[Carroll DeWeese]

You are probably right that the Cobra is first and formost a sports car. It has the size and driveabililty of a European car. The old towns of Europe have narrow, winding streets. There are lots of winding 2 lane roads on mountains and hills. More people know how to drive and use manual transmissions. The cars are smaller.

Look at European race courses. Most are road courses, not ovals. A premium is placed on driveability and driver performance. Formula 1 on streets is not really a US sport. In Europe, many fans love road courses.

Europe has also been much more about craft shops. No manufacturer has been able to truly dominate: not Fiat, VW, Renault, Vauxhall, Opel, etc. The US has a few big manufactures, miles of good roads, wide open spaces, etc. US racing is disproportinately on oval and drag strips. Sports cars of all types are secondary. They inspire passion, but few have them and fewer know how to drive them. US cars tend to be big and macho.

The Cobra combines a European body with a US engine. It is a road car, not an oval track car.