There I an article that I found interesting in the magazine "Hemmings Muscle Machines" June, 2014 written by Jim McGowan: Matching Numbers? (Part 1)
Summed up with one sentence from the article:
"Sometimes way too much importance is placed on something that was created with the best intentions, but mutated over a few decades to dictate the value and desirability of a vehicle today."
Opinions?

 

Did Mr. McGowan offer a precise definition of 'numbers matching'? I'd like to add it to my collection. I've got about 15 so far, each different from the others, yet each claiming that theirs is the correct and universally accepted meaning.

 

Who is Jim McGowan? Does there need to be a Part 2?

 

Fire away boys...........I'm staying out of this one

 

Matching numbers... 2 and 2.

 

My Corvette has matching numbers, 1 Corvette, 1 owner woo hoo

 

 

Like it or not, numbers do affect value and desirability. Importance is in the eye of the purchaser.

 

When I first bought my Corvette numbers matching was explained to me this way.... "at the big car shows you have 5 perfectly restored Corvette's sitting side by side and you have to have some way of establishing which perfectly restored Corvette is the winner over the other perfectly restored Corvettes".

 

Point blank: I would not drive my car the way I do if its value was going to be reduced by half if I missed a shift and grenaded my "numbers matching" block or cracked the casing of my "numbers matching" transmission.

And boy do I LOVE driving my car the way I do...doing a solid 500 miles per month right now...

 

FYI
http://www.newsday.com/classifieds/c...sals-1.6154213

 

Funny, but it's really the Corvette world, that places a huge emphasis on this, versus the Camaro's, Chevelle's and Nova's, where that issie can be important to a hard core Collector of those cars, but not so much as here, as with the Corvette.

Maybe it's the 'Sports Car' pedigree and limited availability (at the time) or the Corvette's position at the top of the heap (though, recent conversation focused on the Camaro's surge in pricing and desirability, questioning that very narrative, as prices for nice examples are directly competing, if not beating the Corvette...).

 

This may be true. Question is how did it get to be this way?

 

The people who just "coming into" their best earning years or even retirement are the ones who could appreciate a Corvette when they first started driving but could only afford a decent Camaro or Chevelle 'way back then. Now those same people want the car of their youth back to restore/rebuild as they remembered.

I really enjoy my Corvette but I think I would be more satisfied overall with a car that I was more familiar with when I first started driving. 1970 is the magic year for me. Camaro Z/28, Firebird Trans Am, Challenger R/T, AMX, etc. were the cars of my dreams. A Corvette was something my friend's parents drove.

I'd trade my Corvette in a heartbeat for one of those. But that's just me.

 

I think that it can mostly be answered by implying that sheer human greed is what controls the valuation of our cars. Along with the mindset that value is based on demand and whatever someone is willing to pay is almost what something is worth. Why else would people with incredible wealth be willing to pay absurdly inflated prices for a mass-produced item like a car?

Granted, maybe only 47 of something was built with a certain option and with a specific color, but does that make it worth a million-plus dollars? I still can't fathom the thought process of someone who is willing to pay that much for a car. That's more money than most of us will make in a lifetime. Incredible.

Yes, that is what our capitalistic society is based on and it works well, but still that is a lot of money...

 

I recently looked at a Corvette that was sitting beside a road I travel often. It's a 1970 base small block four speed convertible. White faded exterior, both tops, pitted chrome, four flat tires and a somewhat tattered blue interior made me think I might get it for a fair price. It just so happened that the owner was nearby the last time I stopped so we struck up a conversation about cars in general and those that he had specifically.

So I asked if he would be interested in selling the Corvette. He told me then that he had this one and a better one, a '68 with a big block, stored in his shed. Neither had been started in years but they were all there. He told me that he had seen the same model as his '70 on TV a while back and it brought almost $100,000. Going by that, he figured his '70 was worth at least $14,000. Firm, he said. Worth every penny, he said. You're nuts, I thought.

That car needed absolutely everything, plus I had no idea what shape the frame might be in.

