Why this one

A ’99 Cobra that kept its paperwork

A one-year-only car

1999 introduced the 320-hp DOHC 4.6 and the first independent rear suspension in a Mustang. Ford then skipped the 2000 Cobra entirely. Only 4,055 convertibles were built, and 636 in this color combination.

Recall done, and documented

Ford’s power-shortfall correction was performed at 4,027 miles in August 2000: new lower intake manifold, cat-back exhaust and PCM reflash. The record is on file, so this car makes the numbers SVT promised.

Low miles with a story

The third owner kept it thirteen years and drove about 360 miles a year. That single stretch is why a 27-year-old convertible arrives with 54k miles and no accident history.

Traceable from the first mile

Pre-delivery inspection at 5 miles, dealer service through 2013, then an owner-kept log with part numbers. CARFAX and AutoCheck both clean. All of it goes with the car.

Stock where it counts

Engine, transmission, diff, suspension, wheels and exhaust are as delivered. The only changes are a short-throw shifter, shift knob and drop-in air filter, all reversible.

Ready to drive

Power top hydraulics rebuilt in 2022 with new lines and pistons. Oil service and a 49-point shop inspection in August 2026. Pre-purchase inspection welcomed.

The car

Rio Red, parchment hides, black top

This is the combination people picture when they think of the 1999 Cobra convertible: Rio Red over Medium Parchment leather with a black power top. The color was the year’s signature and the parchment interior is the rarer of the two offered with it.

Under the hood is SVT’s hand-assembled 4.6-liter DOHC 32-valve V8, built on the Romeo Niche Line and signed on its plate. It drives the rear wheels through a Tremec T-45 five-speed and a limited-slip differential, riding on the independent rear suspension that made this the first Mustang to handle as well as it went.

“The third owner kept it thirteen years and drove it about 360 miles a year.”

Sold new through a Ford dealer in Ashland, Kentucky, the car spent its first eight years in Kentucky and West Virginia, then came to the Chicago area in 2008, where it has lived since. It has never been in an accident, never flooded, never rebuilt, never rolled back.

Photographs

68 photographs

Tap any image to enlarge. Arrow keys move through the set.

Side profile, autumn

Driver's-side profile

Black power top raised, profile

Medium Parchment leather, Mach 460 audio

Factory shift knob and boot, August 2021 dealer photo

On the lift, September 2026: full length from the rear

Full length from the front: K-member, steering rack, floor

Front bumper cover and front suspension from below

Front K-member, steering rack and radiator

Front lower control arm and inner wheel well

Five-speed transmission and front K-member

Catalytic converters, H-pipe and transmission

Independent rear suspension and mufflers

IRS differential, control arms and fuel tank

Rear suspension knuckle and lower control arm

SVT Mustang Cobra owner's guide supplement

Engine bay, trunk and several interior details are from the August 2021 dealer listing. All other photographs are the owner’s. The underside set was taken on the lift at Highgate Motors of Barrington in September 2026, and your own inspection on a lift is welcomed.

Provenance

Four owners, one continuous record

March 1999

Built and delivered

Pre-delivery inspection at 5 miles at Bill Cole Ford, Ashland, Kentucky. Titled in West Virginia at 21 miles.

August 2000 · 4,027 mi

Ford recall correction completed

New lower intake manifold, new cat-back exhaust, PCM reflash. This is the fix that brought every ’99 Cobra to its advertised 320 hp.

2000 to 2007 · Owners 1 and 2

Kentucky dealer-serviced

Regular oil, filter and inspection visits at Bill Cole Ford and Boyd County Ford. Power steering pump replaced at 18,805 miles.

2008 to 2021 · Owner 3

Thirteen years, 362 miles a year

Moved to the Chicago suburbs at 47,138 miles. Garaged, emissions-tested on schedule, and driven sparingly. Reached 52,087 miles in 2021.

2021 to present · Owner 4

Sorted and enjoyed

Purchased August 2021 with new battery and wipers. New Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 Plus tires in September 2021 at about 52,200 miles, shifter and knob upgraded, top hydraulics rebuilt, fluids changed, professional detail. Every job logged with part numbers.

August 2026 · 54,703 mi

Serviced and inspected

Oil change and 49-point multi-point inspection at Highgate Motors of Barrington, an independent shop. Odometer recorded at 54,703 miles on the repair order.

