Can you help direct my search?

[maytag]

Originally Posted by strictlypersonl

Are you looking for a pre-built car or are you going to build from a kit?

Prebuilt only. Not interested in a project right now.

Originally Posted by 1985_CCX

I say there are three owner types: (pic one then search for your dream)
a) Wants a hot-rod that looks like a Cobra (lowest cost generally)
b) Wants a Cobra reasonably concerned with period correctness
c) Want the period car, a full-on tribute (most $$)

Of these choices, I guess I might be closest to 'a'. I was friends with Larry Miller and heard him say repeatedly "they were either there or they weren't".
I've ridden shotgun at the racetrack with Bill Murray in the real deal 289 and 427 cars. But frankly, I couldn't give two hoots about period correct or original vs whatever. I don't need somebody to think that I'm driving something that's pretending to be something it's not. I want a performance car that looks bad-a$$....

Originally Posted by twobjshelbys

You'll search long and hard for a 50K cobra. Consider that the power train alone can exceed 20K...

A quick search nets literally 50 cars in the U.S. either for sale currently, or sold recently, for under $50k. Hence the question I've posed regarding what distinguishes those from the $100k-plus builds? I've no doubt there's something to that, but what is it? Maybe it's stuff I don't care about (see above).