So....What is YOUR opinion on VIN swaps ?

i watch the auction shows all the time and here is what i am seeing regarding "numbers matching" cars.

there are three categories of cars going through the last couple of mecum and auctions america events:

1. "all original" survivor or restored cars that still have the original motors and drive train as shown by the "original" stamped numbers on all the parts. these are the "premium" cars and are bringing the highest prices. they are also the most rare in these auctions. one note of interest - on these "restored" "original" cars, i have never seen one comment made as to how many "non number stamped parts" were used on the body. the commentators ONLY talk about the original motors and drive lines. these cars also generally have substantial original paperwork that follows the entire history of the car. AND these cars are almost exclusively purchased by "serious collectors" for private collections. as such, you can be sure that if there is anything "questionable" about the "authenticity" of THESE cars, the lawyers WILL get involved.

2. restored or survivor cars that have "warranty" or "date correct" engine blocks and "date correct" other stamped parts. these cars are bringing almost as much money as the completely "original" cars noted above. the announcers always talk about the parts that have been replaced by "date correct" parts. there also is no mention as to how many body parts may have been replaced on these cars.

3. "clones" or "tribute" cars that have been "built" to resemble factory muscle or specialty cars using any motor and drive train that the manufacturer might have offered for that model OR drive lines that were available on later model years. these cars are selling for around 30-40 percent of what the "original" cars sell for.

the above categories are developing with all models and vehicle manufacturers and i have seen all three represented at the major car auctions.

finally, if you REALLY want to "get into" the whole VIN number "is it original" universe, go to the Corvette web sites. from what i've seen, the Corvette folks are REALLY into all this "numbers matching" stuff. there are at least three major "national" groups that do nothing but focus on "authenticating" old Corvettes. in one of the Mecum auctions, they actually had a Corvette expert talk for about 5 minutes about how all the production numbers are known and that there are now more 67 427, 435 hp tri-carb Corvettes "registered" than were actually produced by GM. i'm pretty sure there is nothing in the mopar world that comes close to the obsession over numbers the Corvette folks have.