[REAL 1]

Gary: Yes I did own an ERA. Yes, they are top notch in my opinion. I have the highest regard for ERA and the guys there and I am still friendly with Peter Portante.

I had mixed emotions selling my ERA. I understood how Turk felt. It was a beautiful car.

To me ,however, when Shelby got back into the business of making Cobras I was smitten. I remember as kid with my little brother reading about the Cobra in Car mags. It was a legend in its own time.

I could not afford to buy an original but the new Cobras, although expensive, I felt were worth the stretch. To me being able to own a "new" Cobra identical to the original and the fact that it was a REAL Shelby Cobra, just not of original vintage was a dream come true.

I love the Cobra, its history and was always a fan of its legendary place in automotive history and CS and his accomplishents. Its REAL Americana and a car we can be proud of as Americans.

As a car its a legend and it has transcended generations. Not many other cars can make the same claims. This is what led me to buy and ERA. Its was right around the time SAI was just getting started.

After owning the ERA a couple years and seeing SAI's Cobras I made the decision that wanted the next step. I wanted product of SAI and a car that was rightfully considered a REAL Cobra and accepted by SAAC as a Cobra.

I wanted to experience the car as it actually was. I wanted a 427 Cobra that not only looked like a Cobra but was a Cobra under the skin and drove and behaved as a Cobra did. I wanted a time machine. I wanted in short, a 427 Cobra. Only two cars can offer that. CSX 3000's and CSX 4000's.

So, no it was the fact I couldn't say my ERA wasn't real at car shows. It was the simple fact I wanted a Cobra and it was within reach now. In fact as of last summer I found that I enjoyed driving the damn thing more than sitting around at shows with kids dripping ice cream on it.

Blake: I'm working on it. I'm a computer idiot. I'm going to ask Ron to help me with the pic.