Klayfish - I hope you don't take this as a flame job but here goes.
What I am reading into your post is that these companys just don't know much about Cobras and other collector cars. That is totally consistant with my experience's from the 70's to the presant. Back in the late 70's I traded a Pantera for a Elegant Motors long wheelbase Cobra. Insurance was my number one problem then for both cars, and to this date it is still a problem. There IS, I repeat, THERE IS, a history with these cars. For some reason these companys don't care enough to to put the facts together into a package that us consumers can use. As a industry they didn't do it 30 years ago, and here it is 03 and they still haven't pieced something together for us consumers. There is absolutely nothing that convinces me that they will do anything in the forseeable future either.
It's not altogether the insurance industrys fault though. For just one example, the kit car industry does absoluetly NOTHING that will help you get insurance with that kit you just bought. And least anyone hasn't noticed it's imposible to get insurance on that expensive kit car you bought during the construction stage.
As fo me, I can honestly say I've had nothing but bad experiences with insurance companys. That's from a guy that hasn't had a ticket for 35 years and no claims against a policy for over 20 years. (the last claim was a Corvette that got stolen from me) For some reason I don't think I am atypical either.
Good luck on your noble quest for our hobby. I feel the cards are stacked against you.
cobrashock