CARFAX, pulled August 2022

✓

No accidents or damageGuaranteed

✓

No structural damageNone reported

✓

Not salvage, rebuilt or lemonGuaranteed

✓

No flood, fire or hailGuaranteed

✓

No odometer rollbackMileage consistent throughout

✓

No airbag deploymentNone reported

✓

Personal use onlyNever fleet, rental or lease

✓

No open recallsRecall work completed 2000

Included with the car

Owner’s maintenance log, 2021 to 2025, with parts, fluids and mileage for every entry
CARFAX and Experian AutoCheck reports from August 2022, both clean
Ford recall-correction record from August 2000
Convertible-top hydraulic rebuild receipts and parts list
Tire Rack invoice for the Continental tires, September 2021
Odometer photographs from 2022, 2023 and 2025
Highgate Motors repair order and inspection report, August 2026, with the 54,703-mile odometer reading
SVT owner’s guide supplement, spare wheel and tools

Condition & modifications

Honest driver, not a trailer queen

Modifications

MGW Toploader short-throw shifterReversible
Installed September 2021 at 52,220 miles with fresh MERCON V.
Raceseng AA9 Prolix shift knobReversible
White gloss, gate-4 engraving.
K&N drop-in air filterReversible
Fitted August 2021. Factory airbox retained.
Everything else is stock.
Engine, transmission, differential, suspension, wheels and exhaust are as delivered, aside from the factory recall parts.

Known work

Convertible top hydraulicsResolved
Passenger-side piston leaked in 2021. Rebuilt September 2022 with new lines and both pistons. Top cycles normally.
TiresRenewed
Four Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 Plus XL, 245/45ZR17, from Tire Rack in September 2021 at about 52,200 miles. Roughly 2,500 miles on them since.
Rear seat lower latchesReplaced
New Ford parts, September 2021.
Power steering pumpReplaced
October 2002 at 18,805 miles.
Paint and finish
Original Rio Red. No accident, damage or structural repair on either history report. Presented as a well-kept driver with age-appropriate wear, not a concours restoration.
Disclosed from the August 2026 inspectionOpen items
Rear brake pads measured at 2 mm and are due; the shop quoted pads and rotors at about $585; ask the seller how it will be handled. Two other items — a hairline surface crack on one valve cover (inspected, no issue found) and the traction-control switch — are written up in full under known items. Everything else on the 49-point inspection checked OK.
UndersidePhotographed
Photographed on the lift in September 2026: twelve photographs from the front K-member back to the fuel tank, in the gallery under Underside.

Transparency

Known items, stated plainly

Nothing here is a surprise waiting for the next owner. All three items below were examined by Highgate Motors of Barrington during the August 2026 service, and the shop’s written findings are quoted where it gave them.

Hairline surface crack on a valve cover

Inspected · not an issue

The owner noticed a fine hairline crack in the surface of one valve cover and asked Highgate Motors to look at it specifically.

The shop examined it and wrote on the repair order: “Inspected valve covers, no issues found at this time.” No oil leak was found at the valve cover, anywhere under the hood, or under the car.

It may well have been there since the owner bought the car — it was never noted as new, and nothing in the record suggests it changed. It is pointed out here so a buyer sees it from the seller first rather than finding it on the lift and wondering what else went unsaid. Anyone is welcome to have their own shop assess it.

Traction-control switch

Replacement scheduled

Highgate Motors tested the system in August 2026. Its note on the repair order: the traction control and all ABS sensors are working correctly and traction control is on, but the switch is internally shorted, so it will not turn traction control off, and needs replacing. Ford lists the switch as discontinued.

An OEM replacement switch has been bought on eBay and will be fitted before the sale, so the car is sold with the switch working. Until then the only effect is that traction control stays on.

Nothing else is affected. The ABS sensors tested correctly, and apart from the rear brake pads below, everything else on the 49-point inspection checked out.

Rear brake pads at 2 mm

Replacement due

The August 2026 inspection at Highgate Motors measured the rear brake pads at 2 mm. The typical replacement threshold is 3 mm, so these are past due and will need to be replaced before or shortly after purchase.

The shop quoted pads and rotors at approximately $585. The buyer should expect this as a near-term maintenance cost. Front brakes were not flagged.

This is normal wear on a 27-year-old car with 54,703 miles and does not indicate any underlying brake system issue. ABS and all other brake components checked out on the inspection.

