The 1969 Ford Cobra and Talladega: One for the street and one for the street by way of the track. That's one way to describe and differentiate the two special Fairlane/Torino-based coupes that blasted onto the Ford scene for 1969, enjoying a brief but inspiring stay. Produced in SportsRoof (fastback) and notchback body styles, Cobras all carried a 428-cid V-8, "conservatively" rated at 335 bhp (according to Ford), first used in the Mercury Cyclone. Ram-Air induction, at $133 extra, consisted of a fiberglass hood scoop with special air cleaner assembly. At nearly full throttle, cold air stormed directly into the carburetor's throat, bypassing the filter element. Standard fittings included a four-speed manual gearbox, Wide-Oval F70 x 14 tires, black grille, and exposed competition-style hood tie-down pins. A beefed-up suspension consisting of stiffened springs, large-diameter front stabilizer bar, and high-damping shocks was aimed at providing minimum body roll and maximum directional stability. Cobra's long fastback profile, with upswept quarter windows and severely slanted backlight, was accented by three trim strips at the vast rear pillar.
Split square taillamps brought up the rear, with dual exhausts exiting below the bumper. Interiors were no less austere than the bodies, containing a plain bench seat and four-dial dashboard. Priced only a few dollars higher than a Torino Squire station wagon, a Cobra hardtop started at $3,164