Hi Andrew, as most of us have said, talk to owners, ride, and hopefully drive, as many Cobras as you can, before you make up your mind, what fit's your needs. I have been fortunate enough, to drive org. Cobras (in the 70's), as well as many, many, different makes of the Cobras we now own. I can give you my opinion since I have a Small Block, as well as a Big Block (Never in a million years did I think I would every own two Cobras). Both have their good & bad points, won't get into them here, because not one of those bad points would ever be enough to sell either one
If I were going to own just one, it would have to be a (Kirkham, ERA, Unique, Pace) 289FIA car. The believe the best of both world's. A 347 SBF (see that you may have to use a late model motor) with 425-475HP, is plenty enough horsepower to get in trouble with, a 5-speed for hi-way cruising. Tri-go wheels are one of the nicest looking wheel's, and the FIA body, is just right between a wide body, and a street 289. Anyway my $.02 worth, Cheers Tom.