The Ford Mustang's nearly 60 years on the U.S. auto market has seen it evolve through several generations, body shapes, and powertrains. That means that if you're shopping for a used Mustang, you've got a huge variety of cars to choose from. Making things even better, Ford and its performance partners have created some truly impressive special editions of the car over the years.

The Cobra R got a prominent rear wing.Bring a Trailer

Back in the 1990s and 2000s, Ford's Special Vehicle Team had a big hand in building the Mustang's recent performance legacy. One of its coolest cars was the Mustang SVT Cobra R, which debuted in 2000 as the fastest Mustang ever built. That pedigree set the Cobra R apart from others in the crowded Mustang catalog, and this car's nearly $100,000 current auction price shows that the R is still quite desirable today.

A six-speed manual transmission was standard.Bring a Trailer

The Cobra R wasn't a common car to begin with. Ford only made 300 for the 2000 model year, so this car would be quite a find even with ten times the mileage. The R was SVT's only Mustang for 2000 and put down some impressive numbers for the time. The cars got a 5.4-liter V8 that produced 385 horsepower when new, but many outside performance tests showed that the R was capable of putting down more power than advertised. The engine was paired with a six-speed manual gearbox. Ford claimed the powertrain could propel the Cobra R to 60 mph from a standstill in just 4.7 seconds and noted that it could go on to reach a top speed of 170 mph.

The car is in nearly brand-new condition.Bring a Trailer

To the average person, the Cobra R could be written off as just run-of-the-mill Mustang with an aftermarket body kit, but there are subtle indicators that help identify it as the beast that it is. The Cobra R has a tall rear wing spoiler and an insanely long front lip spoiler. The hood has been bumped out with a large power bugle and there's a side-exit exhaust with chrome tips.

The 5.4-liter V8 was rated at 385 hp when new.Bring a Trailer

As cool and rare as this particular car is, it's hard to get too excited about it. With around 890 miles on the clock, the temptation to continue hiding it away in safe storage somewhere is strong. A large part of what makes this Cobra R special is its condition, so driving it might suck some of the fun out of ownership. That said, the R generated quite a bit of interest. There are just a few hours left for the car to crest the $100,000 mark, but regardless of its final selling price, we hope the next owner is willing to add some miles.