Originality-does it matter?

Restoration is what needs done in those rare cases. But a base model that sat for decades after a couple accidents and stripped of all its bling (so someone else can claim theirs is all original) can either go to Asia and come back as 3 KIAs or get put back on the road as “right” as practical and become a diplomat for a time when durable goods meant something. Anybody risking their correct restorations out here with the cell phone zombies and hot heads?