I used to own 2 Cobras, both R code fastbacks. To the best of my knowledge , Ford referred to them as just "Ford Cobra". There was no Torino or Fairlane designation anywhere on the car, and any factory sales brochures, including the 1969 Ford "Performance Digest", that I have or have seen , are they referred to as a Fairlane or Torino. On the registration paperwork, it just said Ford Cobra. The fact that Ford called the new 70-71 Torino performance model a Torino Cobra just adds to the confusion. The Cobra in 69 did use the Fairlane grill, not the Torino grill. The 69 Cobra was built to attract the same market as the Plymouth Road Runner, a low buck, bare bones mid size Muscle Car. However, the Cobra could be loaded with options as desired. My 2 Cobras were at opposite ends of the option spectrum. My first Cobra was a car I bought from a guy that worked at Ford Power Parts in California. I found it on a trip to Pomona, and was picking up some FE parts at FPP, and saw the car in the parking lot. It was quite optioned out, C6 automatic,PS, PDB, A/C, bucket seats , console, tach etc. My 2nd Cobra was very plain,4 speed, manual steering and manual drum brakes F&R, bench seat, steel wheels with dog dish hub caps. It also had a special order 6 digit DSO, according to the Marti Report, it was special ordered with Acapulco Blue paint, which was not a factory available color for a Fairlane or Torino, but was a regular color for a 69 Mustang. I guess whoever ordered the car didn`t want the darker Presidential Blue that was available on Torinos and Fairlanes. Regarding the Snake decals vs chrome fender emblems, both mine had the metal emblems, but I do recall seeing a Black Jade 69 Cobra with the snake fender decals , running around my area in the early 70s. As for the black paint, I have seen quite a few 69 Cobra fastbacks with flat black tail light rear panels, and hood scoops, but I can`t say that they came from Ford that way, or if they were painted black after the fact. Both my Cobras had flat black on the tail light panels, the blue stripper model had a body colored hood scoop, the gold car was black. Both had the small,rectangular "428" emblem, along with the chrome Cobra Jet script, I believe only the Q code engine cars had the larger "428" fender emblems, since they did not come with a hod scoop. Stangely, all 69 Torino GTs came with a hood scoop, even the 302 2 barrel, although only the R code 428 cars had the scoop functional. Both my Cobras also had hood pins. One odd option on my manual steering Cobra was the Rim Blow 3 spoke steering wheel. Considering how often I inadvertantly honked the horns on my 69 and 70 Mach 1s, that had power steering, I have to think the Rim Blow on a manual steering car must have been noisy in a parking lot! I sold both Cobras years ago, but I still have the Ford History 999 letter for the low option blue 4 speed car. Yet another car I wish I had kept!
