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Muscle car

1969 Ford Fairlane Cobra 428 Cobra Jet

Muscle car powered by 428 Cobra Jet FE V-8.

1969 Ford Cobra 428 hardtop exterior; representative model-line media, not proof of any individual car originality.
Build pathway Factory Ford Cobra performance model in the Fairlane/Torino intermediate family
Engine family 428-cubic-inch Ford FE Cobra Jet V-8, with Ram Air and Drag Pack/Super Cobra Jet pathways requiring code evidence
Body styles Cobra two-door SportsRoof fastback and formal-roof hardtop records appear in 1969 data-plate references
Production boundary Ford-Torino reference coverage reports no exact separate Cobra count from Ford; Torino and Fairlane totals are model-line context

Story

1969 Ford Fairlane Cobra 428 Cobra Jet

The 1969 Cobra sits in the Fairlane/Torino intermediate family, but Ford literature often treated it simply as Cobra. That naming detail matters because many enthusiasts call the same car a Fairlane Cobra, Torino Cobra, or just Cobra, while the car itself did not rely on Fairlane or Torino exterior badging. This record keeps the public title enthusiasts expect and preserves the decode notes that explain the overlap.

The safe mechanical center is the 428-cubic-inch FE Cobra Jet V-8. The 1969 references separate non-Ram Air and Ram Air versions, both carrying the same advertised horsepower rating, and describe a Drag Pack/Super Cobra Jet pathway for cars with the correct heavy-duty engine and axle evidence. Four-speed manual and C6 automatic records are retained at the model-line level; individual-car proof still needs a build sheet, Marti report, invoice, or original warranty/data-plate evidence.

The page also tracks the 1969 data-plate paint, trim, axle, and transmission codes that matter during inspection. Cobra identity checks should start with the body code, Q-code or R-code engine evidence, hood-scoop and emblem configuration, axle code, transmission code, and whether the car has the correct Cobra trim rather than Torino GT or later restored appearance cues.

The gallery uses licensed Commons images and video embeds as representative model-line context. Captions avoid claiming that any photographed car proves how a different vehicle was originally built.

1969 Cobra SportsRoof fastback in Lime Gold; representative Fairlane/Torino-family Cobra media.Sicnag via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0

Price history

Values

Nominal dollars from original price sheets, auction archives, and approved value references.

Original Price

A verified original price is not yet available for this car.

Market Observations

  • Auction sale $30,000

    Aug 14, 2024 · Bring a Trailer

    Q-code Cobra SportsRoof 9A46Q191538, represented with a 428 Cobra Jet, C6 automatic, Deluxe Marti Report, white repaint over original Dresden Blue, Edelbrock heads, aftermarket ignition, headers, trunk-mounted battery, and 17,000 miles shown after one reported rollover. · modified · unknown Bring a Trailer records the $30,000 no-reserve sale. Cobra identity, drivetrain, modifications, repaint, documentation, mileage, and condition claims remain auction representations.
  • Auction sale $36,000

    Nov 17, 2023 · Bring a Trailer

    R-code Cobra SportsRoof 9H46R153583, represented with a 428 Cobra Jet Ram Air V8, close-ratio Toploader 4-speed, 3.50 rear axle, Deluxe Marti Report, 85,000 miles shown, and storage from 2011 until 2023. · unknown · unknown Bring a Trailer records the $36,000 no-reserve sale. Cobra identity, Ram Air equipment, drivetrain, documentation, mileage, storage history, and condition claims remain auction representations.
  • Auction sale $61,750

    Apr 24, 2021 · Bring a Trailer

    R-code Cobra hardtop 9K45R108609, represented with a 428 Super Cobra Jet, close-ratio 4-speed, rear axle re-geared to 3.25 Traction-Lok, Elite Marti Report, refurbishment, Meadowlark Yellow repaint, and 34,000 miles shown. · restored · unknown Bring a Trailer records the $61,750 sale. Cobra identity, SCJ configuration, restoration, axle change, documentation, mileage, and condition claims remain auction representations.
  • High bid $30,500

    Nov 5, 2019 · Bring a Trailer

    Q-code Cobra hardtop 9R46Q139717, represented with a matching-stamp 428 Super Cobra Jet, 4-speed with replacement case, factory Drag Pack, 3.91 Traction-Lok, Deluxe Marti Report, refinished Lime Gold paint, and 89,000 indicated miles. · restored · unknown Bring a Trailer records the $30,500 high bid with reserve not met, not a completed sale. Cobra identity, engine stamp, transmission replacement, Drag Pack equipment, restoration, documentation, mileage, and condition claims remain auction representations.

Values move with paperwork, originality, options, condition, venue, and body style. High bids and guide values are labeled separately from completed sales.

Reference records

Options, Colors & Components

Source-backed details for trim, chassis, production, and authenticity.

Transmission

  • Factory transmission 4-speed manual, wide-ratio or close-ratio by data-plate code
  • Factory transmission C6 automatic

Options

1969 Cobra 428 CJ engine reference.Classic Muscle · Reference illustration

Paint

1969 428 Cobra Jet rear and side context; representative model-line media.Sicnag via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0

Chassis

Authenticity

1969 Cobra chassis reference.Classic Muscle · Reference illustration
  • Cobra naming and badges Cobra identity with no Fairlane or Torino exterior/interior nameplate claim unless supported by car-specific evidence · Exterior badges, grille, fenders, deck area, interior trim · trim correctness
  • Engine code boundary 428 Cobra Jet Q-code or R-code/Ram Air evidence before claiming the exact engine pathway · VIN, warranty plate, build sheet, invoice, engine components · fraud detection
  • Ram Air hood and emblems Ram Air cars carry hood-scoop and 428 Cobra Jet emblem evidence; non-Ram Air cars are decoded separately · Hood scoop, fender/hood emblems, air-cleaner assembly, paperwork · trim correctness
  • Body and seat code Cobra SportsRoof or hardtop body code with bench or bucket-seat trim code as decoded from the data plate · Door data plate and warranty records · fraud detection
  • Axle and transmission code Axle and transmission code must match the claimed CJ, Ram Air, or Drag Pack pathway · Data plate, axle tag, transmission tag, build sheet · numbers matching

Still Researching

  • production Ford-Torino reference states Ford did not use an exact separate Cobra key number; public Cobra-only totals should remain reported estimates until Marti or Ford production data is normalized.

Codes & names

Names & Engine Codes

Common names and codes are grouped so LS6 references point to the same engine, not separate pages.

1969 Ford paint reference.Classic Muscle · Reference illustration
428 Cobra Jet 428 Cobra Jet FE V-8
428 CJ 428 Cobra Jet FE V-8
Cobra Jet 428 428 Cobra Jet FE V-8
428 Cobra Jet Ram Air 428 Cobra Jet FE V-8
428 Super Cobra Jet 428 Cobra Jet FE V-8
428 SCJ 428 Cobra Jet FE V-8

Photo and video gallery

Gallery

9 photos and videos

Sources & Documentation

Reader contributions

Improve the record

Send a correction, source, or photo lead. Updates are checked before they appear on the car page.

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