My head is kinda spinning because the possibilities are endless.
Regardless of the legality issues (re-tag, rebody, etc...), when does a car become something so different from what rolled off GM's line that someone draws a distinction?
In my mind, the classifications are as follows:
"Survivor" (unmolested, left as time treated them) - The best IMO. Patina adds so much class - i.e. the Sandlin Duece
"Restored" (repaint, repair, refurbish) - Most cars fit this category in varying degrees. Can be anything from a nice driver to a 1,000 point trailer queen. Very nice cars with sheet metal replacement, fresh paint, drivetrain rebuilt, etc... This can include replacement of missing original drivetrain components with correct parts.
"Rebuilt" - Car with significant body rebuilding (clipping, firewalling, retaging, etc...)
In order to have a "restored" car you need to have worked with core to come up with an end product.
Trying to keep a complex topic simple isn't an easy task. With the big bucks in many complex restos the resulting product of a "restored" car is a project from the heart rather than the mind (if that makes any sense).
Deep inside most of us know right from wrong.
I'm taking cover now, so let the comments fly.
Blair