It's not original Part Two

I've always been a "Whatever floats your boat" kind of guy, but I get sick of concours enthusiasts turning up their noses at other people's cars that are quite nice, but aren't "Just as it left the factory." I'll say again, for the cheap seats, -THESE WERE CARS PEOPLE! That people used for daily transportation. No one knew that 40 years in the future their would be a "cult-like" following and buying frenzy. If you had a new Mustang GT right now, would you keep it totally stock for the next 30 years?  Chances are you'd add a Hurst shifter, a K&N air filter, a cat-back flowmaster exhaust, or maybe some aftermarket tires and wheels. Even if you didn't modify it, it wouldn't be totally original. Here's a scenario-even brand-new cars have items that aren't covered under warranty. Let's say your Mustang blows a radiator hose on Friday night. Are you going to go to your local Autozone or Pep Boys store and get a replacement, or would you park the car until Monday and go to the dealer and get a genuine Motorcraft hose and clamps?  The battery goes dead the 3rd winter you have it. Are you going to buy a "Die Hard" battery for $89 or go to the dealer and pay $180 for a genuine Motorcraft one? When you get your oil changed at Jiffy Lube or Les Schwab tire, guess what? They use Purolator or Fram or Pennzoil oil filters, not Motorcraft. They use Pennzoil or Chevron, or whoever supplies them with oil, not Motorcraft brand oil. This is what the original owners of these cars did in the '60's and '70's. When the car was out of warranty and something broke, they went got a cheap replacement part. If a guy had say a 68 383 Road Runner in 1975, and the engine spun a main bearing, or threw a rod, chances are the owner wouldn't go to the dealer and demand an absolute factory rebuild. He'd go to a junkyard and buy a used 383 or maybe even a 400 or 440 out of a wrecked Dodge Polara or Chrysler Imperial or other "big" car that no one cared about. 30 years hence, in 2005, some collector is pissed because this otherwise great car doesn't have the original engine. Like I said before anyone who even thinks of cutting up the trunk of a Hemi "Cuda for wheel tubs needs to be summarily executed. On the other hand, An SS396 Chevelle is not "Ruined" because it has halogen headlights, radial tires, an HEI distributor, and an Edelbrock Performer intake manifold and matching carb. I'm all for the preservation of the breed, but when I'm checking the oil on my car at a gas station I don't need some jerk telling me I have the wrong kind of hose clamps!!!  Mastermind