Thats another problem I didn't think of. If the old picture is indeed real, and the cowl is needed to fit the engine, how come the car jessica saw didn't have a cowl?

 

Grantsdale, I agree with you,

there is no way Ford would let an SVT mule out of their sight, especially show the engine to the public.

JessicaRabbit, pehaps the guys at the shop dropped an 03-04 Cobra engine in the car and that is what they were talking about.

In either case, it is a cool experience to see an aftermarket shop working on stuff for '05 Mustangs, too bad I think their stuff is kinda ricey.

 

I was over at stangnet back when this pic came out and there were threads a mile long about whether this pic was a chop or not. One of the main arguments from people who thought it was fake was that the headlights look like they're different sizes. I didn't buy that, because if you looked at other pictures of that same mule from different angles, it still looked like one light was bigger than the other, and i didn't think someone doing a chop would screw up the same way twice. Back then, we didn't have too many pictures of the 05, but now... well, we've got quite a few. I've noticed this same effect with the lights on many of the pictures. The light that's farther away in like a front 3/4 view, often looks like its a little taller. I guess its just an effect of the lens or the reflective stuff inside the light assembly.
Furthermore, we didn't ever see any pics that were the obvious source for the chop. Usually we can find what the photoshopper started with, but i don't think anything like that ever came up for this pic.
Lastly, its not like ford would ever put out a mustang that looked like taht anyways. They were just testing a big engine, so they needed the clearance, they weren't trying to make it look pretty.
The guy who claimed to have taken the pictures was on stangnet, and he was talking about chasing the car around snapping pictures until the drivers caught onto him and took off or something. It seemed ligit to me.

 

Jessica...I and some of the other guys on here are not trying to insult you or anything, in fact, it think its sweet that you posted those pics. But think about this....would Ford ever put out a car that looked like it was out of a Fast and Furious movie??? I realize that these cars you took pics of are SEMA cars, so the guys you talked to at the shop might have a 03/04 Cobra engine in it or a 5.4L crate motor in it, and also a lot of aftermarket body kit stuff.... This is where my skepticism comes in cuz I highly doubt that Ford would let a prototype fall out of their hands and into the possession of a small shop. In fact, if they have been contracted by Ford to make small contrbutions by making parts for the new cobra, then I doubt they would have let you take pictures of it, because they would not want to let any info leak out to the public. I don't think Ford would even need to hire smaller shops to do the work since SVT could tack the job itself. Also, if these guys told you that this is a new cobra, then they are obviously lying and are just trying to manipulate you, because Ford would have kept it real hush-hush. Also, there are rumors floating around about the camo stang with the huge bulge on the hood about it being a cobra test mule, so I too would have to take that into consideration.

 

I agree, the white one probably wasn't a prototype, but the silver/camo is-the different sized headlights are just because of the motion.

 

All I can say is the pics of the white stang only look like a regular GT, not a cobra. The only view is of the back and the interior of the car. Nothing to prove it is anything different. I highly doubt FORD would design the cobra to look like a fast and furious wanna be.

 

Another thing that doesn't add up is why would Ford debut the Cobra at SEMA???I would expect them to unveil it at NAIAS or something, but not at SEMA. Just makes more proof that those pics aren't legit to be a Cobra.

 

Isn't 3dCarbon going to show its aftermarket Stang at SEMA? You've all seen the pictures of the aftermarket mustangs that'll be debuting there, and you'll find exactly this picture under the 3dCarbon section. Why would it be mistaken for a Cobra?

Am I missing something?

http://bradbarnett.net/mustangs/timeline/0...SEMAPreview.pdf - 2/3ds of the way down.

 

I've seen that Lincoln LS with the 05 front end that you are talking about. Used to see it all the time in Allen Park.

I showed Brad some old test mules when he was up here last month and there it was... the LS with the 05 front end. Wonder if it's still in the same lot. Hmmmmmm.

But, ya... some people thought I was crazy too for saying that I saw that... but anyone that's from Southeastern Michigan.. knows better. We see all kinds of freaky stuff.

The Cobra has been seen driving down 96.

A lot of it is.. being at the right spot at the right time.. that's how I'm able to spot them and snag some pics.

 

I kinda doubt that this white GT is a Cobra prototype. Maybe its just a GT with an older Cobra engine. Possibly an SE prototype.

There's a bigger chance of the silver mule with the cowl, and the reported red/black Cobra mule being real. For three reasons:

1. J Mays said a long time ago, that a 5.4 S/C was being developed for the 05.
2. Hot Rod (I know I know, a mostly chevy mag) said that on a trip to SVT's garage they saw an 05 on a lift with a huge engine sticking out. And the SVT guys wouldnt bring it down.
3. SVT is done using the 03/04 Cobra engine.

But ya never know.

Once we get those pics....

 

My point exactly!

 

Put me in the camp of it not being the new SVT .... Not that we don't apprecitate the enthusiasm and such, but I highly doubt that is it. As a matter of fact, I will go out on a limb and say I am 100% sure.

 

Gotta agree.....what you sat in would probably be THEIR interpretation of the Cobra. Ford would not, under any circumstances, outsource any of the work for the next Cobra. It's too big of a project for that. Plus, why would they outsource when they can do it all anyways??

 

First, I too appreciate the effort Jessica put into getting the pics - thank you.

Second, I don't really like the looks of this particular kit, and also doubt Ford would let the Cobra out of their control like that, but it IS a strange world...

Third, to address the quote, wasn't the 2001 Cobra R a little "ricey"?? Maybe not as flashy as "Fast & Furious", but the wing was NOT subtle.

 

But, it was functional. The 2000 Cobra R was intended to be a race car and that big wing provided lots of downforce. It served a very real purpose and need on that car, therefore not ricey. The definition of ricey in my opinion is looks before (and usually in place of) function.

 

Am I wrong, I always thought the SEMA show focussed on foreign cars...

 

Yes...(don't take this the wrong way) you are! True that a good chunk of cars at SEMA might be imports, but there are also a lot of tricked out hot rods, street rods, and muscle cars, as well as, trucks, SUV's, and souped out econoboxes. It's all about the aftermarket parts that are available for enthusiasts.