Yandro is the hero for manual-transmission believers.
Automatic transmissions have become more popular in performance cars. Modern, performance-oriented automatics can shift much faster than manuals. This is in contrast to the days of soul-crushing, power-robbing autotragic slushboxes. Manuals are more fun to drive and an enthusiast group (your fearless editor included), would prefer to shift their own gears.
This man is a hero for people like us. Yandro has been the proud owner of his 1998 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra since 2013. Yandro started out with a powerful 305-horsepower DOHC aluminum-powered V8. This is a familiar path for many Mustang owners. Yandro started with bolt-on upgrades and then tried superchargers and nitrous before settling on his current setup.
Yandro’s Cobra has its second engine. It still has the stock-displacement 4V mod motor with the stock forged crank. The engine is now fed by two Precision 62mm turbochargers. The factory heads have been updated from the ’03-’04 Terminator Cobra, and an intake manifold hand-made is taller than Nakatomi Plaza. Yippie ki yay.
The bright yellow Cobra now produces 1,500 horsepower and can run the quarter-mile in seven seconds, with Yandro still shifting his gears. This feat is impressive, but we know that it’s quite challenging to handle this beast. Yandro said that there is still a lot to be done.
Yandro can still drive his Mustang on the streets, and even retains power windows. However, there aren’t many creature comforts. A roll cage, parachute and racing harnesses are essential when you’re completing quarter-mile runs in seven seconds.
We don’t like the Mustang’s nickname, “The Minion”, which is a reference to those yellow-colored children’s movie characters that your aunt posts on Facebook. In this instance, we’ll be forgiven.