[fostereast]

IMHO:

What I love about Cobra's is that because it's a Kit Car (Replica) it is each persons interpretation of their dream.

Where I think it gets challenging is that we all feel that we need to "not skimp" in the engine department and that pretty quickly reduces down to one thing; Horsepower. I also suspect that a lot of builds are overpowered to the point where the cockpit heat and noise and general drivability are not quite what the builder anticipated.

I think having a period correct looking engine is a huge plus, so an FE or 289 style engine is great, also focusing a lot of attention on the handling can only be a good thing.

Building a beast with too much HP or too much emphasis on top end performance can take away from the overall experience if your goal is to enjoy driving it in conditions other than racing.

For what it's worth, I suspect a lot of the FFR guys enjoy a lot more miles in their cars because it's still "crazy" fast, but the engine is quiet, reliable and not too hot.

When I build my Cobra, I'm going to try and take these things into consideration when specifying the FE engine I'll use, and try to end up with a car that the cockpit noise and heat and general drivability is bearable for daily driving conditions.