2000 Ford Mustang Cobra R V8 Coupe Automatic

Shelby GT500 and GT350 have proved that the Ford Mustang is more than just a point-and-shoot muscle car. They're not Ford's first attempts at a modern, track-focused Mustang, though. The 2000 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra R predicted today's Shelby models

The 2000 model was the last of three limited-edition Mustangs to wear the Cobra R badge. This version was also the only Mustang Cobra available in 2000, as the standard Cobra was on a one-year hiatus, only 300 built,this is 217/300.

The SVT Cobra R has a 5.4-liter V8 making 385 horsepower and 385 pound-feet of torque, which is channeled to the rear wheels through a Tremec T56 6-speed manual transmission. The engine breathes through a Borla side exhaust.

The Cobra R also features independent rear suspension, which is impressive as it was launched at a time when the standard Mustang still had a solid axle. Eibach springs, Bilstein shocks and struts, and Brembo brakes are used to ensure the Cobra R can turn corners as well as accelerate. Similar to the current GT350R, Ford eliminated the radio, air conditioning, and rear seats to keep weight down. The standard Mustang front seats were also swapped for Recaro buckets.

It's easy to spot a 2000 Cobra R thanks to the massive rear wing and ground-scraping front bumper, which includes a removable splitter. All cars also come in the same shade of red paint.