Survivor? original? Or numbers matching?

This post has been triggered by another post I started and I thought it might make for an interesting subject.

I was in search for some era correct parts for a survivor car I have. Some people said it would not be original even if I got the correct part. ( no vin on the part 1970 340 exhaust manifolds with correct part # and date code)

I understand that all original would be defined as a vehicle with all original parts that came from the factory when built.

So what would a "numbers matching" car be? I understand that the body, fender tag, build sheet, engine, trans, and possibly rear end would have matching vins. But if a car had all those parts matching, but NONE era correct manifolds. Would it be classified as numbers matching? I would say no.

Let's say the same car had all original numbers matching engine, trans, body, fender tag build sheet, but the manifolds were missing. And the owner found correct date coded manifolds. Would the car then be numbers matching? I would say yes. But I have sensed some people would disagree because it didn't come from the factory with those manifolds. Even though they are correct part numbers and date codes.

So the question is...is there a difference between numbers matching and all original?? I would say Yes...but I can't figure out why, because the definition is almost the same. Thoughts?

That being said...what's the difference with all original and survivor?

I feel that all original could be a restored car with all original parts that came with or would have come with, from the factory. ( because it was restored, better condition era correct parts could have been swapped out as long as engine, trans, body, fender tag and build sheet stay the same). Even manifolds could be replaced with proper date coded and part numbered ones. Would this car be original???

Survivor would be all original parts unrestored, original interior/exterior and numbers matching engine trans body fender tag and build sheet. Unrestored.

So if a I had a survivor numbers matching engine, trans, body, fender tag, rear and build sheet vehicle, that is ONLY missing exhaust manifolds. And the I finds correct ones with correct date codes and part numbers...is that car original survivor? Numbers matching survivor? Numbers matching all original survivor? Or still just a survivor?

What if it did have the original manifolds and everything was numbers matching but the dome light cover was missing? Would I be able to replace it with a correct one and call the vehicle all original? Or numbers matching?

How big does the replacement part have to be for it NOT to be classified as an original Or numbers matching vehicle me anymore??? I would think it's just any one of those parts with a corresponding vin on it. Thought???

Lots to take in on this one...

End of the day...it's what you want to do and what you wish to call it I guess. Not that it really matters to me. All my cars are junk compared to most anyways. The mopar croud is defiantly the most judgmental car ground out there though.

Thanks.