Does a different shell affect the value of a restored car?

[MnSL]

I have a 69 280SL and am just now restarting a restoration that was stopped 20 years ago.  (Amazing how a new bundle of joy puts a damper on the garage time!! ).

When I started the restoration the original car had lived a hard life in state full of salted winter roads.  Due to the amount of rust on the original body shell's structure, it was deemed more economical to just replace the shell than repair the rust.  I transferred the main data plate, but the frame rail number doesn't match.
1) Did I screw up the value? 
2) How does the group handle the shell number discrepancies?  Full disclosure?  Cut out the old frame rail number and weld it in the "new" shell?  Etc. etc.
3) What is the honest and approved solution?

BTW - The restoration will be very nice driver - not a concurs.

Thanks!!
MnSL

BTW - I just joined the group last night.  (Thanks to Brian at Motoring Investments!)  I like the tenor of the forum and posts.  Sounds like a great group.

[Benz Dr.]

Your car is now the new shell and the old one doesn't matter at all. If you don't have a title for this new shell you need to get one.  Cutting out the old VIN number is a serious offense where I live.
The value is in the quality of the restoration and not which car you have per say. If the car is an auto then it's probably best to stick with that but it's not carved in stone.

Don't play around with VIN numbers and get caught in some sort of fraud.

[abe280SL]

When I bought my sl...I didn't even check vin/matching numbers.  Didn't care. I find the sl owners care a little but not that much.  Go to the Porsche 356 site and everything is about matching numbers. The bmw e9 site (68-73 coupes)...there are so few of those cars and upgrading makes such a big difference that no body really cares...everyone wants a 5 speed transmission in those cars even if they never built one originaly.  Just funny how different owners deal with the vin/numbers game. Unless, you plan to take this car to Pebble Beach... I don't think most people care as long as you do a great restoration and documented properly.

IMHO
abe

[Mark280SL]

Your first move should be to check with your local motor vehicle agency and be sure you are not altering anything with numbers in such a way that will be a legal violation. Why find out down the line you have a major problem that could cause you big headaches.

That said matching numbers are a very big deal to some people and in the high end market will allow a car to attain the top prices, many looking for the high end cars or even the lower end ones will not buy or even consider a car that does not have matching numbers, some other folks don't worry as much.

Just because a car has matching numbers it doesn't  mean it is a better caliber or quality car then one that does not, in fact it could be quite the reverse, it simply means the vehicle has all its original major components it left the factory with and that carries a value in the market to some people be it with our cars or any other.

[MnSL]

Thanks for advice.

Sounds like I have two challenges:
1) Check with my DMV about the legal aspects of the switch.  (Luckily, my state allows for untitled cars to titled with proper documentation as it will be nearly impossible to find the title information from 20 years ago.  I also went through the titling process with a race car that I wanted to drive on the street.  It went surprisingly well.)

2) Since my car will be a driver, I'm not going to worry too much about the number matching concurs enthusiast or missing out on the six figure Barret Jackson bids  - my car shouldn't appeal to them.  The car will be a very nice quality restoration I can happily sell to another driver type buyer.

Thanks again,
MnSL

[Benz Dr.]

I'm not taliking about matching numbers which means almost nothing for our cars. I'm talking about having your VIN number match your ownership or title information. Regardless of how you do it, the number on the chassis HAS to match the VIN number on your paperwork. Believe me, it makes a difference to people like the DMV, police, customs and other authorities of that nature.

[MnSL]

Benz Dr.,

I completely understand.  I'm sorry I didn't state that clearly enough in my reply.  I should have mentioned I will work with my state to make sure all the body and data tags match and will be correctly indicated on a title. 
In order to do that I will need to retitle the car under the data plate of the new shell.  Hopefully that will be fairly easy in my state - since that is exactly what I did with my race car. 

I WILL NOT do something illegal.  No way no how.  I sleep better at night knowing I'm doing the right thing.

Thanks for highlighting that.  Much appreciated!

Can't wait to get started!!

Take care,
MnSL