Project car matching numbers

[lyons]

Neighbour looking at project car that does not have matching numbers and is priced accordingly.

Is there a way to search for the original engine as XKE data does not list all engine numbers and are matching numbers worth the extra cost or does it not really matter, as lots of cars had replacement engines at the factory.

[tinworm]

As far as I am concerned it's just a box ticking exercise - check the car has an E-type engine and not a mk2 mk10 or whatever. If you buy cheap you can sell cheap. There are many on here where the numbers are all important and won't buy anything but matching numbers. Still others where the history is the main attraction. The bottom line is if you want an investment to pay you back the most go with matching- if you want to drive it and have lots of fun without worrying buy a LHD/OR conversion/ non matching numbers car.
Thats probably a simplistic view (and my own I may add).

Barrie