The Fox-bodied Mustang reigned from 1985 to 1993. The collaboration of Ford's Special Vehicle Team and the Shelby organization produced what might be called the swan song of 8 years of refinement and evolution. The body had finally been refined to bring the drag coefficient to below 0.40 with aerodynamic headlight grouping and a minimalist grill. Load this slippery body up with performance goodies, squeeeze another 20 HP out of that venerable fuel injected 5.0 cast iron V8 and mate it to the road with a set of 17" 7-spoke wheels shod in Z-rated Goodyear Eagles and you got yourself quite a mean little machine.

GMP has had almost as many years to refine their Fox- bodied tooling and this latest release will not disappoint. To their credit, each new series offers major upgrades in operating features, fit, finish and content. I'm amazed that they've gone back to the design board and have now equipped the model with working suspension and operable steering linkage. There are features here to grab everyone's attention, including a nice set of "Cobra" floor mats. I really got a kick out of the addition of photoetched parts like the hood latch, But what really grabbed me was the badging. BADGING?!?! I love those stinking badges! And we're not talking 2-D lettering here. We're talking 3-D tampo'd badges that are indistinguishable from microscopic castings. I couldn't even read the "Shelby" badge with my magnifiers. I had to blow up the digital photos to really appreciate them for the incredible scale reproductions they are.

The black paint on my Cobra is deep and utterly flawless. I find the black finish softens the angular lines of the Fox body and gives the car a more sinuous look that is more in line with the Cobra moniker. If you've resisted purchasing any of GMP's Mustangs, grab this Cobra in either black, Teal Metallic or Performance Red. It represents the evolutionary high point of Ford's and GMP's refinemnt of this classic Mustang body......... unless...... GMP has a Saleen SSC in the works. Stay tuned, folks. Ya never know.

-Richard Sufficool