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That is an interesting observation about Cobras with only 2000 miles on them being sold, and they're easy to spot. Typically, they're priced very cheap.
Here's some conjecture on this.
I think I exceeded the 2000 miles the first month I owned it. Have 15,000 miles on it now, and can't sell it. My kids are fighting over who I'm goint to leave it to in my Will.
I love driving the car, but after 2 years of ownership, find myself driving the grocery getter for more mundane things. Even driving to and from my office (mostly from) at 0 - 20 MPH most of the way, gets to be more hassle than fun when the weather gets nasty and cold.
One thing that's exilorating at first, but some guys enjoy it, and some guys have a hard time dealing with it. You can't take this car anywhere, not even to the grocery store, without being a Celebrity. All, well meaning people, oogling your car, asking you questions, telling you how cool it looks. Listening to you start it up, or sit at a light idling. And as one of the above posts pointed out, you can park this thing wheel to fender with the $250,000 Super Eurocars, and get all the attention. So, you be humble, answer the questions, and say "Thank You". No other car commands this, or has this appeal to men, women, and kids alike! If your ego or self esteem need a jolt in the arm, you'll get it driving a Cobra. But, you can't buy a brand new '66 Shelby off the showroom floor, you have to build it. And most guys who build these things for their own nostalga have long since outgrown their ego or self esteem issues, and find the Celeb status a little hard to take. Sell the Cobra and get a more modest Vette, or Porsche.
Second reason, again purely conjecture. I've been tinkering with cars from both a DIY maintenance perspective, and hot rodding perspective for about 45 years now. The Cobra was not my first project car, nor will it be my last. I will say that the Cobra was my most comprehensive project car involving all associated subsystems dealt with individually on previous cars. I've had my hot rodding right of passage with too much engine, and not enough car.
It's been said that you don't have to be an engineer to build one of these things, but it sure helps if are. And an automotive service technician at at least the hobbiest level. Salesmen for kit manufacturers make you think that anyone with average mechanical skills can build one of these, and it just is not so. From what I've seen, the FFR seems to be the easiest to build. Of course the SPF requires little to no assembly. The CR was a difficult, and challenging build. Required some engineering skills to modernize from an old design. And the factory assembly manual needs improvement, the parts shopping guide is obsolete . The front suspension, brakes, and steering went through 3 upgrades before mile 1 went on the odometer. Had I constructed the car following the factory directions to the letter with "Average" mechanical skills, the car would have been For Sale with less than 2000 miles on it as a driving disappointment.
I had a clear cut set of finished car objectives, and enough car building savvy to achieve those objectives. (Basically, a daily driver sports car, not a street legal race car.) I knew what I wanted to appear original, and what I wanted to deviate from original for better performance, better practicality as a daily driver, and a minimum of maintenance (weekend tinkering) and didn't mind criticism for un-originality.
I see some of the newbee posts, and guys jump into this as their first real car project. Kinda follow the crowd as far as component selection, and after it's built, decide it's not what they really wanted, and sell it.
The lucky ones get here first, and if nothing else, we get the newbees to do a lot of thinking and assessment about what they really want before spending a dime on kit or parts. The difference is like finding a woman you'd like to spend the night with, and finding one you'd like to spend the rest of your life with.
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