[tom406]

I would agree that the limited numbers make the "numbers matching" side of things less prevalent. With ZL1's, if you have to have an original engine car, that leaves you with about 7 cars to choose from. Those cars rarely come up for sale, so you're in for a wait, or a lifetime of frustration.

I'm also going to state my personal opinion here (*not representative of the business I work for*): Corvette people are nuts. (Well not totally, and about half of them are wonderful people.) But the "numbers matching" aspect of that market is all out of proportion to the intrinsic value of the cars offered. I understand as well as anyone the value in documentation value of an original motor, but to wipe out $20,000+ in value on a documented, solid and unhit big block car that was unlucky enough to have its block decked or a CE replacement block within 1 year of delivery is looney. Time and time again I see people not even consider excellent cars, and buy lesser cars with sordid histories that through sheer luck kept their original blocks, (or were likely treated to a skilled restamp). Many times people don't even know what numbers matching means, or where the stamping locations are, but they KNOW they can't buy one that's not "numbers matching". There's no perspective.

I'm not saying original engines aren't worth a premium, I'm just saying they're not the beginning and end of values.