The latest Cobra Jet maintains the theme of all CJ's in the past — a factory chassis stripped of all non-essentials and outfitted with all the goodies drag racers want to go fast in a straight line. For 2010, Ford's taken things to a whole new level, making the Cobra Jet Mustang so good they're envisioning customers who buy the car and don't have to waste time replacing bits before taking runs down the strip.

What we're looking at here is the "Super" Cobra Jet, the top-of-the-line model with all options and the goodies, this one's even painted a special silver for SEMA, all others will be the traditional white. It's equipped with a 5.4 liter V8 with a 4.0-liter Whipple supercharger with headers, adjustable front and rear shocks, manual steering and an NHRA certified roll cage, competition shifter with trans brake, Hoosier drag radials on Weld wheels, a rear mounted battery and fuel cell, as well as a cut-off switch.

Those things are pretty normal for any drag racer, but the stuff making this factory runner a unique proposition is a little more thoughtful. Instead of just reusing the standard Mustang wiring loom, the CJ's is unique, which affords the Ford Racing guys some unique opportunities. Since there are no airbags in the car, they relocated all the fuses to the glovebox area, which has an easily removable upper cover. Also hidden in there is a computer hookup for convenient data recovery and diagnostics, which is pretty cool on it's own. The IP is otherwise fully instrumented with a lovely row of toggle switches in front of the performance shifter and transmission brake. You'll notice the hand brake lever is missing because that whole system is superfluous.

Speaking of brakes, the Cobra Jet is equipped with manual brakes because most racers prefer them to vacuum boosted brakes, and you can forget about traction control and ABS for that matter — this car doesn't even have side mirrors. This model is again, the top of the line, and will run in Superstock A and B Auto, but there will be other flavors available with different engines, options and race gadgets. Having been bathed in the tire smoke of this fine automobile in the Ford Racing shop's parking lot, we can attest to both the noise and fury of this latest iteration. We at admit to having gone a little weak in the knees a the sound of that big mill at full chat.

FORD DONATES THREE HIGH-PERFORMANCE VEHICLES TO BENEFIT JUVENILE DIABETES RESEARCH FOUNDATION

* A 2010 Ford Shelby GT500, a 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor and a Ford Racing Mustang Cobra Jet will be available at the 38th Annual Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction in Scottsdale, Ariz., with proceeds donated to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
* The auction will be shown live at approximately 10 p.m. Eastern on Saturday on SPEED

DEARBORN, Mich., Jan 14, 2009 – The sales of three special, high-performance Ford vehicles will benefit one key charity at the always-anticipated Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Ford is offering the purchase rights to the first retail version of the 540-horsepower 2010 Ford Shelby GT500, the 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor offered to the public as well as the first Ford Racing Mustang Cobra Jet with the hood signed by several Ford drag racing legends, including John Force and Bob Glidden. Proceeds from the 38th annual auction, which will televised live at approximately 10 p.m. EST on Saturday on SPEED, will be donated to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

“We’re honored to assist the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation through these great Ford vehicles,” said Mark Fields, Ford’s president of The Americas.

“The Shelby GT500, SVT Raptor and Cobra Jet all will be eagerly sought by enthusiast collectors,” he added. “The Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction is always a draw, and we’re proud to be a part of it and help a great cause at the same time.”

The GT500, Raptor and Cobra Jet are the latest examples of Ford’s commitment to performance vehicles, and their auction offering is the latest in a long-standing charity partnership. Last year, Ford donated a one-off Ford Shelby GT500KR with a glass roof to the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction, and it sold for $550,000. Ford has raised more than $2 million for charity through its donations to car auctions in recent years.

The Ford Shelby GT500 and F-150 SVT Raptor being auctioned will be the first retail units sold of their respective makes, and the winning bidders can specify choice of color and other options.

Here’s what the winning bidders have to look forward to:

2010 Ford Shelby GT500

The new Shelby GT500 delivers the most power and refinement ever for a Ford SVT-tuned performance Mustang – and offers a few surprises as well. Powering the Shelby GT500 is a supercharged and intercooled 5.4-liter dual overhead cam V-8 engine producing 540 horsepower and 510 foot-pounds of torque. Upgrades to the twin-disc clutch on the six-speed manual transmission improve drivability and reduce NVH (noise, vibration, harshness).

The GT500 now combines its usual outstanding straight-line acceleration in gears 1-4 with improved fuel efficiency in its cruising gears. The new final drive ratio, from 3.31 to 3.55, enables improved acceleration in lower gears while complementing the revised fifth and sixth gear ratios.

