To Restore or Not to Restore

I guess, bottom line, what would make you the happiest? Really?
These cars were made to be modified when they were new, nobody thought about collectability at all. They were the basis for modification.
A lot of you purists may shudder at my response, but that was the facts back in the day.
Many people might not know that the prototype for the factory race hemi Barracudas that are so sought after these days was actually a 383 car to start with.....a "mule" so to speak that they happily yanked the engine out of and "butchered" it to make the hemi fit and the rest of the car modified as they saw fit with no regard for originality at all.
Most people fawn over it and say it was cool and great these days. They never cared about if the engine blew up or original parts got cut out or anything. It was just a car back then, and it's cooler now because of it's heritage.
Have a look at the original hemi, big block, 340 etc. cars that Sox&Martin, Dick Landy, Arlen Vanke, Petty, etc. modified/hacked for racing back in the day! Unthinkable now!
Or is it?
My real opinion is, you have owned the car for a long time, and what would you have done in the '80s when nobody cared? Why are you so concerned about what other people think about what you do with the car now? Has Barrett Jackson really entered into your mind as far as the resale value is concerned, or are you building the car for yourself?
It's your money, your time, your dream.
Do what you need to do to make yourself happy, and screw what everyone else thinks.
If it was a low mile survivor car, all original and complete, with original paint etc. then i say don't modify it, restore it.
If you're worried about it, buy a slant six car with a good body and go to town! Then sell your car as a restoreable rare 383 car to help finance the build.
It takes a man to restore a rare car, it takes a real man to cut one up!
JMHO,
Start the hate mail a comin'!
Tom.