New VIN tag... hurt the value?

[71SSNova]

Here's the scenario. Picked up a 70 Nova SS. I bought it off the second owner who only had it for a year and decided not to restore it. Fathom blue, matching numbers engine, muncie trans, 12 bolt rear, buckets, no gauges, POP, original bill of sale, supposedly 47k miles.

The original owner wrecked it back in '86 and it must have been a hard one. They replaced the the whole firewall, cut the 'a' posts and in the middle of the front floorboard. The replacement firewall came from a '69 4 door. There is a dent in the roof and driver's side quarter from the wreck. The tailshaft of the trans is broke as well the the bellhousing is in several pieces. With this said, the body actually looks straight. Rear quarters have had a piece of metal put in front of the wheels on both sides but other than that they're perfect. Floors, trunk, frame rails, tailight panel are excellent.
The subframe has to be from a donor car and is disc brakes, even think they might be 2 piece rotors. At this point all the interior is out, front clip off, entire wiring harness out, engine and donor saginaw trans is in with just the motor mount bolts. Original odometer reads something over 47,000, believed to be correct..
Buckets are excellent shape, rear seat has a rip and with everything else I have, it's might be easy to put it back together but there is a problem...

When they replaced the firewall, yes they did it , they kept just the cowl tag and threw away the vin tag and hidden vins.
I've talked with the State Highway Patrol that inspects these kinds of cars for replacement vin. They said with a letter from original owner about what happened, numbers matching engine, trans and all the original paperwork I have, there is a good chance I could get a new vin tag made. It would say something to the effect, "VIN Tag issued by State of Ohio" and would have the original vin number on it. They can put it where the original vin goes.

Here's another kicker, the car has to be driveable for them to inspect it.
First thing I have to do is to get the car on a frame machine to see if it worth restoring.

If it is, here's were I'm asking for your opinions.

With a replacement vin tag, numbers matching engine, trans, and all the goodies I have is this car worth restoring.

Will a replacment vin tag and the accident reduce the price so much on the car so much it is not worth restoring.

Look at it from both sides, completely restored (I've got an idea of cost $$) or lots of excellent parts.
Several items are already spoken for if it goes for parts.

Here's the pics but pics can be very deceiving.
I always say there are two easy ways to make something look better, get drunk or take a picture.
http://community.webshots.com/album/413582641wvlFQA

[Bill Pritchard]

Definite parts car. Cut your losses and save yourself a lot of headaches down the road.

[JQ]

I would have to agree.It would be hard to get your money back out of it....

[mockingbird812]

If the car was hit that hard it is doubtful that it is the original engine, however, it might be a numbers matching engine.

Sam