Australian Cobras?
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Joined: October 30, 2004
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What do you all think of the Australian Cobras? I know nothing about them. Does anyone have any photos or statistics or information. It would be greatly appeciated. I hear people talk about them all the time and have no idea what they are?
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From fpv.com.au:
Not since 1966 when Ford Australia imported and converted 161 Mustangs to act as a curtain raiser for its new Mustang Bred Falcon series, had that magic name officially appeared on Ford's showroom floors around Australia. For a model that was never sold here after that small batch of official imports, the Mustang has an enormous profile in Australia after winning five Australian Touring Car Championships in a row. The Mustang also won its first race in Australia when Norm Beechey was the first to race the model.
After teasing enthusiasts with Motor Show displays of the latest US Mustang in Cobra colours, Ford Australia and Tickford embarked on a massive re-engineering process to offer a factory quality right hand drive version that met Ford's rigorous internal standards. As a result, the right hand drive Mustang that emerged was better in many ways than when it left the US.
The heating ventilation system was totally re-designed for local conditions, tough local rules dictated extra lights in the front bumper, extractors were fitted to the engine and a European rack and pinion steering system was installed. The centre tunnel in the cabin was re-shaped to include a driver's left footrest and the dash was manufactured as a complete right hand drive item.
Because the engine had been mounted offset for left hand drive, Tickford engineers had to centre it to create a driver's footwell wide enough to house the pedals comfortably. This required a re-work of crossmembers and engine mounts. The new steering system also dictated changes to the front cross member, power steering system and engine sump for clearance. All controls were moved across after Ford and Tickford rejected the more common chains, rods and levers used in most conversions. It was an exhaustive remanufacturing process which is why Ford and Tickford engineers do not take kindly to seeing it described as a conversion.
Tickford took on the mammoth task of stripping the imported cars completely and rebuilding them in right hand drive configuration. Each car took 60 hours of meticulous work by dedicated technicians and the end result is a proper factory-built vehicle with none of the usual vices associated with RHD conversions.
The Motor Show previews had generated an order bank that ensured that these limited edition factory right hand drive examples quickly found owners. Available in both coupe and convertible body styles the Mustang Cobra became an immediate 'must have' car for those who remembered the glory days of the original 'pony car'. Colours were initially restricted to Laser Red, Black, Silver and Crystal White. The June 2001 shipment added True Blue, Zinc Yellow and Oxford White which replaced Crystal White.
Specifications
Engine
4.6-litre Quad Cam, 32-valve, all-alloy V8, compression ratio 9.85:1, 240kW @ 6000rpm, 435Nm @ 4750rpm, sequential electronic fuel injection, coil-on-plug ignition, dual-butterfly throttle body, 80mm MAFS, 6-bolt main bearings.
Transmission
Tremec T45 heavy duty 5-speed manual only. Final drive ratio - 3.27:1 limited slip differential.
Suspension
Front: Independent MacPherson strut with linear rate coil springs, gas dampers, 28mm anti-roll bar.
Rear: Independent double wishbone with steel upper and aluminium lower control arms, 53Nm linear rate coil springs, gas dampers, 26mm anti-roll bar.
Brakes
ABS and traction control, hydraulic brake assistance by power steering pump.
Front: 329 x 28mm Brembo ventilated discs with curved cooling vanes, twin piston caliper, larger standard-compound pads.
Rear: 296 x 18 mm ventilated discs, braided hoses.
Wheels
17" x 8" 5-spoke alloys.
Tyres : B F Goodrich Comp T/A 245/45 ZR17
Performance
0-100km/h 5.6 seconds, standing 400m. 13.8 seconds.
After teasing enthusiasts with Motor Show displays of the latest US Mustang in Cobra colours, Ford Australia and Tickford embarked on a massive re-engineering process to offer a factory quality right hand drive version that met Ford's rigorous internal standards. As a result, the right hand drive Mustang that emerged was better in many ways than when it left the US.
The heating ventilation system was totally re-designed for local conditions, tough local rules dictated extra lights in the front bumper, extractors were fitted to the engine and a European rack and pinion steering system was installed. The centre tunnel in the cabin was re-shaped to include a driver's left footrest and the dash was manufactured as a complete right hand drive item.
Because the engine had been mounted offset for left hand drive, Tickford engineers had to centre it to create a driver's footwell wide enough to house the pedals comfortably. This required a re-work of crossmembers and engine mounts. The new steering system also dictated changes to the front cross member, power steering system and engine sump for clearance. All controls were moved across after Ford and Tickford rejected the more common chains, rods and levers used in most conversions. It was an exhaustive remanufacturing process which is why Ford and Tickford engineers do not take kindly to seeing it described as a conversion.
