What about...

[pusherfans]

1. Can a Kirham be driven and still look good? What kind of upkeep is required?
Yes. just wipe is down with a spray wax and it will hold up well. I use BeadX by Formula 113. But any one should work and it's fast.
only drawback - no top, but you can have a custom one made, it is not impossible
2. How do you care for a polished body?
see answer above

3. How durable is the stainless frame. New England has a lot of sand on the roads(left over from Our Wnters)it is very abrasive. I have taken the control arms off and sent them to be powder coated and I am always painting the frame. I just don't know how it will wear or how to keep it looking good without parking the car.
Stainless steel will hold up way better than steel against rust, is that your concern? Or are you concerned about the physicals, like stress cracking? I don't think that these frames will ever see enough force to worry about that. . .if you drive in salted roads, I would definately get the stainless frame, as it also includes door frames, hood frames, sway bar, etc in stainless.

4. What are the necessary options?
This is a personal choice. The ones that stood out for me were:
adjustable seat tracks
footwell vents
Avon tires (or should we say tyres?)
wheel well foam installed

bottom line, get a Kirkham, whatever way you want, the car and the people are awesome, you cannot go wrong. It's a truly special car. it is loved at the shows, I also get the comments made here about people not caring if it's real, (most just assume it is real) etc, asking about the "chrome" paint. . . etc. . and you know what? It is a real Cobra, only built today with improvements, in my opinion . .. .