Image courtesy of Racepagesdigital.com
The Cobra Jet Mustang has been ripping up the asphalt at dragstrips worldwide for 50 years. Who knew the impact Ford would have on the automotive world that fateful day in 1968, when they sauntered into the Winternationals at Pomona with no less than six 428 Cobra Jet-equipped Mustangs to compete across four classes. They dominated and won the Super Stock Eliminator class.
Immediately thereafter, Ford unleased the Cobra Jet Mustang in the streets for public consumption. The Cobra Jet engine ended up in Mustangs, Shelbys, Fairlanes, and Cougars, just to name a few. The Cobra Jet was known just as well in the muscle car world as it was in the pony car world. The CJ transcended barriers. However, it all but disappeared in the 1970s.
Thankfully in 2008, 40 years after the introduction of the first Cobra Jet, Ford reintroduced this august and menacing name back to the area of combat, where it made a name for itself—on the dragstrip. Since then, Ford Performance has built 50-car batches in 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, and will do so again in 2018.
Image courtesy of Racepagesdigital.com
For this half-century anniversary, the National Muscle Car Association (NMCA) will be sponsoring the 50th Anniversary Cobra Jet Reunion at its NMCA All-American Nationals event at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio, August 23-26, 2018. Presented by TascaParts.com ( Tasca Ford was instrumental in bringing the original CJ to life), this reunion is open to all Cobra Jet vehicles.
Old or new, if you drive a vehicle with a Cobra Jet engine, then you’re welcome here. Activities will include a huge Cobra Jet car show, vintage and modern Cobra Jet drag racing, invited celebrities from the ‘60s to today, and a special Friday celebration dinner for vehicle owners.
Be sure to set your calendars and we will keep you posted on the event as details are revealed.
Image courtesy of Racepagesdigital.com
Living in Richmond, Texas, PJ Rentie has been in the automotive industry for more than 30 years. This former Assistant Editor at Vette Magazine also spent time with companies like NOS, Edelbrock, Hillbank Motorsports, Classic Industries, and was an automotive instructor for Cypress College for ten years. In his spare time, PJ hopes to one day bring his Fox Body Mustang out of the back yard and back onto the street!