The new exterior design, which now features racing stripes on convertible models, is complemented by an all-new interior design brimming with upscale materials such as leather and Alcantara.

2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor

The all-new F-150 SVT Raptor is a purpose-built, high-performance off-road truck versatile enough to take on the most-challenging desert adventures as well as the everyday commute. Ford, the definitive leader in tough trucks, now sets the bar for high-speed off-road performance.

Key to Raptor’s performance are the 12.1 inches of usable travel in the rear suspension and 11.2 in the front as well as FOX Racing Shox, the only internal bypass shocks available on a street truck. SVT changed the whole front suspension – axle, upper A arm, lower A arm, tie rod, half-shaft joints – to withstand the rigors of off-road performance. In addition, a wide suite of technology, including AdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control, Hill Descent Control, and Integrated Trailer Brake Controller with Trailer Sway Control (optional) adds to customer confidence.

The 2010 F-150 SVT Raptor casts an imposing, unmistakable image anywhere. It is more than seven inches wider than the base F-150 and features distinctive marker lamps that are well-integrated into the front end as opposed to on top of the cab. When lit, Raptor’s imposing stance is immediately recognizable.

Ford ran a race version of the F-150 SVT Raptor in the grueling 41st Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 in November 2008, finishing third in the “Class 8” category. The pickup was entered into the race to test the durability and performance of the production version, to ensure that it is the ultimate OEM off-road performance truck. If the winning bidder does not want to put the truck through the rigorous paces of the Baja 1000, the point is, he or she could.

Visitors to the 38th Annual Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction in Scottsdale, Ariz., can sign up for an on-site off-road ride in the 2010 F-150 SVT Raptor with a veteran desert-racing driver.

Ford Racing Mustang Cobra Jet

How cool would it be to own a drag racer with a hood signed by the legendary John Force and other drag racing stars? Here’s your chance. The Mustang FR500CJ, known simply as the Cobra Jet, adds drag racing to the line of race-ready Mustang race cars.

For those interested in NHRA sportsmen drag racing, the Cobra Jet offers an affordable vehicle that can compete right off the truck and run in the 10-second range.

Designed by Ford Racing engineers, the Cobra Jet features a 400-hp 5.4-liter supercharged engine with a standard 6-speed manual transmission and a drag race wheel/tire combination. The Cobra Jet is NHRA-legal to 10.00 second ETs and has an NHRA Stock Eliminator legal interior and is approximately 3,300 lbs. The Cobra Jet also showcases a unique trim and appearance design and includes an optional graphics kit to distinguish itself. Offered for auction is a Cobra Jet coupe with the 6-speed manual transmission.

# # #

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 224,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company’s core and affiliated automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Volvo. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit http://www.ford.com.

About the Barrett-Jackson Auction Company

Established in 1971 and headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., Barrett-Jackson specializes in providing products and services to classic and collector car owners, astute collectors and automotive enthusiasts around the world. The company produces the “World’s Greatest Collector Car Auctions™” in Scottsdale, Palm Beach, Fla. and Las Vegas. For more information about Barrett-Jackson, visit www.barrett-jackson.com or call (480) 421-6694.

Okay, yes, the Cobra Jet gets an upgraded 5.4-liter V8 with a cold air intake, A/C delete, 9-inch rear end, a six speed manual or three speed auto with custom shifter, a roll hoop, gauges, a specialized suspension and huge drag slicks, but it also gets a VIN starting with the car's name. This first car off the line is VIN number FR500CJ001. Since it's not a road legal car to begin with, it doesn't have to maintain the traditional VIN coding, so it can be whatever it wants to be. These shots apparently come from a largely unpublicized Job 1 celebration which took place December 18th as the first Cobra Jet came off the end of the line.
Hopefully, the annual Ford drag racing event at Milan Dragway happens again next summer. While we're not complaining about last years selection, if they accidentally brought along one of these, we wouldn't complain. (Hat tip to Jeremy!)

[via Fuel Slut (Why didn't we think of that name?)]

COBRA JET THE LATEST ADDITION TO THE MUSTANG FR500 SERIES OF RACE CARS FROM FORD RACING

DEARBORN, Mich, Nov. 4, 2008 – With the addition of the 2008 Cobra Jet Mustang, Ford Racing will have once again expanded its current stable of race-ready Mustang race cars.

This time, however, the Mustang is designed for drag racing.

The Mustang FR500CJ, known simply as the Cobra Jet, will be officially unveiled Nov. 4 at the 2008 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. It joins its road racing brethren: the Mustang FR500S, the Mustang FR500C and the Mustang FR500GT.

