It's ok to "Upgrade!"

 I talked to a customer of mine who wanted a 1968-70 "Bullitt"/"Dukes of Hazzard" Charger.  He found an original, literally one-owner little old-lady low-mileage example, that was unrestored, but well-maintained and had very little rust. And the old lady had no Idea what the car was worth, it was underpriced, if anything. He almost didn't buy it until I slapped some sense into him! His objection? It had a bench seat and a two-barrel carb on the 383!!  "Look, dummy-" I said-ever my tactful self- "You can put a 4bbl carb and intake either factory or aftermarket on in about an hour." "Same if you want bucket seats." "Legendary interiors sells replacements, that look dead-on factory." "Then it wouldn't be completely original." "Who cares?" I said. "Save the old parts in case you ever want to sell the car to someone really anal, and they can put it back if they want." "But don't go pay another five grand for another car that has a "Factory" 4bbl, when you could put an Edelbrock intake and matching AVS carb on this one for $500!!". Another customer of mind voiced the same objection about a really nice 1972 Mustang Mach 1 that had a 351 Cleveland with a two-barrel on it. I told him I'd even install a Performer intake and 600 cfm matching carb for him, and the car would not only run faster, but probably get better gas mileage! And, that he wasn't "Compromising" the value of the car. Same for a guy who hated the awful Muncie shifter on his 327/4-speed 68 Camaro. I told him most people put Hurst Competition Plus shifters in these cars the day after they bought them, and no one would care if he did the same to his. Just save the original shifter, if for some perverse reason a future prospective buyer actually wanted it!!  The same for paint. It's your car-paint it any color you want.  If you sell your now Carousel Red 69 GTO to some "Just as it left the factory type" , he can spend a couple grand painting it Verduro Green again if he wants to! But I wouldn't drive a car painted an ugly color I hated just because it's "Original".  Hope this helps put things in a reasonable perspective. Mastermind