Tickford took on the mammoth task of stripping the imported cars completely and rebuilding them in right hand drive configuration. Each car took 60 hours of meticulous work by dedicated technicians and the end result is a proper factory-built vehicle with none of the usual vices associated with RHD conversions.
The Motor Show previews had generated an order bank that ensured that these limited edition factory right hand drive examples quickly found owners. Available in both coupe and convertible body styles the Mustang Cobra became an immediate 'must have' car for those who remembered the glory days of the original 'pony car'. Colours were initially restricted to Laser Red, Black, Silver and Crystal White. The June 2001 shipment added True Blue, Zinc Yellow and Oxford White which replaced Crystal White.
Specifications
Engine
4.6-litre Quad Cam, 32-valve, all-alloy V8, compression ratio 9.85:1, 240kW @ 6000rpm, 435Nm @ 4750rpm, sequential electronic fuel injection, coil-on-plug ignition, dual-butterfly throttle body, 80mm MAFS, 6-bolt main bearings.
Transmission
Tremec T45 heavy duty 5-speed manual only. Final drive ratio - 3.27:1 limited slip differential.
Suspension
Front: Independent MacPherson strut with linear rate coil springs, gas dampers, 28mm anti-roll bar.
Rear: Independent double wishbone with steel upper and aluminium lower control arms, 53Nm linear rate coil springs, gas dampers, 26mm anti-roll bar.
Brakes
ABS and traction control, hydraulic brake assistance by power steering pump.
Front: 329 x 28mm Brembo ventilated discs with curved cooling vanes, twin piston caliper, larger standard-compound pads.
Rear: 296 x 18 mm ventilated discs, braided hoses.
Wheels
17" x 8" 5-spoke alloys.
Tyres : B F Goodrich Comp T/A 245/45 ZR17
Performance
0-100km/h 5.6 seconds, standing 400m. 13.8 seconds.
Thread Starter
GTR Member
Joined: October 30, 2004
Posts: 4,999
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Originally posted by DanS.02GT@December 30, 2004, 9:07 PM
From fpv.com.au:
From fpv.com.au:
Not since 1966 when Ford Australia imported and converted 161 Mustangs to act as a curtain raiser for its new Mustang Bred Falcon series, had that magic name officially appeared on Ford's showroom floors around Australia. For a model that was never sold here after that small batch of official imports, the Mustang has an enormous profile in Australia after winning five Australian Touring Car Championships in a row. The Mustang also won its first race in Australia when Norm Beechey was the first to race the model.
After teasing enthusiasts with Motor Show displays of the latest US Mustang in Cobra colours, Ford Australia and Tickford embarked on a massive re-engineering process to offer a factory quality right hand drive version that met Ford's rigorous internal standards. As a result, the right hand drive Mustang that emerged was better in many ways than when it left the US.
The heating ventilation system was totally re-designed for local conditions, tough local rules dictated extra lights in the front bumper, extractors were fitted to the engine and a European rack and pinion steering system was installed. The centre tunnel in the cabin was re-shaped to include a driver's left footrest and the dash was manufactured as a complete right hand drive item.
Because the engine had been mounted offset for left hand drive, Tickford engineers had to centre it to create a driver's footwell wide enough to house the pedals comfortably. This required a re-work of crossmembers and engine mounts. The new steering system also dictated changes to the front cross member, power steering system and engine sump for clearance. All controls were moved across after Ford and Tickford rejected the more common chains, rods and levers used in most conversions. It was an exhaustive remanufacturing process which is why Ford and Tickford engineers do not take kindly to seeing it described as a conversion.
Tickford took on the mammoth task of stripping the imported cars completely and rebuilding them in right hand drive configuration. Each car took 60 hours of meticulous work by dedicated technicians and the end result is a proper factory-built vehicle with none of the usual vices associated with RHD conversions.
The Motor Show previews had generated an order bank that ensured that these limited edition factory right hand drive examples quickly found owners. Available in both coupe and convertible body styles the Mustang Cobra became an immediate 'must have' car for those who remembered the glory days of the original 'pony car'. Colours were initially restricted to Laser Red, Black, Silver and Crystal White. The June 2001 shipment added True Blue, Zinc Yellow and Oxford White which replaced Crystal White.
Specifications
Engine
4.6-litre Quad Cam, 32-valve, all-alloy V8, compression ratio 9.85:1, 240kW @ 6000rpm, 435Nm @ 4750rpm, sequential electronic fuel injection, coil-on-plug ignition, dual-butterfly throttle body, 80mm MAFS, 6-bolt main bearings.
