This wasn't a planned modification -- I initially had no problem with any part of the Cobra's bodywork. On the contrary, I think it's one of the best-looking cars Ford's ever built. But when disaster struck, I decided to play around a little ...

When Bad Things Happen to Good Cars

In February 1999, my beloved Serpiente was bonked by a hit-and-run driver. The coward who did the deed took off without the slightest hint of remorse -- some people are just plain EVIL! The damage was superficial -- just a mildly dented rear fender and scraped paint -- but since the car needed to visit a body shop, I started looking for ways to make a bad situation turn out better.

If there's one thing about the looks of the Cobra that could stand some improvement, it's the rear spoiler. Prior to 1996, the Cobra came with a special wing from the factory to help distinguish it from lesser Mustangs. Not so with the newer ones -- their wing is the same one used on all models, even the V6! How crude and boring! Obviously, this was something that could be improved upon.

After looking at a bunch of aftermarket options, I chose the Saleen S281 wing ($199 direct from Saleen). This one bears a close resemblance to the nice job Ford did with the Super Stallion concept car. I didn't want a monstrous appendage blocking the view out the rear or something that looked tacked on. The S281 blends well with the factory bodywork while giving a "special" look.

Installation

I had the good folks at Jeff's Body Shop (THE place for body work in Austin, as far as I'm concerned) fix my dented fender and prep, paint, and mount the new wing. They were able to match the paint perfectly, and did an excellent job to get the wing looking factory-installed -- even though it's made of urethane, it needed quite a bit of prep work (stripping, sanding, filling, priming). It bolts right into the factory holes, but the shop substituted shorter bolts than the ones supplied for the forward two mounts -- I'd heard that the Saleen bolts tended to be too long and could crack the paint.

Impressions

Judge for yourself -- I think the Saleen wing is what Ford should have used from the start. Notice how all the lines flow naturally. Notice the cleaner appearance from the rear. It just looks like something that belongs on a Cobra, doesn't it? Not only is it a nice aesthetic touch, but rear visibility is improved -- the low profile gives a clear view out the back. Plus, the new wing is much easier to wash than the old one.

I like the Saleen wing so much, I'm tempted to add the rest of Saleen's body kit! Well, I probably won't go quite that far, but maybe someday I'll consider adding some sort of "ground effects" package such as the ones from Wings West or A&A Specialties. Don't worry -- I won't go overboard. ;-)

Back to La Serpiente Verde