[69rsss350]

I feel the need to express an opinion here...
Original is only original once, right? If a car has the original motor, tranny, rear end but all new fenders, floor pans, trunk pan, interior, quarters, paint, etc. Is it original? If a car has all the original body parts but a NOM motor is it less valuable? If a person has a heart transplant isn't he the same person? My feeling is that if you have a REAL car it should matter less as to whether all the parts are original but more that it reflects that nostalgia that we bought them for in the first place. I know I was a senior in high school when my car was built and that means more to me than whether it has the original engine or not. I spend hours with this car that I don't even consider spending with my late model Suburban. I sell used cars for a living and bought a brand new 98 C-5 Corvette that was a truly awesome car and sold it six months later for a small profit cause it was a depreciating asset. The endless pursuit of originality is really a fruitless effort cause it still won't be "original". I believe that sometimes we as the enthusiasts create some of the things we complain about. For example... replaced VINS and cowl tags, bogus or reproduced documentation, restamped components, people selling cars as "numbers matching" when they truly aren't, etc. To me a "real" classic car that is restored to bring back the age to those of us that appreciate them is a blessing and should be considered as such. I have no problem with and agree that the best representations of these cars should bring a premium and also realize that the almighty dollar is what drives the fakes and cheats. Bottom line is, I guess, that I, personally, don't care whether that "Mystery Chevelle" has its original smog equipment or heat shields over the spark plugs or whatever, it is an awesome piece of classic machinery that ain't gonna be reproduced! Same way I feel about my Camaro and all you other guys cars. I wish as a prerequisite of registration evryone had to post pictures of their cars. I would love to see them!!!!!! Thanks for letting me vent.