I thanked him for his time as I silently cursed Barrett-Jackson, etc. for kicking the prices for old cars to the stratosphere well out of reach for the average hobbyist.

 

Mecum Auction has seemed to define the term...

MATCHING NUMBERS
BUYER
Lot #: _________________ Auction: ___________________________
I have purchased a vehicle, VIN _____________________________ that has been described
as having “matching numbers.” I understand that the generally accepted definition of the term
“matching numbers” in the collector car market and for this transaction apply to:
o Engine casting numbers
o Engine casting dates
o Engine assembly codes
o Engine VIN/serial derivatives

All must be present in a manner consistent with the year, make and model of the vehicle.
Further, I understand that the Vehicle Identification Number in some instances identifies a
specific model or option, and that that the VIN of this vehicle is correct for the model and
options represented. Any and all remaining numbers on the vehicle may not be applicable to
this transaction or meeting the term “matching numbers.”
I attest that I have personally inspected the vehicle prior to the purchase, and that the
“numbers” on the vehicle match to my satisfaction. I further understand that because some
numbers are difficult to inspect before the auction, that the auction company and seller have
allowed me to have 24 hours or until the end of the last scheduled day of the auction, which
ever is shortest, to complete my inspection.
By my signature I accept the definitions and terms relating to “matching numbers” on the
vehicle I have purchased, and that I have no further recourse once the allotted time for
inspection has been reached.
________________________________________






MATCHING NUMBERS
SELLER
Lot #: _________________ Auction: ___________________________
I have declared that the vehicle I am selling, VIN _______________________________ is a
“numbers matching” vehicle. I attest to the fact that I have personally inspected the numbers
on the vehicle and confirm their accuracy. I understand that the generally accepted definition
of the term “matching numbers” in the collector car market and for this transaction apply to:
o Engine casting numbers
o Engine casting dates
o Engine assembly codes
o Engine and VIN/serial derivatives

All must be present in a manner consistent with the year, make and model of the vehicle.
Further, I understand that the Vehicle Identification Number in some instances identifies a
specific model or option, and that that the VIN of this vehicle is correct for the model and
options represented. Any and all remaining numbers on the vehicle may not be applicable to
this transaction or meeting the term “matching numbers.”
I further understand that should the vehicle be sold and found to not have matching numbers,
as determined by the buyer and auction company, that the auction company has the right to
void the sale, and that I will be responsible for all fees incurred for the sale of the vehicle, to
include but not limited to entry fees and all buyer and seller commissions and fees due the
auction company. I will further be bound by any and all seller agreements associated with
this transaction, and understand that by representing the vehicle as having “matching
numbers” that I offer a guarantee that may supercede the “As Is” terms of the sale.
The auction company and seller recognizes that some “numbers” are difficult to inspect prior
to the sale of the vehicle, and will allow the buyer 24 hours or until the end of the last day of
the scheduled auction, which ever is shorter, to inspect and accept the numbers and statement
“numbers matching” as described herein. Payment for the sale of this vehicle will be made
after meeting the requirements of this document.
________________________________________ ________________________
Seller Date

 

Sorry for the rant, but to bring it back around to the OP's thread, in my opinion a very nice original, well cared for, rare car is worth a good bit of money. Cars that individuals have that are restored to much nicer condition than the factory could have possibly built are fooling others into paying an incredible amounts for cars that could have never existed in such a condition.

That is one thing that makes me respect car buffs like Alan71. He has built (at least one) a Corvette that is as near to perfect as possible, but he does it for his own satisfaction. I really like the way he thinks and highly respect his ability and patience. Plus, he is one of the most accommodating enthusiasts in the hobby. Good guy for sure.

 

Note that the Mecum definition says nothing about things being the 'original factory born-with' engine, only that the numbers on it match.

Guess they consider restamps 'numbers matching' .

I'd like to buy the author of the article posted by BBCorv70 a beers in spite of the fact that he linked NCRS judging with numbers matching.

 

That wording give them an "out" if a purchase is contested.

They do it for the money, not for the hobby.

IMHO, for what it's worth.