Evan, I have always stated that I agreed your car is a real Shelby Cobra. But I disagree with the Shelby aluminum block not being correct(or as correct) for a replica or a 4000 series Cobra. IMHO, if Shelby issues his dispensation, it's a real Cobra motor reguardless of who made it, where it was made, or what kind of block it is. I feel it's like the Kirkham vs. SAI Cobra. Kirkham is a replica, SAI's Kirkham rebadge is a real Cobra because SAI said it was and they have the right. Whether or not the SAI premium is worth the markup is up to the buyer.
It's kinda like the GMC pickup truck vs the Chevy truck, the GMC cost more than the Chevy, but they were the same truck. I've had several Chevy Blazers('70-'75 models) and one GMC Jimmy('77)(don't tell Turk
), and they were all great trucks(what this has got to do with the price of tea in China, I don't know).