Gus, please expain to me in simple terms just what the Iconic thing has in common with the Shelby AC Cobra of 1964? I must be missing something here, sorry. You've seen something that I (and many others) have failed to grasp. No doubt some 'Amsterdam pot' would make it all clear, though it might require something stronger :-)
And as for the history lessons - I'd be prepared to wager that there would have been a V8 Ace. It wouldn't have been as well-developed or engineered as the Cobra, wwhich is not saying much, but it would have been a useful tool. And what's wrong with a few more 2.6 Ace's in the world? Look at the current prices for those sad l'lle British sporty cars made by a bunch of winos under the bridge....the guys whose jobs were saved by Mr. Shelby. Oh! no - he made that up as well