I was just wondering why people want to know what thier cars were when new. If the cars have been changed so much that they can't tell now what they once were, they will never be original, if the original drivetrain is gone they will never be numbers matching cars. I would much rather have a car built the way I wanted it than whatever I happen to find for sale used. Am I missing something here??

I agree. Except that knowing what your parts origonaly came from is helpful when buying replacement parts.

ClintB, you are entitled to your opinion or preferences just like all of us are....

I personally enjoy the history and stories of these cars. I have always apreciated originality over customization...not to say one is better than the other....

My car, for example, is not #'s matching or even the orignal color (yet). It looks stock and unless you really started checking, you would never know that it wasn't. I do have a POP for it and am trying to track down the original owner (for stories, pictures, etc.).

I just plain like the history of these cars and the stories of how things were...To me there is nothing better than sitting behind the wheel, listening to the motor, and wondering where my baby's been in her life.....

But...like I said...you are entitled to your opinion.... http://www.camaros.net/forum/wink.gif

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Steve McCorry - Central Ohio Camaro Club
'69 Camaro RS/SS-350 - Daytona Yellow
'95 Camaro Z-28 - Sebring Silver
click here to see my webpage ---> www.mindspring.com/~mccorry (http://www.mindspring.com/~mccorry) (updated 9/1/00)

Like McCorry said, it's nice to know about the history behind your car. I enjoy learning about the different options & combinations available, but my car is not numbers matching & never will be. I keep the parts I like & change those I don't.

It's nice to know what your car was/is and what options it originally had. But if you don't enjoy it the way it is, then why bother having it. My opinion is that it's nice to be completely 100% stock original, but there are certain options I want on my car so I add them. The crossram being the main thing I wanted to go with the JL8 so I bought a set up. If you like the look of the RS, then add it. It's a decision we each have to make, build it the way you want it or return it to stock original. I enjoy my Camaros both ways.

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Jeff H - 93 Indy 500 Pace Car(supercharged), Hugger Orange 69 Z28 with JL8 brakes & crossram

Nicely put Steve...There is nothing like sitting behind the wheel, listening to the motor, and wondering where that car has been! I just can't imagine someone owning one of these cars and not wanting to know it's history.

Just pondering a thought. Would you consider a car numbers matching if you took the time to replace the drivetrain with a block trany and a rear that are dated and stamped correctly. My 67 RS/SS was missing the complete drivetrain. Even the shifter wasn't right.

I am on a quest for the correct drivetrain and I am sure that will create a huge hole in my wallet. I think it will increase the value of my car and that finding these will fun and challenging.

Just my opinion

If it is not the original block/drivetrain...even if the date stamps are correct...it will never be numbers matching. It cannot be called original.

Many go to great lenghts to "restamp" parts. I, personally, think this is fraudulent and unethical.

My $0.02 worth....just enjoy your car....


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Steve McCorry - Central Ohio Camaro Club
'69 Camaro RS/SS-350 - Daytona Yellow
'95 Camaro Z-28 - Sebring Silver
click here to see my webpage ---> www.mindspring.com/~mccorry (http://www.mindspring.com/~mccorry) (updated 9/1/00)

Well you can look at it like this too, I am a avid GM guy and the one thing I would hate to do is take a rare car and hack it up when it is a part of history. I probley would cry if I saw a COPO chopped up and tubbed out. If you don't find out as close as you can what your car was from the factory then you could be ruining a big part of history. I respect the guys that spend the money to restore a #s matching car back to orginal but I also respect the guy that gives the car his own touch. Just remember there are alot of Base line factory cars out there to make into your own personnal creation but some of the low production cars, there might accually only be 1 or 2 left any more so why risk ruining one of them if you have the resources to find out what the car was from the factory.

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Thanks Jeff

Murrayo, what you're looking to do with putting a correct drivetrain back in, I would consider "numbers correct" but not "number matching". I know that there are a lot of people out there that will consider that "numbers matching" so it's a personal interpretation. Numbers correct is the next best thing to them matching so go for it. At least that still preserves the car as it was originally. The VIN on the engine/trans should match the car's VIN to be considered "matching".

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Jeff H - 93 Indy 500 Pace Car(supercharged), Hugger Orange 69 Z28 with JL8 brakes & crossram

Jeff,

I have to agree with you. And I think to say that the car is authentic would be a blatant lie. As a matter of principle, I wouldn't lie to a fellow camaro owner. I would still like to find the original drivetrain though.

Does anyone have a opinion on the hit on the value when I finally replace the drivetrain. I see these cars on e-bay going for serious bucks all the time and they are not even close to original. I would have a near close to original setup and I think that is pretty cool.

Any thoughts?

Yes to some of us the #'s are important, As I'm finding out it is hard to impossible find all the matching #'s however looking for that right part and number has been great! I had a 69 Camaro in the mid 70's. When I got married it got sold. 25 years later, I came into another one, than another an another. I now have 3, 69 Camaro's and a 68. Although these are classic cars and may never be return to orginal, I would like to make at least one of them as authentic as I can. It's called a hobby!
This site has been a great help to me so Thank you!!

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Laadyco

As posted above, you have to be happy with your car. I for one would not be happy with a car that I was worried about taking out of the garage. Show cars are nice and I would love to have one, BUT IMHO it limits the enjoyment of just driveing it around.

I also prefer a bit more HP than stock. If I found an original car, I would not hack it up, but if changes had already been made, then LET THE FUN BEGIN!

If its a clone, original, or just matching, it will not be worth anything if you cannot enjoy it.

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Mark
1992 Firebird 355/Six Speed
1991 RS 350 / 700-R4
1987 Toyota Pickup 383 / 500 + HP 10.963 @ 119.95 Slicks / 11.997 @ 114.23 Radials
http://personal.lig.bellsouth.net/~racer383/