Shelby 500 v. Cobra R

[ronrunner]

Looking at making a decent investment...these seem to be neck and neck on my list

Anyone have any idea which one might turn out to be a better investment in the long run?

I've heard that Shelbys prod. #'s run between 5-10,000...but that's hearsay and I have no idea how Cobra compares

[roush427R]

and I have no idea how Cobra compares

SWIPE:
http://www.rsportscars.com/eng/cars/mustang_cobra.asp

300 Cobra R's produced in 2000.
250 Cobra R's produced in 1995.
107 Cobra R's produced in 1993.

The '95 R tops the three. This, in my opinion, was the benchmark year, when the horse that showed the world what ford COULD have done in a time when LT1 F-bodies were taking out the 302 Stangs (at a 48 cu. in. disadvantage)..

Exclusivity aside, I would mod the living hell out of a '95 R. But then, I'm not the type who would buy something like that as a garage ornament. Buy it, personalize it, and enjoy it!

If I'm spending the money, Im not spending it to see what it'll return in 2055. That's me...

[ChipFooseStylin]

i enjoyed the 95. it introduced the 351 at a time when Ford was pushing smaller cubes. i remember seeing a 95 with generally low mileage on ebay for around 30k too

[grey racer]

I agree, if you are buying a GT500 for an investment, you are hunting the wrong dog. You will have to be very young to live long enough for the car to be worth more than you paid for it. Go with "drive it like you stole it" and forget investing in late models.
This brings up the question of how are you going to drive it. If you are straight line, go for the 500 and modifiy the engine. If you are into street and roadracing, get a Shelby GT. As were the originals, the GT 350 was for road racing and corners, the GT500 was a straight line machine that needed modifications to be a great drag car. The current Shelby GT is truely modeled in the mold of the GT350. A new Mustang is sent to Shelby, extensive suspension and chassis mods, some engine upgrades, minor body changes,
stripes and a Shelby serial number. It goes like stink everywhere and is a terrific road car. Mine has 30,000 miles on it and has been on long trips, race tracks and soloed in parking lots. It is truly a 66 GT350 with amenities. If I want more power, the supercharger takes it from 319 hp to 435 with minimal weight penalties. The GT500 is all motor, and build by Ford. It needs mods to meet it's potential, but the suspension is not tuned for track use. Grassroots Motorsports is modifying one in their current issue and I would have expected those road racers to use the Shelby GT. I was disappointed when I saw my first GT500 because it looked too much like the regular Mustang GT. The Sheby GT sits with attitude, no spoiler, squatted down on 18" wheels, agressive front facia and it just looks like a Shelby from any angle.
Decide what you want to do with it, buy the Shelby that gets the job done, and drive it with the knowledge it will be worth more down the road than an regular GT with modifications because of the Shelby number. Oh, one other thing, look at how many GT 500's are for sale and how few Shelby GT's are available. See Ya

[2007ShelbyCobra]

Like they have said, the Cobra R IMO is a total track car, I would imagine it has whinny strait cut gears also. It handles amazing, lots of power, very rare. But, IMO the GT 500 looks 10x better. The Cobra R is really cool, and would probably draw a bigger crowd at a car show, but not from looking better than a GT 500, but looking different. Theres loads of Shelby engine mods, interior, exterior, etc to make them more noticible and better looking. I dont think theres very many for the Cobra R, and after running a car on the track a lot, depending on what you do,, it probably wouldnt be as easy to clean up or keep as clean as a GT 500 that is only out a couple day a week or at cruise ins. Also, if your a very detailed person, such as myself, you wont have one scrape on your car, it might be hard to find a Cobra R thats spotless, and much easier to get a newer GT 500 in better condition. Both are amazing cars, and whatever your decision may be, be sure to post pics if you get either.