What’s the only thing better than a big, burly American V8? A big, burly American V8 with a supercharger bolted onto it. That philosophy is what made the last-generation Shelby Mustang GT500s such high-horsepower monsters. However, as you all know, the new GT350 models are going a different route: natural aspiration, with an emphasis on better handling.
Kind of reminds you of another Mustang, doesn’t it? Perhaps the Boss 302 Laguna Seca or, going further back in time, the 2000 Cobra R?
The last R might have come out of Michigan, but it was still an exotic in a way; only 300 of them were produced and they were made to perform with just the power of their engines, nothing else. Their hand-built 5.4-liter V8s put out a healthy 385 horsepower, routed it to the rear rubber through a six-speed manual gearbox, and breathed through some badass side pipes.
If you’ve never spotted a Cobra R in person (and that’s likely – I’ve caught more Lamborghinis out on the street than these), watch the following vid to not only see one in action, but to get a guided tour of one.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
