--- title: "Brand New 2000 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra R Wrecked in Absurd Dealer Showroom Crash" date: "2024-12-30" modified: "2024-12-30" authors: - name: "Kyle Cheromcha" job_title: "Editor-in-Chief" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/kyle-cheromcha" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/bad-driver-destroys-15-mile-2000-ford-mustang-svt-cobra-r-in-dealer-showroom-crash" categories: - "Culture" - "Ford News" - "News" - "News by Brand" --- # Brand New 2000 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra R Wrecked in Absurd Dealer Showroom Crash ![]() It's no [1996 Dodge Viper on a 30-foot pole](), but for nearly a quarter of a century, a brand new 2000 [Ford]() Mustang SVT Cobra R has graced the showroom of a Ford dealership in North Carolina, a time-capsule tease for buyers to ogle as they wait for the paperwork on their next Explorer. But sadly, that run came to a shocking end this month when the driver of a Hyundai Tucson lost control while reversing in the parking lot, smashed through the building, and crashed directly into the 1-of-300 Cobra R. While it could've been worse in the sense that, I don't know, the Tucson could've taken out a support column and brought the whole building down, the images out of Tri-City Ford in Eden, NC are pretty brutal. The photo of the immediate aftermath shows the crossover plowed right into the passenger side of the Mustang, which depressingly still has a giant white Christmas bow on its roof. In a second photo taken after the Cobra R was extracted, the carnage is clear: the whole side is crumpled, and sadly it appears the roof has buckled, indicating significant structural damage. ![]() ![]() ![]() We obtained a copy [of the police report from the crash](), which occurred back on December 13. According to Eden Police, "Driver Number One while reversing their vehicle lost control of the vehicle, causing it to reverse uncontrollably and crash through the wall of the showroom floor... before striking \[the Mustang\] as it was parked within the building." You see the aftermath images and you think there's bound to be a ridiculous story, but sometimes it's a simple as that. For those curious, there's also a diagram from the report showing the Hyundai's exact path. [The fourth-generation (SN95) Mustang]() doesn't command a ton of respect today, but the 2000 SVT Cobra R was an undeniable star. Essentially a street legal race car, the Cobra R ditched a radio, air conditioning, sound deadening, a back seat, and power windows to make its 5.4L iron-block V8 the star. Underrated at 385 horsepower and 385 lb-ft of torque, the modular V8 was paired with Bilstein dampers, Eibach springs, bigger anti-roll bars, four-piston Brembos, and special aero. Top speed? 175 mph, making it the fastest Mustang ever when it debuted. ![]() ![]() Even today, the cars numbers hold up, and the low production count means a nice Cobra R can easily pull over $100,000 at auction. Tri-City Ford reportedly wanted $200,000 for its example, and before you rail against [dealers holding enthusiast cars hostage](), to me that feels more like a "go away" price than anything else. We pulled the CarFax, which shows the car has never left Tri-City Ford and only had 15 miles on the odometer when the crash occurred. The dealership's owner clearly wanted to keep it as a trophy. And at the same time, a 1993 Cobra R with 66 miles sold for $211,000 earlier this year. The police report lists the damage estimate for the Mustang at $30,000, which feels low given the exacting work that will be necessary to bring it back to showroom condition. But the good news is it's definitely worth restoring. If I owned a local body shop, I'd do it for free on the condition that it's returned to the showroom with a giant before picture as an ad for my services. ## Author Overseeing an expert staff of writers and editors from his lair in Los Angeles, Kyle shapes The Drive’s singular approach to covering the automotive industry and car culture. He’s been with the site as a writer since 2017, taking over as editor in 2019. On a daily basis, Kyle is responsible for directing The Drive's editorial news and car review content strategies, setting special coverage priorities, managing complex reporting projects, and ensuring what you read on the page meets our high internal standards for quality and trustworthiness. He is also the executive producer of The Drive's YouTube channel, which was relaunched in February 2024 to great acclaim and has accumulated over 14M new views in its first year back on the scene. He hosts a biweekly series on the channel where he breaks down fascinating and complicated stories from the automotive world. ### Author social links [Bluesky]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()