This 1971 Ford Mustang 429 Cobra Jet Sat Hidden for 37 Years — And It’s an Ultra-Rare Gem
While the Mustang started its life as a humble pony car, it didn’t take Ford long to dive headfirst into the muscle car race. Big-block power entered the scene in 1967, and by mid-1968, the iconic 428 cubic inch Cobra Jet V8 had arrived. With 335 horsepower and a hefty 440 lb-ft of torque, it quickly earned legendary status among gearheads.
But in 1971, Ford upped the ante with a 429 cubic inch Cobra Jet — a one-year-only powerhouse rated at 370 horsepower (and 375 hp in Super Cobra Jet trim). This engine marked the final chapter of high-performance first-gen Mustangs, and today, it’s one of the rarest and most coveted.
Only 1,865 Mustangs were equipped with the 429 Cobra Jet that year, split between 1,252 standard Cobra Jets and 613 Super Cobra Jets. Among these, certain configurations are incredibly scarce. For instance, just 20 were fitted with a non-Ram Air SCJ and a three-speed auto. And convertibles? Practically unicorns — only 42 were built.
The red convertible featured here is one of those 42, but it’s even more exclusive. This particular car is a J-code Cobra Jet Ram Air paired with a four-speed manual transmission. Ford made just four like this. Yes, four.
What’s even more astonishing is that this car is completely unrestored — a true survivor. Aside from a rebuilt radiator, everything else is original. No repaints, no aftermarket parts under the hood — just raw, untouched 1971 glory.
The story behind it is wild: the car sat under a tarp in someone’s backyard for 37 years. The previous owner had no idea he was sitting on automotive gold. By the time it resurfaced in 2020, it had only minor rust and its interior was still in remarkable shape. Even the engine, which hadn’t been pulled or rebuilt, came back to life with some careful mechanical TLC.
Today, the current owner holds not one, but two of these ultra-rare ’71 Cobra Jet Ram Air convertibles with a four-speed — and as far as anyone knows, these are the only two confirmed to still exist.
This isn’t just a rare Mustang. It’s a living time capsule — and possibly the last untouched example of its kind.
