How/Why did you end up with a Cobra?

[Widowmaker]

Shortly after being discharged from the U.S. Army in October, 1964, a financially secure friend bought a new 427SC in Charlotte, NC. Over a period of about two years, I helped tinker with that car and rode in it on many occasions. In 1997, while swapping engines in the car (a twin supercharged 427 purchased from Shelby) he managed to set fire to the building where he was doing the work and completely destroyed the car. Not that the loss of the car was not traumatic in itself, the building where he was doing the work was his father's plastic plant and it was destroyed as well. Some years later, he sold the frame and title for $10,000.00 thinking that he had made a good deal for himself. Aside from all of that, I was completely captivated by that car. The look, the raw power and the sensual nature of the car became a part of me and will be with me forever. As time went on, I researched all of the top replica builders and found that the price of good replicas continued to climb faster than my supply of disposable income rose. Finally, after all of the children were grown and after much research, I ordered a car from ERA. Living in the foothills of western NC, I wanted a car that handled well, but I was captivated by the big block grunt of my friend's 427 car. Accordingly, I ordered a 289 FIA car and installed a 393 inch stroked Windsor engine; in my humble view, the best of both worlds. It goes without saying that this car scratches every itch that I have about performance cars. Nonetheless, I cannot help wondering, with the resources available today, what one could do with an original 427 frame and title.