More advice on "Weirdos!"

I want to clarify what I meant in the last post. I talked about cars with weird options and maybe gave the impression that you shouldn't buy them. What I meant was don't pay top dollar for something weird-i.e.-a 442 "Turnpike Special" with a 265 hp 2bbl 400 Olds engine, an automatic and 2.93 rear end is not worth anywhere near what a W30, 4-speed 3.91 geared model is, even though they may be equally rare! In 1980-81 because of smog laws there were actually a few Corvettes built with 305s instead of 350s. Just because there's fewer of them than there are L88 427 models, doesn't make them worth anywhere near what an L88 is worth!!  Get the picture? That aside, if you run across one of these "Factory Freaks" and the price is reasonable-then by all means buy it. I know two people who found happiness doing this. One guy found a 1967 GTO with the two-barrel step down engine. For some reason this car also had factory air, and the optional Hurst Dual / Gate shifter and console for the TH400. ( Why do you need a ratchet shifter with a 2bbl engine?)  He put a 4bbl carb and intake on it as well as headers and a cam, and he's happy. The other guy ran across a 1970 Monte Carlo with a 350 and a factory 4-speed. ( This was an option, not many were sold). He replaced the balky Muncie shifter with a Hurst Competition Plus, and built a stout 350, and painted it like Junior Johnson's Nascar racer. "But it's rare and you ruined it!" Some people wail. I have to agree with the guy-He said-"If it was an SS454 with a 4-speed, I'd have restored it dead-stock concours style because it might be worth a lot if I ever wanted to sell it."  "But 350 Montes are the proverbial dime a dozen, and very few people care if it has a 4-speed, and not enough to pay any real money for it." "I only bought it because it was a steal."  That's the attitude to have. I know a guy who bought a six-cylinder, 3-speed 1969 Camaro at an auction for $900. A mild 350 and a saginaw 4-speed and some paint later, everyone "Oohs" and "Aahs" over his "Z/28".  Total cost-$3,500!!  Yeah it's a fake, but try to touch even an engineless,basket-case "Real" '69 Z/28 for $3,500!!  See what I'm saying?  A "Freak" may be a decent buy, but be careful. Mastermind