Meaning of "numbrs matching" opinions please

[Salvatore]

Well I guess I missed that part back in the 80's about people talking about matching numbers. Today matching numbers to me doesn't mean all original to the car. It should but it doesn't to me. It means the numbers all match each other. So I am more aware of that when I look at these cars. The words "matching numbers" can be misleading.

[Hylton]

Just drive the damn things......

[Salvatore]

[ QUOTE ]
Just drive the damn things......

[/ QUOTE ]I like this post the best!!!

[ANDY M]

Hey Sam, you mean like this:

Just love that sound of WOT!
Nothing wrong with numbers, but they can sure hold back performance vs. originality.

The car has been slightly modified since SCR. Had to replace the cam, and get some meat on the new wheels
Can't wait till next year.

[Salvatore]

I love it! I don't race mine but give credit to those who do!! I at least drive it often.

[BARRY]

HI I HAD A COPO CAMARO I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 1978 AND SOLD IT 1998 I DROVE THAT CAR EVERY WHERE I PUT 30,000 MILES ON THE CAR HAD LOTS OF FUN A FRIEND OF MINE SAID YOU SHOULD BUY THAT CAR BACK I SAID NO THANKS I WOULD NOT HAVE FUN BABY SITTING IT CAN YOU IMAGINE 30,000 MILES AT 6 MILES TO THE GALLON

[SS4Real]

Dale McIntosh's opinion as quoted on the Team Chevelle website and the best definition I have seen:

1. Engine block should be original to the car and where applicable, the engine ID and partial VIN of the car should be present and not restamped. All appropriate external equipment should be on the engine. For example, if it came with smog equipment (A.I.R.) then it should have the smog equipment especially if the engine is coded as such.
2. Heads don't have be original to the car but should be of same type and casting dates should be appropriate. Naturally it's easy if the heads are original.
3. Intake should be correct casting number and casting date.
4. Carb, distributor, exhaust manifolds should be correct casting/part numbers and casting dates.
5. Obvious items that are replaced due to wear and tear such as water pump, alternator, p/s pump, a/c compressor, plugs/wires/oil filter etc should be correct type. Rebuilt alternators are available with correct numbers and dates however.
5. Transmission and rear should be original to the car and have the correct ID and casting numbers.
6. I may differ with others on this one but the paint color(s) and interior should match what is on the Fisher Body plate as well. If the car originally was Sierra Fawn for example with tan bench seat interior and has been repainted resale red with black buckets, the car no longer matches the numbers on the body plate.

[Rick H]

[ QUOTE ]
Well I guess I missed that part back in the 80's about people talking about matching numbers.

[/ QUOTE ]

Same here. Through the 70's and 80's I can not remember a time when it was it ever brought up.

Rick H.

[Verne_Frantz]

OK, I wasn't going to add my 2 cents to this, but I'm going out on a limb here..............

It is my belief that it WAS the Corvette people who started this whole mess of "matching numbers". Advertisements for cars for sale that 1st used the term "numbers match" were always for Corvettes. Afterall, they were the only marque of car in the hobby (that I know of) that has a National sanctioning body that allowed (if not encouraged) restamping on components for judging credit. As long as the "numbers matched" and appeared "as original", then FULL judging credit was allowed (and still is to this day!).

Now, as to your original question....... Since the term "numbers matching" has lost it's original meaning and is used by every seller who's found a correctly dated part, when I see that term used, I automatically assume it's a built, made, or bogus car. As others have stated, if the components were ORIGINAL, then that should be the statement.

No one really knows what "numbers matching" means; we all just know what we'd LIKE it to mean... But everyone knows what "Original Driveline" means!!!! No interpretation needed!

Thanks for the chance to vent.

Verne

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

Maybe the NCRS will trademark 'numbers matching' term like they did 'Survivor' - or whatever word it was

I think the consensus is that the meaning has changed with the dollar values, whether we like it or not is irrelevant, so we come up with a new term to describe what was originaly intended: Born With, Original, etc.... Fun stuff eh?