1997 Ford Mustang
Fourth generation · SN95 1994–2004
The SN95 platform, which returned curved styling to the Mustang from 1994 to 2004.
The 1997 model year
Overview
A quiet consolidation year. With the modular V8 transition behind it, the 1997 Mustang carried over largely unchanged — same SN95 body, same engine lineup, same outputs. (Horsepower figures are SAE net.)
Specifications
- Engines
-
- 3.8 L Essex V6 (base) 150 hp
- 4.6 L SOHC modular V8 (GT) 215 hp
- 4.6 L DOHC modular V8 (SVT Cobra) 305 hp
- Transmissions
- 5-speed manual (T-5 V6 / T-45 V8), 4-speed automatic (4R70W)
- Body styles
- Coupe, Convertible
- Base price
- $15,880 (V6 coupe) ≈$31,000 today (inflation-adjusted) Original MSRP adjusted for inflation (CPI, 2024); not the car's current market/collector value. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI-U (U.S. city average, all items), annual average.
- Production
- SVT Cobra: 6,961 coupes + 3,088 convertibles
Year over year
What changed
- Essentially a carryover year — minor equipment and color shuffles.
- Engine lineup and outputs unchanged from 1996.
Living with it
Reliability & ownership notes
- Same modular-V8 notes as 1996: durable SOHC GT engine, more complex DOHC Cobra unit; check service history.
- SN95 body checkpoints unchanged (convertible seals, front-end rust on weathered cars).
Worth knowing
Notable
- A stable, attainable year for SN95 ownership — fewer surprises than the transition-year cars.
- The DOHC Cobra remains the performance pick.
Sources
Other Fourth generation years
Explore the SN95 generation → All Fourth generation · SN95 years →