Survivor? original? Or numbers matching?

Alright, I'll bite. And these are just what they mean to me, I know they already don't agree with everything that people have already said

Original- means it's just as it left the factory. Maybe with the exception of a few consumable items, but just a few. Everything else is not only numbers matching, but came on this car the day it left the assembly line. Time capsule. Also, this many years later- unobtanium.

Numbers matching- means the engine, transmission, fender tag, VIN, partial VIN stamps are all present and matching. Options are is indicated on the fender tag or build sheet. I personally wouldn't call a car "not numbers" because it has headers, or an aftermarket carb, intake, etc as long as all of the big pieces lined up.

Survivor- I hate this one almost as much as I hate "barn find". Means something different to everyone. To me, it means it's unrestored and wears most of its original stuff, but not necessarily all of it. Especially when it comes to maintenance items. An unrestored driver, for example. Consumables replaced (belts, hoses, brakes, etc) or even exchanged for other stuff, but if big things have been replaced it should't have been recently. Like, I wouldn't sweat a set of keystones or slot mags added in the 70's, or a set of Doug Thorley's of the same vintage, etc, but it shouldn't have a bunch of brand new stuff on it. Paint should be like 85% original. Seen that number tossed around a lot. Same deal, if the fender, or part of the quarter, or a door, was dented and re-sprayed in the 70's or early 80's it would still be a survivor to me. If it had a fender and door Maaco'd last week, nope. Problem with "survivors" is that you can't do much to them. Fix too many things and it's not a survivor anymore. So, really, unless you don't drive it, it won't stay that way. A good car to look for to start a restoration, but one that will just make you feel guilty if you start to change too many things.

Factory correct- This one is for all of those crazy high dollar restorations. Not original, but all of the date codes, options, finishes, etc, are right for that year/make/model, and everything matches up with the documentation and numbers. Actually can get away with not numbers matching in all cases if the date codes are correct- like a warranty block instead of the original engine. Not "original" or "numbers" in all situations, but period correct. It looks the same as if everything was original.

For me, most of this stuff is just annoying. Yes, a couple of my cars are in fact numbers matching (at least as I define it), and a couple of them were probably survivors, wearing their original paint and everything (EL5 GT, Duster) when I bought them. But I like drivers- cars that actually work and are reliable, so that's not really compatible with any of these definitions. Especially when you make them daily drivers, and make the needed upgrades to suspension, brakes, etc to keep up with and out of the way of the modern cars out there. So, although I'm all maxed out on cars, any future vehicles of mine will be NON-numbers. I do like original paint though, just because you know its not a bondo bucket.