Re: IML: matching engine numbers

[PAUL WENTINK <randalpark@xxxxxxx>]

Since I have belonged to the IML, I learned that there are no "matching 
numbers' Imperials to begin with, at least not during the late fifties 
through the sixties. There was no correlation between the serial number 
of the car and that of the engine. The engines are numbered for the 
particular year, though, so there could be some negative assessment 
against having the wrong year engine in a car, if anyone knew or cared 
enough about it to find out.

In the case of one of my brand X cars which has it original matching 
number engine, it is important enough to its value that restorers who 
start out with non-matching numbers engines are having the numbers 
ground off and re-stamped to be correct. Most of this make of car lost 
their original engines to alleged upgrades done by owner's and 
restorers in the 1950's. The current renumbering isn't being done for 
fraudulent reasons, as much as for points judging at shows, although 
after a certain point in time, how will someone know whether or not the 
car is an authentic "numbers matching car"? The renumbered engines are 
suppose to have a "tick" mark, but someone might forget to add it with 
some encouragement from a less than totally honest owner. In my case, I 
have the documentation to back it up.

Some of my Imperials have their original engines and some do not. If I 
am still alive when they are sold, I will disclose everything I know. 
Otherwise, the new owner/manager/caretaker will have to figure it out 
for themselves.

Paul W.


-----Original Message-----
From: Chris Strohmeyer <chrisstroh@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Thu, 1 Nov 2007 8:32 pm
Subject: Re: IML: matching engine numbers


I think the engine #'s thing is nostalgia. My car I bought from the 
original owner, I have all receipts back to 67, and I have the original 
sticker, all which is valuable to me in a nostalgia sense (and I 
suppose, a monetary sense). I don't have a pristine car by any means, 
and never will, but in a perfect world I wish I had those matching 
numbers just because it would be the original engine, the heart of the 
car, that went all those nostalgic miles passing through history with 
the same body, and owner. And I was trying to gauge whether not having 
those numbers would be a significant draw down on the price and you've 
answered that I think. 
Thx Kenyon, 
Chris Strohmeyer 
67 Imperial Convertible 
 
----- Original Message ----- From: "Kenyon Wills" 
<imperialist1960@xxxxxxxxx> 
To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> 
Sent: Thursday, November 01, 2007 8:52 PM 
Subject: Re: IML: matching engine numbers 
 
> If it's a better engine than the one it replaced, it 
> increased the car's value, because the car is now 
> better off than it was before, riiiight? 
>  
> The "numbers matching" clap-trap seems to have nicely 
> bypassed Imperials (along with the run to six figures 
> in value that some other Mopar items have achieved). 
>  
> That means that Imperials are not being evaluated with 
> scanning electron microscopes, having books written 
> about them (for the most part), and have not taken a 
> turn into the surreal where they turn into objects 
> d'art that are worshipped and never driven. 
>  
> See "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" with Matthew Broderick 
> for my position on what old cars are for...I'm with 
> the Ferris on this one, although I can't condone the 
> odometer reversal bit. 
>  
> I sat in a 1931 convertible the other day, and all I 
> wondered was what it would be like to drive around in, 
> not how much it's worth or if I could make money if I 
> bought it. Its not for sale and I couldn't afford it 
> anyway if it was, but that's what old cars should be 
> to me - potential experiences. Mutual funds are far 
> better investment vehicles, and far less likely to cut 
> your knuckles open. 
>  
> If you decide to sell your car, disclose what you 
> know, be honest, and let the cards fall where they 
> may. 
>  
> Might be better off not selling to someone that would 
> turn the car down based on some mis-matched numbers is 
> my thought. 
>  
>  
> -Kenyon 
>  
> PS: Isn't that magic engine number totally obscured by 
> the 50lb. air compressor/bracket that's a monster to 
> remove that the car won't work without if you want 
> your alternator to work too? 
>  
> PSS: Why would that "invisible" number matter if the 
> engine were moderately correct? 
>  
> PSSS: You don't trailer your car around in a 
> hermetically sealed bubble and meticulously keep that 
> engine clean enough to lick or anything strange like 
> that, do you? If not, you should be OK. 
>  
> Kenyon Wills 
>  
>  
>  
>  
>  
>  
>  
>  
>  
>  
>  
>  
>  
>  
>  
>  
>  
>  
>  
>  
>  
>  
>  
> __________________________________________________ 
> Do You Yahoo!? 
> Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around 
> http://mail.yahoo.com ;
>  
> ----------------- http://www.imperialclub.com ----------------- 
> This message was sent to you by the Imperial Mailing List. Please 
> reply to mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and your response will be 
> shared with everyone. Private messages (and attachments) for the 
> Administrators should be sent to iml.webmonster@xxxxxxxxx 
> To UN-SUBSCRIBE, go to http://imperialclub.com/unsubscribe.htm ;
>  
----------------- http://www.imperialclub.com ----------------- 
This message was sent to you by the Imperial Mailing List. Please reply 
to mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and your response will be shared with 
everyone. Private messages (and attachments) for the 
Administrators should be sent to iml.webmonster@xxxxxxxxx 
To UN-SUBSCRIBE, go to http://imperialclub.com/unsubscribe.htm ;
 


________________________________________________________________________
Email and AIM finally together. You've gotta check out free AOL Mail! - 
http://mail.aol.com

-----------------  http://www.imperialclub.com  -----------------
This message was sent to you by the Imperial Mailing List. Please
reply to mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and your response will be
shared with everyone. Private messages (and attachments) for the
Administrators should be sent to iml.webmonster@xxxxxxxxx
To UN-SUBSCRIBE, go to http://imperialclub.com/unsubscribe.htm