There are a number of vintage Ford Mustang enthusiasts who work at Classic Industries. In fact, the CI colleague who spied this very 1995 Mustang Cobra convertible with the removable hardtop at the 2024 Mustang Madness show, had never seen a '95 Mustang Cobra convertible with a removable hardtop in person before. When photos were shown around the CI office, none of us knew what the heck we were viewing on the colleague's cell phone.
Mustang Cobra Convertible with a Removable Hardtop
Thankfully, the Mustang Cobra's current owner knows exactly what he has. Cory MacCharles, of Fontana, California, is the pony car's fourth owner. While looking for a red 1995 Mustang Cobra convertible to purchase, he found this black beauty advertised online. The Mustang had literally been stored in a South Illinois barn for the last 20 years. Since the fortuitous find and purchase, Cory has researched, collected, and provided the letters of authenticity, certificates, invoices, and the original window sticker to fully document this rare and wonderful 1995 Mustang Cobra convertible with a fully lined removable hardtop and a glass back window convertible top.
Mustang 5.0-liter with a Paxton Supercharger
Above: The owner theorizes that the first owner of the 1995 Mustang Cobra had the dealership install the Paxton Supercharger before he or she took delivery. You'll notice that the supercharger isn't listed on the included window sticker photo below, so perhaps the dealership did install the item before the first purchase.
In 1995, Ford SVT (Special Vehicle Team) produced 1,003 convertible Mustang Cobra's. Of that number, 499 were produced with a factory removable hardtop that was specific to those 499 convertibles and built in Ford's corporate home factory in Dearborn, Michigan. Cory learned that his car is number 457 of the 499 produced with removable tops. Due to fitment and other practical issues, Ford only produced removable hardtops for the Mustang Cobra convertible in 1995, so Cory's car is one rare snake pony car.
A Swiss Army Knife Car or Transformers Vehicle
If you think about it just a little, these rare Mustang Cobra removable hardtop convertibles have a Swiss army knife sort of nature to them or Transformers sort of movies appeal to them. What makes them so cool is their rarity. The pony car's owner is very aware of that aspect to them, as is evident by all the documentation that he has gathered for his Mustang Cobra thus far.
Cory's car was first sold in May of 1995. A couple then purchased the Mustang in 1999 and later on transferred ownership to their son. The son then stored the car in the Southern Illinois barn in 2005, where it waited until Cory's purchase in August of 2024.
Astute Owner with a Great Perspective of His Pony Car
With Cory's Cobra being so rare, you'd think the Mustang would just sit in his garage under a nice, soft car cover to keep the dust at bay. However, in the brief time that he has owned it (or rather her), he drives her topless pretty much on a daily basis. This is after all Southern California. If we're all collectively paying too much to live here, we might as well enjoy ourselves in the good weather. And, if you met Mr. MacCharles, you would learn that he's very fastidious with his prized rolling and running work of automotive art and high-performance. Cory grew up owning several Fox Body and SN95 Mustang's, so he knows how to drive, enjoy, and take great care of them. In fact, you could say that he's pretty much the perfect sort of person to own a well-sought after and rare Mustang.
Renovation Work Required
After removing his new car from that South Illinois barn, the owner replaced the Ford 302-cubic inch Windsor V8's seals, drive belts, cooling system, ignition system, and rear differential. He replaced the factory Cobra five-spoke wheels with the optional 1995 AR Cobra R replica chrome wheels that are 17x9 inches in the front and 17x10.5 inches in the rear. The tires are now Nitto NT555 G2 radials - 255/45/R17's in the front and 285/40/R17's in the rear.
The Search Begins?
Once everyone has read about Mr. Cory MacCharles barn find 1995 Mustang Cobra convertible (with a removable hardtop), most Mustang fans may be tempted to be searching for one for one's own Mustang paddock. Just know that most everyone is in good company.
Above: If you purchased one of these 499 Mustang Cobra convertible/removable hardtops in 1995, you also received this ABS plastic hardtop stand on casters.
Above: The Mustang Cobra hardtop convertible looks awesome regardless of whether the hardtop is in place or removed.
Above: In spite of the fact that this is a convertible, there's a decent amount of trunk space with the top up or down.
Above and just below: The Mustang came with some of the literature, when Cory purchased her in August of this year. His purchase included the printed instructions on how to remove and reinstall the hardtop (shown in the foreground). It also included the Ford SVT supplied VHS videotape showing the process in living color. However, he has collected the other artifacts.
Above: The owner had the optional Cobra R wheels ready to install, when he took delivery of the Mustang Cobra from her barn-find home in Southern Illinois. The car already was equipped with the side-exit exhaust.
Above: Ford Performance Headquarters thank you for your purchase letter
Above: The Mustang looks pretty spectacular regardless of whether the convertible top is up, the hardtop is in place, or the pony car is in Golden State get a sun tan mode - topless and looking sporty just sitting there (or at speed).
Above: Here's the SVT thank you for your purchase letter and offer to be a student at the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving for 20% off the retail price (for the Mustang Cobra's original owner). One wonders whether that offer applies to subsequent owners.
Above: The 1995 Mustang Cobra's original window sticker
Classic Industries' Pony Car Paddock for Mustang Parts
Whether you're building a first, second, third, or fourth Generation Mustang back to brand new condition like Mr. MacCharles' stunning 1995 SN95 Mustang Cobra removable hardtop and hydraulic soft top convertible, creating a pro-touring canyon carver, fabricating a 1/4-mile tarmac terrorizer, renewing a pony car to concours shows contention, or simply keeping your daily driver safely on the road, Classic Industries has the parts that you need to make it happen. You can shop online and enhance your search by downloading and/or requesting that an enormous Mustang Parts & Accessories Catalog is mailed to you. Simply click the button below to make it happen. Enjoy the American Muscle Car Hobby with Classic Industries!
Classic Industries' Ford Mustang History Articles
We have a growing library of Ford Mustang and Shelby Mustang history articles available for your entertainment, education, and inspiration. Have fun in the CI library:
- Ford Mustang History: Creating the First Pony Car
- 4th Gen SN95 Mustang History: Development & "Fox 4" Concept Cars
- Fox Body Mustang: Development, Concepts, and 1979-1993 Year Changes
- 1964-1973 Ford Mustang VIN Decoder & Pre-Purchase Buyer's Guide
- 1964.5 (Early 1965) Mustang VIN & Data Plate Decoder
- The Wild Horse Galloped Away - 1969 Shelby GT350 Mustang Fastback
- Visiting the Segerstrom Shelby Event Center - Mr. Shelby is Smiling!
- Building & Driving a Factory Five Racing Mk4 1965 427SC Cobra Replica
- Decoding Your 1965 Ford Mustang's Data Plate & VIN
- 1967 Mustang Data Plate and VIN Decoder
- 1968 Mustang VIN Decoder - Data Plate and Build Sheet Insights
- 1965-1970 Shelby Mustang Paint Colors, Fun Facts, & Specifications