Transmission
Tremec T45 heavy duty 5-speed manual only. Final drive ratio - 3.27:1 limited slip differential.
Suspension
Front: Independent MacPherson strut with linear rate coil springs, gas dampers, 28mm anti-roll bar.
Rear: Independent double wishbone with steel upper and aluminium lower control arms, 53Nm linear rate coil springs, gas dampers, 26mm anti-roll bar.
Brakes
ABS and traction control, hydraulic brake assistance by power steering pump.
Front: 329 x 28mm Brembo ventilated discs with curved cooling vanes, twin piston caliper, larger standard-compound pads.
Rear: 296 x 18 mm ventilated discs, braided hoses.
Wheels
17" x 8" 5-spoke alloys.
Tyres : B F Goodrich Comp T/A 245/45 ZR17
Performance
0-100km/h 5.6 seconds, standing 400m. 13.8 seconds.
After teasing enthusiasts with Motor Show displays of the latest US Mustang in Cobra colours, Ford Australia and Tickford embarked on a massive re-engineering process to offer a factory quality right hand drive version that met Ford's rigorous internal standards. As a result, the right hand drive Mustang that emerged was better in many ways than when it left the US.
The heating ventilation system was totally re-designed for local conditions, tough local rules dictated extra lights in the front bumper, extractors were fitted to the engine and a European rack and pinion steering system was installed. The centre tunnel in the cabin was re-shaped to include a driver's left footrest and the dash was manufactured as a complete right hand drive item.
Because the engine had been mounted offset for left hand drive, Tickford engineers had to centre it to create a driver's footwell wide enough to house the pedals comfortably. This required a re-work of crossmembers and engine mounts. The new steering system also dictated changes to the front cross member, power steering system and engine sump for clearance. All controls were moved across after Ford and Tickford rejected the more common chains, rods and levers used in most conversions. It was an exhaustive remanufacturing process which is why Ford and Tickford engineers do not take kindly to seeing it described as a conversion.
Tickford took on the mammoth task of stripping the imported cars completely and rebuilding them in right hand drive configuration. Each car took 60 hours of meticulous work by dedicated technicians and the end result is a proper factory-built vehicle with none of the usual vices associated with RHD conversions.
The Motor Show previews had generated an order bank that ensured that these limited edition factory right hand drive examples quickly found owners. Available in both coupe and convertible body styles the Mustang Cobra became an immediate 'must have' car for those who remembered the glory days of the original 'pony car'. Colours were initially restricted to Laser Red, Black, Silver and Crystal White. The June 2001 shipment added True Blue, Zinc Yellow and Oxford White which replaced Crystal White.
Specifications
Engine
4.6-litre Quad Cam, 32-valve, all-alloy V8, compression ratio 9.85:1, 240kW @ 6000rpm, 435Nm @ 4750rpm, sequential electronic fuel injection, coil-on-plug ignition, dual-butterfly throttle body, 80mm MAFS, 6-bolt main bearings.
Transmission
Tremec T45 heavy duty 5-speed manual only. Final drive ratio - 3.27:1 limited slip differential.
Suspension
Front: Independent MacPherson strut with linear rate coil springs, gas dampers, 28mm anti-roll bar.
Rear: Independent double wishbone with steel upper and aluminium lower control arms, 53Nm linear rate coil springs, gas dampers, 26mm anti-roll bar.
Brakes
ABS and traction control, hydraulic brake assistance by power steering pump.
Front: 329 x 28mm Brembo ventilated discs with curved cooling vanes, twin piston caliper, larger standard-compound pads.
Rear: 296 x 18 mm ventilated discs, braided hoses.
Wheels
17" x 8" 5-spoke alloys.
Tyres : B F Goodrich Comp T/A 245/45 ZR17
Performance
0-100km/h 5.6 seconds, standing 400m. 13.8 seconds.
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Joined: February 12, 2004
Posts: 534
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I think they just had the Cobra in '01. Due to the extensive modifications required, they didn't make a lot of economic sense. I think they sold for somewhere around $100K, compared to $70k for a Falcon GT-P, which has a 5.4 DOHC Boss 290.
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Joined: May 13, 2004
Posts: 18,616
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From: Berkeley/Redwood City, CA
hmmm ill take the Boss 290 please 
cant wait till i visit my family in Aussieland and NZ this summer. 
time to go falcon hunting. of course i'll have to implement the ever effective Aussie Croc hunter voice while im there :P
cant wait till i visit my family in Aussieland and NZ this summer. time to go falcon hunting. of course i'll have to implement the ever effective Aussie Croc hunter voice while im there :P
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