1998 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra

1998 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra

Don’t Mess With a Proven Formula

Changes to the Cobra in 1998 were very slight. The most noticeable change was the wheels. The wheels looked like the ones on the 1995 “R” model except the wheel cutouts are gray. The 1998 Cobra came with a 1995 Cobra R style wheel, but it’s dimensions are 17″x8″ compared to the Cobra R’s 17″x9″.

On the interior, the clock pod was removed and combined with the radio. The console was redesigned, and the seat patterns were modified. A CD was incorporated into the basic radio option.

Color options were:

Up until this point, Cobras were more limited in terms of the colors they were available in, so this was an exciting change. The Atlantic Blue and Canary Yellow Clearcoat were both mid-year color option additions.

The 1998 Cobra was the last year of the return style fuel system which was replaced with a newer returnless system in 1999.

For 1998, Ford kept the new aluminum 4.6 liter, DOHC, “modular” unit that was smoother and had slightly better fuel economy than the older 5 liter unit from prior to 1996. The GT got a SOHC version of the new 4.6 liter V8 while the Cobra got a DOHC setup. The Cobra’s block was an aluminum, cross-bolted block. The heads had split ports and huge valves. The DOHC meant 4 valves per cylinder for better aspiration. Equipped with a dual 57mm throttle body and an 80mm MAF the engine is definitely speed ready. Built into the engine was a oil cooler.

This engine produced 305 hp @ 5,800 rpm and 300 lb/ft of torque @4,800 rpm, making the 1998 Cobra capable of 0-60 in 5.50 and a 14.0 second quarter mile.

Specifications & Performance

Built at: Detroit, Michigan, USA
Engine: 90-degree, DOHC 32-Valve V8
Displacement: 4.6L / 281 CID
Bore: 3.55 in
Stroke: 3.54 in
Power: 305 hp @ 5800 rpm
Torque: 300 lbs.-ft. @ 4800 rpm
Compression: 9.85:1
Front tires: P255/45ZR-17
Rear tires: P255/45ZR-17
Front brakes: 13 in. vented disc, PBR twin-piston caliper (Bosch, three channel, four-sensor system)
Rear brakes: 11.65 in. vented disc, single-piston caliper (Bosch, three channel, four-sensor system)
Front suspension: Modified MacPherson strut type with separate spring on lower arm, 400-505 lbs./in. linear-rate coil springs, 29mm stabilizer bar
Rear suspension: Rigid axle, upper and lower trailing arms, two hydraulic links, 160-265 lbs./in. variable-rate coil springs, 27mm stabilizer bar
Wheels: 17 x 8 in. 5-spoke cast aluminum
Tires: BFGoodrich Comp T/A P245/45ZR-17
1/4-mile @ MPH: 14.00 seconds @ 101.6 mph
Top speed: ~225.3 kph / 140 mph
0 – 60 mph: 5.5 seconds

Retail Prices

Cobra Coupe, P47: $25,710
Cobra Convertible, P46: $28,510

Production Numbers

Total Produced: 8,654
Total Coupe Produced:
5,174
Total Convertible Produced: 3,480

Colors & Numbers

Black Clearcoat UA: 1,708 (Coupes), 1,256 (Convertibles)
Laser Red Tinted Clearcoat E9: 1,236 (Coupes), 842 (Convertibles)
Crystal White ZR: 958 (Coupes), 578 (Convertibles)
Atlantic Blue Clearcoat PS: 563 (Coupes), 249 (Convertibles)
Canary Yellow Clearcoat BZ: 709 (Coupes), 555 (Convertibles)

Exterior & Interior Combos Colors

Coupe

Black cloth Interior + Black Exterior: 6
Black cloth Interior + Laser Red Exterior: 5
Black cloth Interior + Crystal White Exterior: 8
Black cloth Interior + Atlantic Blue Exterior: 10
Black cloth Interior + Canary Yellow Exterior: 5
Black leather Interior + Black Exterior: 1,344
Black leather Interior + Laser Red Exterior: 675
Black leather Interior + Crystal White Exterior: 506
Black leather Interior + Atlantic Blue Exterior: 553
Black leather Interior + Canary Yellow Exterior: 704
Saddle cloth Interior + Black Exterior: 2
Saddle cloth Interior + Laser Red Exterior: 5
Saddle cloth Interior + Crystal White Exterior: 10
Saddle cloth Interior + Atlantic Blue Exterior:
Saddle cloth Interior + Canary Yellow Exterior:
Saddle leather Interior + Black Exterior: 356
Saddle leather Interior + Laser Red Exterior: 551
Saddle leather Interior + Crystal White Exterior: 434
Saddle leather Interior + Atlantic Blue Exterior:
Saddle leather Interior + Canary Yellow Exterior:

Convertible

Black Exterior + Black Top + Black Leather Exterior: 967
Black Exterior + Saddle Top + Leather Exterior: 61
Saddle Exterior + Black Top + Leather Exterior: 11
Saddle Exterior + Saddle Top + Leather Exterior: 215
White Exterior + Black Top + Cloth Exterior: 1
White Exterior + Black Top + Leather Exterior: 1
Laser Red Exterior + Black Top + Black Cloth Exterior: 1
Black Exterior + Black Top + Leather Exterior: 340
Black Exterior + Saddle Top + Leather Exterior: 12
Saddle Exterior + Saddle Top + Cloth Exterior: 2
Saddle Exterior + Saddle Top + Leather Exterior: 484
White Exterior + Black Top + Leather Exterior: 3
Crystal White Exterior + Black Top + Black Leather Exterior: 218
Black Exterior + Saddle Top + Leather Exterior: 6
Black Exterior + Saddle Top + Cloth 1 Exterior: 1
Saddle Exterior + Saddle Top + Leather Exterior: 267
White Exterior + Black Top + Leather Exterior: 46
White Exterior + Saddle Top + Cloth Exterior: 1
White Exterior + Saddle Top + Leather Exterior: 40
Atlantic Blue Exterior + Black Top + Black Cloth Exterior: 1
Black Exterior + Black Top + Leather Exterior: 224
White Exterior + Black Top + Cloth Exterior: 1
White Exterior + Black Top + Leather Exterior: 23
Canary Yellow Exterior + Black Top + Black Cloth Exterior: 5
Black Exterior + Black Top + Leather Exterior: 542
White Exterior + Black Top + Leather Exterior: 8

VIN Decoder

The VIN is stamped on the plate which is riveted to the driver’s side of the dash, visible through windshield; the certification label is attached to the rear face of the driver’s door. For full details see our 1998 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra VIN Decoder page.

VIN Decoder Cobra 1998