It realy depends on what you are going to do with the car. We have all heard that before.
My first cobra a Butler back in 1988 had a 550 HP SO/HR. The car was fun but sucked gas my wife hated to drive it- it was too much and a pain in the but to stay in tune. MOdern stuff of today would be much easier I admit. Today my Kirkham is pretty much a stock 427 SO/LR all iron. Has a huge cam but a perfect-custom carb and MSD ignition. I just did a 1600 mile trip averaged 13mpg with an average speed of 82.3MPH and used four qts of
oil with out a wimper. That is what I wanted and I have never been happier and anybody can drive it. Good luck and have fun- it is your artwork I mean investment I mean toy I mean therapy.