1997 Ford Mustang Cobra Roush Stage 2 Convertible

Description

For years, Jack Roush was the brains behind most of Ford's fastest cars, both on and off the track. When he turned his sights towards a street-legal Mustang, cars like this awesome 1997 Ford Mustang Cobra Roush Stage 2 Convertible were the result. Big power, eyeball-flattening cornering, and a unique look all added up to a near-perfect package that delivers real world performance without compromises. If you want a super-clean SN95 Mustang SVT Cobra with a whole lot of added pedigree and POP, this is the one to own.

Cobra Mustangs were always something special, and SVT pulled out all the stops when this car was built. But for Jack Roush, it wasn't quite enough, so he and his team took these already special cars and turned them up to '11', adding a Stage 2 performance/appearance upgrade to this particular model. Although they'd been producing aftermarket parts and outsourcing custom builds since the late '80s, 1997 was the first year Roush offered complete vehicle packages in-house at their ROUSH Performance Products laboratory in Michigan. This mode-year marked the first official collaboration between Ford and Roush, and as we all know, the first model of just about anything is a hot collectable. But when it's as well-preserved as this Pacific Green Metallic Mustang, and comes complete with all the right documents, well, it's easy to see why these cars are still so highly cherished by their owners. Always a sunny-day cruiser and never a daily driver, it shows none of the usual battle scars and presents in excellent condition throughout. The paint's in top driver quality condition today after 59K miles logged on the clock, and receipts show that the bumpers and side skirts were repainted not too long ago, but nevertheless the finish is uniform, glossy, and only showing very minor signs of use. The Mustang's shape was augmented by Roush-specific components like the side skirts/ground effects, side exhaust, and a sculpted rear valance, coupled with the already aggressive SVT Cobra front air dam, dual-scoop hood, side vents, and rear wing, melding together to form one of the slickest, coolest, most aggressive modern Mustangs ever made. The fact that this SN95 is convertible only adds to the off-the-charts curb appeal, and with all those Cobra and SVT badges, nobody is going to want to tangle with this street brawler. Unlike most Roush cars today, the company was very reserved with their branding and only attached a small decklid badge out back, but once everyone hears that exhaust go full-throttle, there's no mistaking this convertible's pedigree.

With the Cobra, the interior gets in on the performance act, but back in the SN95 these cars were still concerned about being comfortable, too. The standard Mustang leather articulated sport buckets are supportive and comfortable, and with so few miles only show minor comfort marks, no rips or tears like most 25+ year old cars on the road today. Similar Saddle leather adorns the door panels and the back seat, plush tan carpets line the floors, and a Saddle convertible roof seals the cabin up nicely, tying in the whole car together. Like the exterior, the interior is in great shape with only the very slightest signs of someone sitting behind the leather-wrapped tilt steering wheel, and the bright white SVT gauge just ahead of it are still crystal clear and very legible. This Cobra came loaded with the Preferred Equipment Package that added a Mach 460 AM/FM/CD stereo and factory alarm, but every other accessory Ford could install came standard, so things like power windows/locks/seats/mirrors/top, A/C, cruise control, and dual airbags are all in tow. Jack Roush's signature and a serialized Roush plate on the center stack show off just how special this Mustang really is, while the dogleg 5-speed shifter is the funnest part of the entire cabin – practically taunting you to jump in and bang it around. There's even a decent trunk out back with space for two passengers' luggage, perfect for road trips.

These early SVT Cobras weren't much different under the skin than standard Mustang GTs, but with the addition of the Roush Stage 2 handles like a true sports car and sounds fantastic. The numbers-matching 4.6L DOHC 32-valve SVT V8 bellows out 305 horsepower and an equal amount of torque, and when matched up with the 5-speed manual gearbox, it's a whole lot of fun out on the road. With less than 60K miles it's still running great today, and the engine bay has been nicely detailed and well-cared for since new, boasting only 2-owners and an incident-free Vehicle History Report. Roush offered upgraded springs, struts, and shocks that help keep it planted to the road, along with an upgraded H-pipe dual exhaust system that exits through the side skirts and sounds fantastic. Massive brakes were part of the Cobra package from Day One, and this one benefits from things like 4-wheel ABS and power rack-and-pinion steering, so performance is impressive. Flashy 17-inch cast-aluminum wheels finish the package and wear grippy 245/45/17 Goodyear Eagle GT radials with plenty of tread left.

Offered with its original window sticker, Roush paperwork, a Marti report, and maintenance records, this modern classic checks a lot of boxes. Are these cars super collectable yet? With performance, an awesome look, and limited, first-year production, I wouldn't bet against this SVT Cobra Roush Stage 2 convertible. Call today!

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