Interested Newbie - Seeking Advice on Ownership

[Agar426]

Hello all!

I am a long time Cobra and Cobra replica fan. Owning one has long been on my bucket list. I have seen many threads on which kit is best, which engine combos is best, etc. etc. My question is less specific to the kit, (although I have plenty of questions there), but more about ownership in general.

I currently own a 1967 Mustang Fastback S-Code. It is a numbers matching car that is in very good shape, therefore I would think it has some value. The reason I bring this up is because I could use it as seed money for a replica purchase.

Here is my initial over arching question, and I realize the question is too general to nail down but....generally speaking, what is it like to own/drive one of these cars? Can there be a reasonable expectation of reliability, comfort, performance, practicality, etc? Is it terrible once the trip goes past 100 miles, or is it a cross country type ride? In between? I realize the quality of the kit and the build is a major factor. I am not out for all out speed or performance. I want a build that feels like a well built car, not like a cobbled together concoction that barely passes the requirements. I think that pretty much any drivetrain will perform beyond my ability to drive it, so I would not be seeking a full blown stroker FE build. I would be looking at either a mild FE, or perhaps one of Ford's crate 427 Windsor engines.....not the hotter one, the milder dual plane version. That would have MORE than enough performance for me. I would also want an OD tranny and EFI, but not a high end MPFI, probably something like the MSD Atomic EFI. I've always had a liking for the Superformance cars, but I'm not sure my budget can support that. Factory Five is high on my list as well, but I'm not sure that with my skills I could achieve the build quality I'm after.

Anyhow, I realize my questions are very general, and probably repeated a million times. I did search this and several other forums. Most newbie discussions are about one kit versus another. I'm not there yet. I just want to know if the loss of my Fastback would be worth the gain on the other end.

Thank you!