1996 Ford Mustang Cobra & Mustang Turbo GT

Collectible Cobras?I bought a '96 Mustang Cobra with 77,000 miles in 2002. The emblem on the passenger-side valve cover, with the signed names of the engine builders on it, has faded and I can't read it any longer. Is it possible to get another one of these emblems? I also want to know the production number of my car out of the 10,005 Cobras built in 1996. How many came in black with a tan leather interior and the Mach 460 stereo?

I've gotten different opinions on whether the four-valve Mustang Cobras will ever reach collector status. Some say they will, while others disagree because they look too much like a regular GT and there weren't enough different options available. I believe they will be collectible due to the low production numbers compared to two-valve GTs and the Cobra's better performance. Any thoughts?Brian ColePensacola, FL

I've seen how those emblems fade in the '96-'98 four-valve Cobras. However, I haven't heard of replacements available from Ford. Try a local dealer, preferably an SVT dealership if possible. Also try Latemodel Restoration Supply (866/50-RESTO; www.50resto.com). The company might not have anything now, but if you make some noise, they might look into it.

For production numbers, try Stew Jones at the Third Generation Registry. E-mail your VIN and door tag info to thrdgenreg@aol.com.

My opinion falls between yours and some of those you've spoken to about your car. A Cobra will always be more desirable than a GT, but they're not collectible cars-at least not yet, unless it's a '96 with the Mystic paint option. However, since your car is one of the '96-'98 Cobras, it's in rarified air because it's the most powerful round-body production Mustang produced. If one doesn't like the '99-'04 square-edge Mustangs, your car is clearly the best game in town. In my opinion, the only other choice in a round '94-'98-style Mustang is a '95 Cobra R, one of my all-time favorite late-model Mustangs, 2000 Rs included.

Consider your car as something of a quasi-collectible that's valuable enough to be worthy of lots of TLC, but not such a big-dollar Mustang that you should store it in a hermetically sealed bubble and not get any enjoyment out of it.

Fog Gets in Your LightsI have two Mustangs, a '95 GT and a '98 GT. Both have developed a "cloudy" condition on the headlight-lens assemblies. On the outside, I have cleaned up much of the dullness with Simichrome metal polish. What can I do with the inside of the lens? They seem to be cloudy as well, making the lens appear dull and more translucent than clear. Is there a way to disassemble these headlight units to clean them? The Simichrome did a good job on the outside. If I can get to the inside, I might be able to clear up the problem, pun intended. It seems a shame to have to replace these units. Is there something I've done wrong with maintenance?Bob VilmurLa Crescenta, CA

This problem is often the luck of the draw. That is, some cars (both Foxes and SN-95s) have the problem while others don't. There isn't much you could've done to keep it from happening, other than keeping the cars in a garage rather than leaving them outside in hot sun or rain.

I'm not familiar with taking the lens assemblies apart to gain access to the inside. The lens assembly is a molded piece, and I don't believe it can't be taken apart. While there are in essence two halves of the assembly (the gray plastic part that accepts the headlight bulb and the lens itself), they are a single piece since they're permanently molded together. After taking them off, you might be able to cut or break them apart, clean the inside of the lens, then glue them together again, perhaps with super glue. Worst-case scenario, you have to buy new lens assemblies. If you decide on new assemblies, you could try getting them open since you wouldn't have anything to lose.