The complete 49-point inspection report is available on request, and any buyer is encouraged to arrange an independent pre-purchase inspection — see the FAQ.

Every record, 1999 to 2026

42 service and title entries

Compiled from the CARFAX report, the Experian AutoCheck report, the Tire Rack invoice, the Highgate Motors repair order and the owner's own log. Dealer service runs continuously from the pre-delivery inspection in 1999 through 2013; from 2021 the owner logged every job with parts and mileage.

Routine serviceRepair / recallModificationTitle / emissions

Date	Miles	By	Work
21 Aug 2026	54,703	Highgate Motors	Oil change and 49-point multi-point inspection; 45 items checked OK; rear brake pads measured at 2 mm; traction-control diagnosis
8 Jul 2025	54,410	Owner	Odometer verified and photographed. Most recent documented reading
5 Jun 2024	53,995	Owner	Oil and filter change. Motorcraft Synthetic Blend 5W-30, Motorcraft FL820S filter
18 Sep 2022	52,958	Owner	Convertible top hydraulics rebuilt. New lines and both pistons installed, pump reused — leak resolved. TR Diesel TR2354 lines, NE65003-OH pistons, MERCON V ATF
31 Aug 2022	52,903	Illinois	Illinois emissions test passed; registration renewed
9 Aug 2022	52,815	Owner	Odometer verified and photographed
12 May 2022	52,548	Owner	Oil and filter change. New oil pan drain plug installed; coolant topped off
7 Oct 2021	52,500	AutoImage	Full exterior detail — AutoImage, Barrington IL
29 Sep 2021	52,350	Owner	Convertible top piston leak diagnosed. Pump, lines and both pistons removed; top operable manually. Rear seat lower latches replaced (F1CZ-58613T82-A)
23 Sep 2021	—	IL DMV	Illinois title issued to current owner. Exempt from odometer reporting
15 Sep 2021	52,220	Owner	MGW Toploader short-throw shifter and Raceseng AA9 Prolix knob installed; transmission fluid changed (MERCON V)
8 Sep 2021	≈52,200	Owner	Four new Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 Plus XL 245/45ZR17 fitted (Tire Rack order GJ40223)
5 Sep 2021	52,145	Owner	Oil and filter change
28 Aug 2021	52,095	Owner	K&N E-0945 air filter installed
21 Aug 2021	52,087	Pauly Toyota	Purchased from Pauly Toyota , Crystal Lake IL. New battery and wipers fitted
26 Jul 2021	52,040	Pauly Toyota	Oil and filter change
5 Aug 2019	—	Illinois	Passed Illinois emissions inspection
21 Sep 2017	51,000	Illinois	Passed Illinois emissions inspection
10 Sep 2013	50,224	Pauly Toyota	Oil and filter change; maintenance inspection
6 Sep 2013	50,000	Illinois	Passed Illinois emissions inspection
1 Sep 2011	—	Illinois	Passed Illinois emissions inspection
14 Aug 2009	—	Illinois	Passed Illinois emissions inspection
4 Jun 2008	47,931	Pauly Toyota	Oil and filter change; fluids checked
2 Jan 2008	47,138	IL DMV	Illinois title issued , new owner reported
11 Apr 2007	43,781	KY DMV	Kentucky title — dealer took title while in inventory
1 Mar 2007	43,286	Boyd County Ford	Oil and filter change; fuel filter replaced; maintenance inspection
7 Jun 2006	40,330	Boyd County Ford	Tyres rotated
12 Sep 2005	35,737	Boyd County Ford	Oil and filter change; maintenance inspection
10 Feb 2005	31,248	Boyd County Ford	Oil and filter change; fuel filter replaced; maintenance inspection
6 Dec 2004	30,469	KY DMV	Kentucky title issued , new owner reported
26 May 2004	26,926	Boyd County Ford	Vehicle serviced
20 Aug 2003	24,704	Boyd County Ford	Vehicle serviced
9 Oct 2002	18,805	Bill Cole Ford	Power steering pump replaced ; cooling system checked
17 May 2002	16,130	Bill Cole Ford	Vehicle serviced
19 Jul 2001	8,246	Bill Cole Ford	Noise and vibration checked; A/C refrigerant recharged; transmission and cooling system checked
4 May 2001	7,407	Bill Cole Ford	Parking brake control replaced ; alignment performed
16 Aug 2000	4,027	Bill Cole Ford	Ford recall service completed — new lower intake manifold, new cat-back exhaust, computer reflash
22 Jun 2000	3,166	Bill Cole Ford	Oil and filter change; maintenance inspection
24 Jan 2000	21	WV DMV	West Virginia title issued , first owner reported
15 Jan 2000	14	Service Plan Co.	Service contract issued
2 Apr 1999	5	Bill Cole Ford	Pre-delivery inspection completed
24 Mar 1999	0	Ford / NICB	Manufactured and shipped to original dealer

