Check out the for sale section here on clubcobra.com. I just glanced through and there were a couple that were sub $35k.
This one caught my eye:
http://www.clubcobra.com/classifieds...uct=2699&cat=2
If you shop around with cash, you should be able to find a nice Cobra. You'd get plenty of power out of a small block and that lends itself more to your budget. FE's are more expensive to work on than a small block, too.
You might also want to check out cobracountry.com, craigslist.com or ebay. Don't know how web-savvy you are, but craigslist and ebay (fleabay? I like it) are magnets for fraudulent sales/purchases. Proceed with caution.
Also, connect with any local Cobra owners. There is probably a PA club linked to clubcobra, so you could put a feeler out and some of the locals would be sure to help you learn about the different manufacturers.
I purchased an ERA 289FIA after several years of research (and saving money...). I wanted a fiberglass car with an exact replication of the original 289FIA Cobra. Funny though, for in the end I opted for 427-type wheels and did a couple of other "non-purist" things to it. Great car though.
Happy shopping.
DD