Original miles "really" matter on a restored car?

[chads454Ls6]

When i see the claim of low miles,i like to look at things like the interior,is it original,seats,door panels,headliner,door handles,glass. If the car truly has "low miles" then these things should be in nice shape provided the car was not beat to death.

[Survivor 69/Z28]

But what I do not understand is why fully restored cars with lower miles really matters. A car with 20k miles should show some age but very little ware. My point is, most of these low mile cars are fully restored. So with that said, do the miles then really matter with everything being new or like new.
Example:
There was a red 69 Z sold at the BJ. It claimed to have 26k original miles. BUT.... it had been fully restored. So if everything has been redone on the car why would a person pay more for a car with 26k miles? If a car has 200k vs. 25k miles, if everything has been gone through it makes not one bit of difference IMO.
There were several cars like this, where they were ranting and raving about the low miles. But they were restored.....

[LS6 RAT]

I also think that if a car is COMPLETELY restored, mileage doesn't matter one iota. I don't necessarily agree that having the odometer reset to zero miles is a bad thing. A completely restored vehicle should be the same condition as bought brand new and those odometers usually have close to zero miles on the gauge.

[LS6 RAT]

One item that is often stated by consigners of cars at auctions is that they are restored to factory stock, and in the same breadth state that the engine has been rebuilt. When queried on this aspect, the potential buyer finds out that the engine has been modified from factory specs.
I wish the owners would just not use the term factory stock...it's definitely not the truth.

[LS6 RAT]

I also get very leery over low mileage cars that have been "completely restored". I then imagine what kind of condition was this car in, in the first place to need a complete restoration????

I've got two Corvettes that are still original paint, original interiors, original drivetrains. Both are missing some original mechanical components, such as one car has a replacement fan clutch, both cars have replacement starters, both cars have replacement exhaust piping/mufflers, both cars have a replacement,restored original A.I.R. emissions system.
One car has 60,013 miles, the other has 39,297 miles and neither car "need to be restored" to be presentable appearing automobiles. There is no cylinder boring, or decking, no heads surfaced or ported, no intakes milled, or ported no crankshafts turned under or oversize rod or main bearings, no aftermarket camshafts & lifters..just original specifications as the factory assembled.
My opinion is that the musclecars that are truly factory original are the utmost desireable ones and certainly the most valuable from a monetary standpoint.

[Survivor 69/Z28]

LS6 RAT,

I am with you a 100% on that. I am much more interested in the true originals rather than the ones that have been restored. I LOVE the pretty new looking restored cars though. BUT, I am always wondering what was "really" done to the car when restored. So many guys will spend mega bucks on cars without even knowing who rebuilt the engine and what parts were used.

[Keith Tedford]

Back in the day virtually everyone disconnected their speedometers to extende the 5-50 warranty. Cars with original mileage showing are very, very rare and how do you prove it without a ton of receipts over the years showing the mileage progression. I know with our car the speedometer cable gear box that mounts into the transmission seized up several times and went quite a while before being repaired. I was beyond warranty so it didn't matter any way. I just drove by the tach. It looked to me this year that big scoops, stripes, and pro touring were what sold best. COPO cars are too much the plain Jane sleeper for this crowd.

[LS6 RAT]

Survivor 69/Z28,

Yeah, I with you there as well. Nice new shiny paint does make me a bit envious though.

[69L78]

I have an original 29k mile JL8 that I am going to get painted and or restored and my interior is in mint condition and nothing will need to be done to the interior at all so to me as Chad stated it should reflect that. The bottom end of the engine has never been apart and has absolutely no leaks at all. The original intake and carb was repalced with a X-RAM setup in 1981 and I am not going to freshen up the bottom end.

[mockingbird812]

Jeff - your not kiddin' that interior is mint!