Odometer trail

Date	Miles	Source
Mar 1999	0	Ford, manufacture
Jan 2000	21	West Virginia title
Dec 2004	30,469	Kentucky title
Apr 2007	43,781	Kentucky title, dealer inventory
Jan 2008	47,138	Illinois title
Aug 2021	52,087	Dealer sale, CARFAX
Aug 2022	52,815	Owner photograph
Aug 2023	53,487	Owner photograph
Jul 2025	54,410	Owner photograph
Aug 2026	54,703	Highgate Motors repair order

About 2,600 miles in five years of current ownership. About 775 miles a year since 2021.

How rare is this one

1999 SVT Cobras built, all body styles	8,095
1999 Cobra convertibles	4,055
Convertibles in Rio Red	1,251
Rio Red over Medium Parchment convertibles	636

Production figures from SVT registry data. Rio Red was the signature colour of the 1999 launch year, and 1999 was the only year of the first-generation DOHC "New Edge" Cobra, since Ford skipped the 2000 model.

Asking price

^$21,900

Priced against 26 linked auction results and the current retail market for stock, manual ’99 Cobra convertibles with documented history. Serious offers are considered. Clean Illinois title in hand, no lien, sale is private party.

Clean title, ready to transfer

Pre-purchase inspection welcomed

Full records handed over at sale

Assistance with enclosed transport quotes

Make an inquiry

The market in one glance

Stock or near-stock BaT sales, 2025–2026	$16,750 – $21,500
Closest mileage match (50k, Crystal White / Parchment, Jun 2025)	$21,500
Rio Red / Parchment sales (2023–2024)	$15,250 – $18,000
Median of the six 2025–2026 BaT results	$17,250
Current asks, CarGurus and ClassicCars	$13,500 – $29,277

Every figure links to its source in the full table below. Auction results are real transactions; dealer asks include margin and fees. None of the sold cars came with a continuous 27-year service record.

Comparable sales

26 auction results, every one linked

Every 1999 SVT Cobra convertible sold or bid on Bring a Trailer since 2022, plus Cars & Bids, Mecum and AutoHunter results. Click a listing to open the original page, or a column heading to sort. Rows in gold share this car's colour combination or mileage bracket.

Price against mileage

Sold
High bid, no sale
Advertised ask
This car

Every result with a recorded mileage, drawn from the tables below. Hover or tap a point for the listing; click to open it.

