Evan,
I believe the reason you're seeing a difference between the threads and the survey scores is because of the difference between a dream and reality.
Most Cobra owners are average Joe's who couldn't afford to buy a Ford GT or any other exotic. If you had changed your poll even more to include the Enzo Ferrari and other exotics that sell for $650,000 or more, most folks would probably pick the most expensive car. After all, if you're going to dream, you might as well dream as big as you can. If you were to add an Original Cobra from the 60s that sell for $450,000, the score probably would have had the Original Cobra leading the score. I know this might start a controversy - again - but all Cobras made after 1966/7 are replicas no matter who manufactures them. The Ford GT is a replica of the GT 40, as is a CAV GT 40, Daytona replica, etc. If given a chance to dream, I think most people would pick an original car whether that be a Pontiac GTO, Dodge Daytona, Ferrari, etc. because of their rarity and the chance to sell them in the future for a big profit -- an investment. The Cobra replicas, like Hot Rods, are for fun and driving by the average Joe. The Ford GT, Enzo Ferrari, Original Cobras, etc. are for the 0.5 percent of our society that are filthy rich and can afford these exotics.
To answer your other question about why Ford only produced 2500 Ford GTs. I believe it is because the owners of Ford are part of this 0.5 percent and they want to re-assert their position in this "special" group by manufacturing an unaffordable car and don't really care about sales. For these filthy rich folks, it's all about showing off their position in society by being able to buy things most people couldn't afford -- sort of shuving it in the average guy's face. Rich people like to buy expensive things because it makes them feel above the average Joe. I have a friend who owns an art store and he is astounded how if he lowers the price of original
oil paintings he can't sell them, but if he raises the price, the rich will buy them up because it makes them feel special. Ford also gets to be a member of this special wealthy club by being able to manufacture a car that is unaffordable to the averge person. The Ford GT price is artificially high not because there is something special about the parts or manufacturing, but because Ford held the production artificially low. If they increased production, they could reduce the price, but then that would mean the average Joe could now afford it and it would be just another Nissan 350 or Corvette. They have artificially kept production low and jacked up the price so only the wealthy can afford them and Ford can be part of a special priviledged group.
I don't think I'm being cynicle, it's just a fact of life that there is a special group of priviledged wealthy that want something to demonstrate how special and above the rest of us they are. Ford is providing these people with the Ford GT, the watch manufacturers have their Rolexes, etc. so these wealthy can wear these badges of wealth to show the average Joe that they are above them in society. We all know that a Casio watch is a better value than a Rolex watch, etc., but people buy the Rolex to flaunt their social status. Cobra replica owners on the other hand just love the fun of driving these cars and Casio owners just love to have the correct time.
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