2003 Ford SVT Mustang Cobra

OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE

In the early 2000s, Ford decided to counter GM’s LS1-powered sports cars by going nuclear. And in 2003 — the year after the Camaro and Firebird were canceled — Ford twisted the knife by releasing the 390-horsepower, supercharged SVT Mustang Cobra.

The Cobra’s hand-built, 4.6L V8 featured an iron block, forged crankshaft and connecting rods, dished pistons, and high-flow heads that inhaled 8 pounds of boost from a wailing Roots-type supercharger. A beefed-up clutch and 6-speed manual transmission fed massive torque to a limited-slip axle, which promptly told the 275mm tires, “Just do your best.” The results were mid-4-second 0-60 runs, very nervous Corvette owners, and a new nickname: Terminator.

However, the sinister Cobra — wearing an aggressive front fascia, vented hood, large rear spoiler, and 17” wheels — didn’t just scream, it also screamed around corners. Huge disc brakes, a revised IRS system with monotube Bilstein shocks, unique springs for hardtop and convertible models, and precise steering created smooth, predictable handling when the road got curvy. But if that wasn’t your thing, smoking tires and snap oversteer was just a touch of the traction control button and a prod of the gas pedal away.