When hypothetically comparing two otherwise identical documented STAGE 1 cars, what decrease in value do you personally associate with the non-numbers (not born with) engine block?
Are you saying just the block and all the other stage specific parts are there? I know that makes a big difference for a lot of guys. JW
Yep. Block is all that's not there for this poll. But, sorta to your question, what if it is the block and it has been decked or for one reason or another it is not legible? That would almost have to be another poll.
If the numbers are lost due to machine work without pictures to prove or even a video,...it's the same as it having another block,..imo Born with blocks don't hold too much value toe personally,....as long as it's wearing the correct year specific cylinder heads and intake i won't kick it,....the 72+ heads on a 70 ,...nah go on with that noise
But to answer your question,...my number is 10k,..on a car over 50k under 50k I don't see it being of much importance honestly
that’s a pretty reasonable way to think about it in my opinion. Unless it’s a basket case holy grail car like a 70 S1 4 speed convert and you are thinking about value after a concours resto… but even then, 10K at the end of the rainbow might be the difference in value anyway..
Brian- on my stage... Has the born with carb, distributor, heads, etc.. Block was replaced @ 10,000 miles, under warranty.. And I have the receipt for this work, and the date codes (on the block) are correct to the month/year... How does that impact value? 10%?
IMHO, as the years go by for these cars, it becomes less and less important to MOST, the people that REALLY care are getting older (as we all are) or are dying off. If you know it’s original, that’s great, but I’d say most admirers don’t care or are concerned, if they ask, just say yes, it’s all original, numbers matching. A potential buyer, IF your plan is to sell, then I’d be concerned, and be upfront when selling. They’d probably pull it anyway and LS it.
I don’t value #’s as much as some guys but I still consider it more valuable by 10%-20% or more, something about unmolested appeals to me. Just like I value originality over modified and a Survivor over a restored as long as condition is there, and low mileage over lots of miles but again condition is a factor.
When I bought my 1970 455 GS, it was advertised as matching numbers car with a 3.42 differential (from two different Classic car dealerships). I bought it in 2021, unseen except for pics and it was restored by a Super Restoration Expert (2010) who is a V8Buick member. I had help from a V8Buick member finding this car and another member who inspected the car for me. BIG thanks to members of V8Buick forum, you guys are the BEST,,,, I did not care if it was matching numbers car. However, I was not happy when I discovered the engine block was mis-stamped. I have since learned this is NOT unusual. I had Sloan Museum document the Buick. After I found the block mis-stamped, I when back to Sloan (with pics) and asked if there is any way they might be able to verify it is the correct engine for my car. They took the pics and after enlarging them, they said they were pretty sure the engine is correct to my car. So, I have an email from Sloan stating it is a matching number engine. However, it amazes me that the build sheet does not list the engine block number. Apparently, there is no paper documentation that I know of that identifies the engine to the car, except what is on the engine block, and if that is screwed up, good luck trying to prove the engine is original to the car. The car was not decked so the SR stamp is still in place. Back to the differential. I had the differential pulled for a rebuild, and found it was NOT a 3.42 as advertised, but a 2.93 Posi. How is it, two different Classic car dealerships advertise the car having a 3.42 differential? Are they just going by what the owner says it is? My build sheet only says "OK" where the differential is ID'ed. Car built at the Leeds plant. I found the OK stamp on the axle tube but also found the casting number on the differential housing. I sent the casting numbers to JD Race, he confirmed it is a 8.2 BOP with a 2.93 Posi. Disapointing because I really wanted a 3.42 Posi Since my Buick is a streetcar, it does get better gas mileage, but full performance torque is minimized. Bottom line, I love my 70 GS and I don't ever plane to sell it. When I die, my wife can sell it. If nothing matched, I don't care, the car is beautiful and I get a LOT of, WoW's, Love your car, "WHAT IS IT". LOL
I must be weird, because I'm 74 and that's old to me LOL. This is my "First" Buick but not my first muscle car. I guess what I'm trying to say, number matching isn't a big deal to me because I don't ever plan to sell it or flip it. I have been looking for a Buick like this for years. I would have LOVED to buy a Stage 1 BUT, my pockets are NOT that deep. Now if I was young and I wanted the car to raise in value SO I could upgrade to a Stage 1, then number matching WOULD be a big deal. At my age, that's not going to happen. VET (Navy)
