[REAL 1]

Never said the CO wasn't reliable. However, you cant just say a "427 is a 427".
The are significant differences between the CO and the SO both in design, durability and value and desirability. To deny this fact you have to be "smoking" something . The number of NASCAR races won in '63 or '64 is irrelevant to the Cobra discussion.

It was the SO that was put into comp 427s and SCs. Site me one comp 427 or SC or GT40 MK II of IV that raced with a CO. They could have used CO but didn't and they didn't for good reason.

The SO is the brass ring for BB 427s unless you are restorinng an orig street car that had a CO and you want the car as it was originally built.

Very simply the line of guys Willing to trade an SO for a CO is pretty short all things equal.

And yes, when guys who have even modest knowledge about Cobras ask if "it's a 427" they likely are asking if its a real SO. That's been my experience over the past 16 years.