/79pace/Mustang%20models/78055883a8fc18493cfd4ac09ac121c9550.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y207/79pace/Mustang%20models/212958180f895297b0bdfb91d4c6ac4e003.jpg


I've seen the black model around, but where did you get the white one?

[79pace]

It's the same US Airfix snap kit but with my own custom made decals.

I love these kits, I have another two to build. One will be a blue cobra and the other is going to be a replica of the motorcraft mustang.

[R825OH]

My cousin had a brown one w/ orange graphics it was cooool!!

[gq1949]

I never saw and 80/81 cobra tell now, kool carz.
Did they come in v=8's or all turbo 4's:?:

GQ.

[02Z06]

Some did come with V8s, they were 4.2L motors (255s).

[429bigblock]

If you opted for the 4.2 on your Cobra you got dealer credit. I think it was around $142? The 4.2's had a 2bbl carb and had 119-120 hp and 240 ish lb/ft torque.

[02Z06]

Just put the TRXs back on mine over the weekend. They eventually need to be refinished and get new tires, but put them on there as rollers just for the effect.

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k95/buickgs455/PIC-0015.jpg

[peicaprilover]

very nice, i was just searching the net for info on these cars, especially the 81 i'm going to be finding out about hopefully today, but haven't seen any with t-bars, even on bradbarnett.net/.../timeline/79-86/81/index.htm , i'm wondering, did i find a rare gem or was it put in afterwards or that i'm just not looking at the right info and there were lots of 81 cobra's with t-tops.

[02Z06]

Info is very hard to find. T-Tops were availible in 81, they were not availible in 80. So already it's fairly rare being the only year you could get a cobra with t-tops. 81s seem to be harder to find than 80s, which would stand to reason because production was down for mustangs in general. There is some speculation that 81s were not availible with 4 cyl turbo's, but we've had a few people on here that either have or have had 81 cobra's with turbo-4s, so I think it's safe to say, if nothing else, that there's a good chance cobra's were still availible with them in 81. GregPro50 has a buddy who has a white '81 cobra with t-tops. So they are out there...

[429bigblock]

In canada for sure you could get the 2.3T in 81-82 but apparantly in the US you couldnt get a turbo in either 81 or 82.

[four eyed freek]

i have an orangey\yelllow one with orange and red graphics it had the turbo 4 but now it has a 5.0in it

[GREENSNAKE]

I found mine back in 1995 for sale 400.00 I took out the turbo 4 put the 5.0 roller in left everything else stock. I get a lot of people wanting to buy it but im too attached now I am going to give it to my boy when he is ready. Its the Green & Black combo. Evil85 seen it when she lived around here in the Midwest she can vouch and bragg on my car. Later (Greensnake)

[Hissing Cobra]

Lonny,

I remember seeing pictues of your car on this site more than 5 years ago. It's good to see that you're back. Post up some pictures so everyone else can see it!

[GREENSNAKE]

Hey Pete, I will get some new ones up I had problems last time i talked to you about putting pictures up but its a lot easier now. I heard they are changing the WFC to the WSC World Street Challange they are bringing it back to Gateway Race track. You heard anything about this?

[Hissing Cobra]

I haven't heard anything about the World Street Challenge at Raceway Park but then again, I'm kind of stuck in the New England area. I'd love to bring my car to some of the events at other tracks but I don't have a trailer or the funds to do so. Maybe in the future, who knows?

As for the pictures, I found that www.photobucket.com (http://www.photobucket.com) is the easiest to post pictures from. It automatically resizes them and everything. The best part is that it's free.

[GREENSNAKE]

Thanks Pete!

[GREENSNAKE]

Hey Pete , Here is my Vin Tag on my 1980 cobra Thought you guys can translate it for me.Thanks Lonny

[FoxChassis]

Could you type out the codes instead? Some of them are hard to read.

And that's what know as the "Body Tag" or "Buc Tag", not the VIN tag.

[GREENSNAKE]

Mustang
135203 61R T MO 1288
1C DF TT S7
AC 05 H8
CBR MBW 09
76 345 CR 111 18 This about all i can get out of it . I will go look some more see if i can see it better I think this is all i see. Thanks Lonny

[FoxChassis]

MUSTANG = model line
135203 = production sequence number (last six of the VIN - 35,203rd 1980 Mustang scheduled for production at the Dearborn, MI assembly plant)
61R = non-Ghia three-door hatchback
T = turbocharged 2.3L engine
MO = moonroof
1C = Black exterior paint color
TT = Lower Tu-Tone Paint Treatment (standard on Cobras)
AC = air conditioning
HB = heated back glass
CBR = Cobra Package option
MBW = manual Borg Warner transmission
09 = full-length rear facing hood scoop

[GREENSNAKE]

The 345 is that the gear ratio? Thats what the Tag says on the rear end.

[FoxChassis]

Are you sure it says "345" and those numbers have no spaces between them?

Because the what you say is "76" looks like "16", and what you say is "345" looks like "3 6 S", and what you say is "111" looks like "III".

The only rear axle ratio available with the turbocharged 2.3L was indeed 3.45:1, so if the Body/Buc Tag tag is indeed stamped "345" it could be the axle ratio. Not enough is known about the early tags, as evidenced by my omission of some codes.

[GREENSNAKE]

Your right The 111 is III & the 76 is 16 but the 345 is correct.