"clones"

I worked for a restorer about 20 yrs ago who used to graft several donors together to get a #matching car. They were 1958 Pontiac Bonneville convertibles. Most of them were so rotten they had to be "rebodied". Since every conceivable part that came on a Bonne was replaced on the doner body including the vin at what point did it become a clone or was it acceptable if all the #'s still matched. If memory serves on some older cars number matching meant the casting dates were in close enough proximity to the build date if engine blocks and tranny's were not serialized. Many have re-serialized blocks with correct casting dates. Is it right to do that? I would not do it . I think the real stigma that has haunted "clones" is they are inferior to the original because they are always lacking some ingredient like proper brakes or suspension that would have come with that hot engine. Slapping decals on a car does not count as a clone to me unless it has ALL the hardware to go with it. I did not work the sales end of his car business so I don't know how he disclosed anything but nobody ever complained about anything he sold them as the cars were "Hershey" quality restorations.

I think what you need to remember when you are building a car is to build it the way you want it. That is what the factory did if you bought it new. A slant six car did not start out life any different than a 340 did until the factory bolted in the k-member. A clone can be just as desireable(but less valuable) as one that is has all it's papers in order and is "pedigreed" if it is packing the hardware the factory intended it to have.

A car is only original once anyway, once you take it apart and restore it's not original anymore, numbers matching or not. There is nothing wrong with building a slant six car into a v/8 car as long as you are willing to disclose it when you part with it.

If you want a trailer queen that is not to be driven go for pedigree, if you want something you can drive than you should go on condition and quality of build. My Goldduster360 is way more desireable than the slant six car it once was. Mine would be pretty easy to spot as I think the vin gives it away as a /6 car. It's a hobby, just pick one to your liking and enjoy it. It's still ok to be picky though:)