I grew  up in Detroit during the 1960's car horsepower war days. My father raced Porsche's and was a GM test engineer. There were always new test cars he brought home in our driveway, and he always ensured that they were the high hp variety. At a local hill climb in the 60s, I saw my first Cobra and it was love at first sight. I was no stranger to exotic race cars tagging along with my father to race courses. However, I was not prepared for the first sighting of a Cobra at one of the events nor the roar of its mighty V8 with open exhaust. My fathers Porsche was quiet as a mouse by comparison. Later I learned that the driver of the Cobra that I saw was known as Gentleman Tom Payne, who did very well on the National SCCA road race courses. Many years later in Spring 2000, I was looking to get another toy car that would be different from my 1965 Mustang convertible and my 1957 Thunderbird. I started looking at Shelby Mustangs, but I already had a Mustang. Still undecided, I saw a local adv for a Superformance Cobra. The light bulb clicked on and I said THIS IS IT ! I went to look at it and bought it on  my first visit. Old 156 had been a price leader car and a showroom demo car, built in 1996 it was not sold new until 1998. I bought it with only 1,100 miles. The car had no factory or dealer options, it was bare stock. By 1996 standards that meant Ford stock brakes, uncoated but painted side pipes, painted roll bar and fake knock offs. Hey, it works for me. It has been exceptionally reliable, paint looks like new and I drive it rain or shine with many smiles to the miles.