Listing	Date	Miles	Result	Status
45k-Mile Cobra ConvertibleBaT · Electric Green / Parchment. Most recent stock sale	May 2026	45,000	$17,500	Sold
Supercharged Cobra Convertible 5-SpeedBaT · Supercharged, reserve not met	Dec 2025	—	$15,750	No sale
12k-Mile Cobra ConvertibleBaT · Very low mileage	Oct 2025	12,000	$16,750	Sold
Original-Owner Supercharged CobraBaT · Supercharged, paint issues	Sep 2025	41,000	$11,500	Sold
47k-Mile Cobra ConvertibleBaT · Rio Red / Dark Charcoal	Aug 2025	47,000	$17,000	Sold
50k-Mile Cobra ConvertibleBaT · Crystal White / Parchment. Closest mileage match	Jun 2025	50,000	$21,500	Sold
15k-Mile Cobra ConvertibleBaT · Black / Dark Charcoal	Jun 2025	15,000	$19,250	Sold
One-Owner Cobra ConvertibleBaT · High-mileage floor	Aug 2024	117,000	$9,500	Sold
28k-Mile Cobra ConvertibleBaT · Rio Red / Parchment	Mar 2024	28,000	$17,500	Sold
8k-Mile Cobra ConvertibleBaT · Reserve not met	Jan 2024	8,000	$17,500	No sale
Cobra ConvertibleBaT · Higher mileage	Nov 2023	56,000	$12,000	Sold
Cobra ConvertibleBaT · Rio Red / Parchment	Jun 2023	39,000	$15,250	Sold
45k-Mile Cobra ConvertibleBaT · Rio Red / Parchment, aftermarket intake and wheels	Apr 2023	45,000	$18,000	Sold
Modified Cobra Convertible 6-SpeedBaT · 6-speed swap	Jan 2023	—	$14,750	Sold
17k-Mile Cobra ConvertibleBaT · Reserve not met	Sep 2022	17,000	$18,250	No sale
Modified Cobra Convertible 6-SpeedBaT · Modified, reserve not met	Aug 2022	—	$20,000	No sale
26k-Mile Supercharged CobraBaT · Supercharged. Highest result in the set	Jun 2022	26,000	$26,500	Sold
23k-Mile Cobra ConvertibleBaT · Low mileage, strong 2022 market	May 2022	23,000	$24,750	Sold
Cobra Champ Car / Pace CarBaT · Track car, not a road-car peer	Apr 2022	—	$16,550	No sale
Black / Charcoal, clean titleCars & Bids	Apr 2026	67,100	$10,000	No sale
Red / Tan, 5-speedMecum	Jan 2026	—	$11,550	Sold
Electric Green convertibleCars & Bids · Same mileage bracket	May 2025	~54,000	$13,600	No sale
Crystal White convertibleCars & Bids	Aug 2023	32,100	$18,250	Sold
One-owner Black, unmodifiedCars & Bids	Apr 2022	27,800	$18,000	Sold
24k-mile 5-speed convertibleAutoHunter · Reserve removed	2022	24,800	$18,000	Sold
Rio Red, superchargedCars & Bids · High mileage, modified	Nov 2020	101,500	$9,500	Sold

Advertised today, not sold

Listing	Seen	Miles	Ask	Status
Cobra convertible, dealer askCarGurus	Aug 2026	—	$18,987	Advertised
Cobra convertible, dealer askCarGurus	Aug 2026	—	$25,318	Advertised
Cobra convertible, dealer askCarGurus	Aug 2026	—	$29,277	Advertised
White / Tan convertible, FloridaClassicCars · $26,997 in Aug 2026, reduced since	Sep 2026	27,785	$24,997	Advertised
Red / Tan convertible, OklahomaClassicCars	Sep 2026	30,300	$13,500	Advertised

Compiled August 2026 from the listing archives on file; ClassicCars prices re-checked 9 September 2026. Bids marked "No sale" show what buyers offered on the day, not a transaction. Marketplace pages can change or be removed after the sale.

Buying it

Questions buyers ask

Can I see it and drive it?

Yes. The car is in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, about half an hour from O'Hare. Viewings by appointment, most days including weekends. Bring a licence and proof of insurance for a test drive, top down if the weather allows.

Can I have it inspected?

Encouraged. Any shop you choose, or Highgate Motors of Barrington, which serviced it in August 2026 and has the car on file. The seller will drop it off. The full 49-point inspection report from August is available on request before you commit to a trip.

How old are the tires and the top?

Tires are Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 Plus, fitted September 2021 with roughly 2,500 miles on them. The black power top's hydraulics were rebuilt in 2022 with new lines and both pistons, and the top cycles normally. Fabric and rear window are original.

What is the title situation?

Clean Illinois title in the seller's name, no lien, in hand. Four owners from new, all documented. The car has never been salvaged, flooded, rebuilt or in a reported accident.

What comes with the car?

The maintenance log, CARFAX and AutoCheck reports, the Ford recall-correction record, the Tire Rack invoice, the convertible-top rebuild receipts, the Highgate Motors repair order, odometer photographs, the SVT owner's guide supplement, and the spare wheel and tools.

Is the price negotiable, and how do I pay?

Asking $21,900 and serious offers are considered. Cashier's check or bank wire, title signed over at the seller's bank. A deposit will hold the car for an agreed inspection date.

I'm out of state. Can you help with shipping?

Yes. The seller will meet an enclosed or open carrier at the house, send extra photographs or a walk-around video first, and can do a live video call around the car.

Why are you selling?

It is not being driven enough to justify keeping it. It has been garaged, insured and maintained the whole time, which is exactly why it is worth passing on to someone who will use it.

1999 Ford Mustang
SVT Cobra Convertible