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The First 5.0
Ed Gribble's '78 King Cobra Marks a Starting Point in the Hobby
by Jeff Ford
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Twenty-five years ago, Ed Gribble bought this Brown King Cobra from a friend while living in Detroit, Michigan.
"The original owner, Mike Demers, was a friend of mine," said Ed. "We went to high school and worked together in suburban Detroit. We both worked on cars and spent the weekends racing on Telegraph Road (Woodward had died down by then). Naturally I was there when Mike bought the King, so I've known the car since new."
What Mike bought was a nice example of the King Cobra option for 1978. What that option gave the buyer was: unique tape stripe treatment with pinstriping on "all major areas," distinctive hoodscoop and 5.0 emblems, unique chin spoiler, and side flares. Included in the deal were the 5.0 2V V-8 and a four-speed, 3.00:1 rear gear, power front discs, power steering, the P195/70R-13 raised white-letter tires, and lacy spoke wheels. As for other options on Mike's King, there were basically none - not even a radio; however the car did come with the Chamois all-vinyl seats and carpet was well as the Brown topcoat and orange tape stripes.
Even with all those features, Mike was like many folks and often suffered from buyer's remorse; he would often buy a car and then sell it a few weeks later. Soon after the purchase, Mike approached Ed and wife Koneta about buying the car. "Mike didn't like making the payments on the King," says Ed, "so he asked me if I wanted it." Ed snapped up the King Cobra and enjoyed it for two years. Then he took a job in Alaska driving trucks. The car was put into storage for the "short stay" in our northernmost state. But somehow the job didn't end after a couple of months.
Twelve years later, the Gribbles returned and dragged the 5.0 2V powered Mustang II from it garage. With only 20,000 miles on the odometer, Ed and Koneta started showing the car. Unfortunately, in the first few shows, the car got no respect. But as time went on, more and more people (us included) saw the value of the car.
Though Ed's car represents close to the "middle" of the Mustang saga of 2003, it also stands in for the Mustang II King Cobra that Larry Dobbs once owned - in fact, while starting the magazine you are reading right now. Wonder where that Silver Metallic with Red interior King is now?
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