“The Cobra Jet is the newest offspring of the Ford Racing lineup of race cars,” said Jamie Allison, manager of the Ford Racing Performance Group. “We started with the FR500C in 2005 and then followed by the FR500S in 2007.

“All along the way, we worked with Brian Wolfe, who, at the time, was really in the calibration activity. He oversaw worldwide calibrations, and he was a big supporter of Ford Racing, both professionally and personally,” Allison said. “He had always kind of asked us about our plans to do a drag race car and the time had just come early this year to, indeed, take all of the lessons we learned, all the processes, all of the relationships that we have inside with the plant and with the team and put together a sportsmen-destined drag race Mustang. Clearly, what we did in 1968 is the impetus for it, and we felt that it was time to bring back the Cobra Jet.”

The Cobra Jet is the drag racing equivalent of the Mustang FR500S, allowing those interested in NHRA sportsmen drag racing the opportunity to get involved with an affordable vehicle that can compete right off of the truck and run in the 10-second range.

“We are talking about designing and building competition-ready race cars,” added Allison. “These are not just the simple parts that we sometimes create. This is a full-fledged, ready to race vehicle. There is a lot of engineering that goes into the preparation, development, testing, and release of these cars. There’s a full team of engineers from Ford Racing who have been involved on the engineering side of the Ford Racing Mustangs, led by Andy Slankard who leads the group. On the Cobra Jet, that group was personally directed and overseen by Brian Wolfe because of his personal background of racing in the sportsmen class. So he’s been hands-on involved in the very specifications of the 40th anniversary Cobra Jet. ”

In addition to the Cobra Jet, the other Ford Racing Mustangs provide customers a racing ladder, all within one manufacturer, to climb up through the ranks of professional racing. The Ford Racing Mustang ladder in road racing begins with the Ford Racing High Performance Driving School at Miller Motorsports Park featuring specially prepared school Mustangs.

The next step on the ladder is the Mustang FR500S, which is delivered as a race-ready vehicle complete with a racing seat and safety harnesses, and provides competitors with a base to hone their driving skills and an exciting year-long schedule to race against other semi-pro drivers in the Ford Racing Mustang Challenge for the Miller Cup.

Moving further up the ladder puts racers behind the wheel of the Mustang FR500C, which competes in the Grand-Am KONI Challenge Series, and the FR500GT4, which competes in the GT4 European Cup. Both Mustangs are proven winners with each car having won championships in its first year of competition. The FR500C led drivers to championships in 2005 and 2008, while the FR500GT4 has won two titles in the GT4 European Cup in 2007 and 2008.

At the top of the ladder sit both the Mustang FR500GT and FR500GT3, which represent the ultimate race-bred road racing Mustang. The FR500GT is being homologated for Grand-Am Rolex GT and other applications, while the FR500GT3 has already competed in select FIA GT3 European Championship races.

Customers or competitors looking for more information on how to get behind the wheel of their own Cobra Jet Mustang should visit www.fordracingparts.com.

FORD RACING COBRA JET MUSTANG
The Legend Continues
(M-FR500-CJ)

In 1968, Ford took the NHRA Winternationals by storm with the Cobra Jet Mustang. Only 50 factory lightweights were built, and in its first appearance, the Cobra Jet won. Forty years after this historic event, Ford Racing is happy to announce that the legend continues with a new NHRA-legal race car – the 2008 Cobra Jet Mustang!

The 2008 Ford Racing Cobra Jet (FR500CJ) is a factory-built race car (serialized but no VIN), ready for the drag strip with only minor additional prep required. It is available for order from any Ford dealer as a Ford Racing part. Following are key Ford Racing components to help define this exciting new race car:

Functional

* 5.4 Cobra Jet engine
* Cobra Jet cold air kit
* Throttle body
* A/C deleted
* Crankshaft damper
* Cobra Jet bell housing
* 6-speed manual or 3-speed automatic transmission with SFI bell housing
* Stainless steel long-tube racing headers
* 9" rear axle assembly
* One piece driveshaft drive shaft
* Single hoop drive shaft loop
* Cobra Jet rear control arms and anti-roll bar
* Ford Racing adjustable dampers
* Drag race spring kit
* Cobra Jet wheels — 15" x 4" (front), 15" x 10" (rear)

Exterior

* Painted Cobra Jet body in white
* Cobra Jet hood scoop
* Cobra Jet Lexan backlight
* Flush quarter window louvers

Interior

* 5" pedestal tachometer
* SVT Mustang short-throw shifter with black shift knob and handle
* Cobra Jet seat package

Visit www.fordracingparts.com for more information.

[Source: Ford]