Couldn't disagree more. I respect your opinion, but I think you're mixing apples and oranges in your analogy. A clone is a clone (and BTW the GN is too good a car to be a "wannabe")-- but this is a separate issue from the discussion of obtaining the original engine that went with a particular car-- the REAL THING if you will.
Hypothetical question: Say you've got a a genuine Shelby Cobra (now powered with a 350SB from '73 when nobody cared about "matching" numbers). What would you pay to reunite your car with the original 427 that Mr. Shelby shoehorned between its fenderwells when it was new? Nowadays, this would add 50% to the value-- so your $500,000 car just became a $750,000 car conservatively.
I personally know two people in the last year who have paid big bucks to obtain the original numbered blocks to their cars-- one a Hemicuda and the other a Shelby GT-500. And the matching hemi engine and trans were very low 6 figures. I would submit that the TR's are already showing signs of being THE HP Mopars and Shelby Cobras of the '80s! And remember they made THOUSANDS of Shelbys from the Cobras through the re-vinned '69s. But they made only 547 GNX's, and for one year only.
So just because a clone may bring big bucks has nothing to do with the value of a numbers-matching car (that is, original engine, turbo, and tranny all of which are NUMBERED to each X.) It does matter, and it's mattering more each day as the years tick past 20.
As I understand it, the buyer did wisely obtain the original engine, trans, and turbo for #20. This is important-- maybe not for what he plans to do with the car which is up to him for sure-- but at least he recognized the need to keep these critical parts in the corner of his garage for the future.
Only my 2 cents.
Doug
