Which would you rather have?

[Pat M.]

Re: Which would you rather have?

All day long....original engine....

This....

I don't think that anyone is discounting a documented car that has lost its original motor at all. I believe they are simply stating that if they had to choose, then most here would in fact prefer a car with its original motor and no docs vs. a documented car but NOM with myself included. BTW, I would gladly take a 67 L88 that is documented but lost its original engine

....and this.

[Kenneth B.]

Re: Which would you rather have?

I don't think that anyone is discounting a documented car that has lost its original motor at all. I believe they are simply stating that if they had to choose, then most here would in fact prefer a car with its original motor and no docs vs. a documented car but NOM with myself included. BTW, I would gladly take a 67 L88 that is documented but lost its original engine

Thats funny. Back in the day I bought a 68 L-88 with the original engin & tranny but no paper work. I sold it cheap compared to non original ones with paperwork. People were cloning L-88'S right & left so real paper was everything. It's strange that now everyone places so much importence on the motor & its easer to fake than paperwork. I hate to tell you Ken but most of the "ORIGINAL MOTORS" turned up from unexpected places.LOL
KEN

[Michael J.]

Re: Which would you rather have?

Thats funny. Back in the day I bought a 68 L-88 with the original engin & tranny but no paper work. I sold it cheap compared to non original ones with paperwork. People were cloning L-88'S right & left so real paper was everything. It's strange that now everyone places so much importence on the motor & its easer to fake than paperwork. I hate to tell you Ken but most of the "ORIGINAL MOTORS" turned up from unexpected places.LOL
KEN

Agreed!!!! After finding all my car's previous owners and hearing all the stories of at least 3 engines blown and replaced, it was amazing the numbers matching engine suddenly re-appeared in the car when I bought it!

[Patrick N.]

Re: Which would you rather have?

Thats funny. Back in the day I bought a 68 L-88 with the original engin & tranny but no paper work. I sold it cheap compared to non original ones with paperwork. People were cloning L-88'S right & left so real paper was everything. It's strange that now everyone places so much importence on the motor & its easer to fake than paperwork. I hate to tell you Ken but most of the "ORIGINAL MOTORS" turned up from unexpected places.LOL
KEN

Your point is interesting, I think for certain cars, L88's, tankers, air box etc.... I would want both. But if one had to choose based on how the question was presented, the motor would be my poison of choice in this case.

[Kenneth B.]

Re: Which would you rather have?

Agreed!!!! After finding all my car's previous owners and hearing all the stories of at least 3 engines blown and replaced, it was amazing the numbers matching engine suddenly re-appeared in the car when I bought it!

MICHAEL
Your Corvette is the norm. It was cheaper & quicker to change motors than rebuild the original ones.Some people live in a fantasy world & have some fixation about the motor. I guess it's like colors. Green was the most popular color & black the least. Now every one wants Black because it is rare. I wonder how many want one of the most rare C-2,C-3'S which is a base conv. with no radio & 3 speed.
KEN

[Gary S.]

Re: Which would you rather have?

I love an original motor car as much as the next guy. If you have a car that has or had a rare motor, rare options or loaded with options then real paperwork becomes pretty important. Case in point is my 67 red/red headrest 435 I bought two years ago with NOM. Do you know how happy I am to have my tank sticker validated by NCRS. Plus, I went to the former owner's home after he died at the invitation of his daughter who was settling her father's estate and found the original owner's packet with POP and more. With more effort, I found the original owner (because I had the POP) who told me the original motor was replaced under warranty in 1969. Mystery solved! So, in my case, I will take my paperwork on this car over the original motor if I had to chose between one or the other. The paperwork surely gives validity to my trim tag also. My two cents!

[Kenneth B.]

Re: Which would you rather have?

i love an original motor car as much as the next guy. If you have a car that has or had a rare motor, rare options or loaded with options then real paperwork becomes pretty important. Case in point is my 67 red/red headrest 435 i bought two years ago with nom. Do you know how happy i am to have my tank sticker validated by ncrs. Plus, i went to the former owner's home after he died at the invitation of his daughter who was settling her father's estate and found the original owner's packet with pop and more. With more effort, i found the original owner (because i had the pop) who told me the original motor was replaced under warranty in 1969. Mystery solved! So, in my case, i will take my paperwork on this car over the original motor if i had to chose between one or the other. The paperwork surely gives validity to my trim tag also. My two cents!

amen brother!

[Gene M.]

Re: Which would you rather have?

Corvette engines are like *****, only the real thing will do. In both these cases the "art of illusion" does not float my boat. But if you like fakes, fine then you can have them.




.

[Michael J.]

Re: Which would you rather have?

Isn't our hobby a wonderful, diverse, and interesting one. Each person can do what they enjoy and like, and it doesn't take away from others' enjoyment. NCRS allows us all these ways of enjoying our cars, whatever they may be and in whatever configuration and condition. I personally would not walk across the aisle at the judging meets to look at an old, lemon-pealed paint, rusted engine bay, original all the way C2 or C1. But I can see how some would. When I tell people that mine is not the original engine, but it is exactly like the one it was born with, same for the tranny, carbs, alternator, voltage regulator, TI, water pump, radiator, seats, seat covers, dash pad, shifter, carpet, etc. etc. I don't think the vast majority of Corvette lovers care that much. They just like to see these great cars as they looked originally, and having the original engine or anything else is just not that special, but having the owners stories, experiences, POP, tank sticker, window sticker, etc. really is to me at least.

[Jim D.]

Re: Which would you rather have?

I'm fortunate enough to have the original engine AND all documentation from day one but if I had to choose between the two, I'd take the original engine every time.

[William F.]

Re: Which would you rather have?

Original engine IM(not so)HO.I can see the argument of some in this thread about a replacement engine of the same kind as documented by paperwork, but wonder about some of the arguments against original engine; mabe "thou protest too much"???

[Michael J.]

Re: Which would you rather have?

Original engine IM(not so)HO.I can see the argument of some in this thread about a replacement engine of the same kind as documented by paperwork, but wonder about some of the arguments against original engine; mabe "thou protest too much"???

I don't have any arguments against an original engine, just the relative importance of that vs. everything else about the car. I find many other things more important, but that is like beauty, it is in the eye of the beholder and a subjective opinion, obviously.

[William D.]

Re: Which would you rather have?

Original engine - Judges are so good today. Most can spot a restamp!

Bill

[Richard M.]

Re: Which would you rather have?

Thanks everybody that responded, I was surprised by the interest, and both sides have valid points
in their responses. I know in the Aviation world paperwork(logbooks, etc.) seem to carry alot of weight
but then that's another world.

Richard