I had a similar experience at a local British car gathering. I was mentioning, that I would like to get a small block Cobra replica when one of the guys said. "I had an original!" He bought a rack and pinion 289 back in 1970, and drove it around Phoenix for the next few years, and like your guy, he sold it for then good money, to get on with his life. He lamented, that it was the best British car he ever owned, just changed
oil a few times, started every time! Cheers, Dennis