Are number matching or original components a big deal?

Numbers matching don't mean dick, and here is why.

1) You said that you are building this car primarily for your enjoyment.

2) If or when you do decide to sell the car, AND if you have spent any serious money on it more significant than little pissant **** like fuel pump, oil filter, lightbulbs, fuel filter, oil changes, you WILL be losing money. A car is NOT a financial investment. If you want to grow your capital then put in a mild to wild 401k/ROTH IRA/savings account. With the rule of 72, you will be money ahead.

3) A car is NOT a liquid asset, and you will possibly have to sit on it for a long time trying to sell it. Consider also showroom floor fees, insurance et cetera WILL be eating into your net profit.

I have seen all this in my life. My dad used to restore all kinds of cars, from steam powered horseless carriages to classic cars, custom cars, and modern cars. He won numerous awards and would go to shows and auctions, as a shower, a judge, buyer, or seller.

I remember most pointedly the uptight assholes in the PCA (Porsche Club of America) as the worst of the lot. So ******* obsessed about perfect paint, out there polishing their shifty little bathtub 356 speedsters, roadsters, and coupes. None of those leaky kraut oilcans could even touch a first generation Mazda Miata in the performance department. None of which were fun to drive because you were always worried about a ******* rockchip in the paint or on the windshield.

When I first got my '67 barracuda convertible in 1992, it was ugly as ****, i drove it everywhere and ENJOYED it. After my dad and I restored it, it looked beautiful, but... I hated parking at the grocery store, constantly had to back off any car that jumped in front of me for fear of rocks being kicked up which could chip the paint or windshield, constantly had to wash it because of bugs and pollen...

Now with my '68 fastback, I am building it the way I want, swapping in parts I want and painting it whatever color I want. I couldn't give two ***** about resale value.

How much do you want to drive your car? How much do you want to stress out over your car? Your call.
I agree completely with your post, and that's how i do things these days and why.
I'm also tired of matching numbers, what's it going to be worth after i fix it up, worried about paint chips and scratches, driving the car in the rain, etc etc etc.
Have fun and enjoy it, do the car the way you want, and forget about the money, you'll probably never recoup your investment.
However, with that being said, you should keep the vulgar language down in your posts, this is a family site after all...........