Meaning of "numbrs matching" opinions please

[TimG]

"Matching numbers" no longer means original engine in the buying world. Many dealers advertise "matching numbers" cars, but they certainly won't certify the engine as the original one for liability reasons. In today's world, before you get serious about a car, you need to ask;

1) Is it the original engine with the original stamps

2) Does it have the correct build derivative and matching ID number on the pad

A car could have the original engine, but the engine was decked in an earlier rebuild. The broach and numbers could be replaced on the original engine and you have the original engine with "matching numbers".