Engine Impact to Value

[BroadwayBlue]

This is a non-GT/CS question but a Mustang/Car question in general. I got a lead on a 71 Mach I that's for sale by the original owner.

The initial pictures show the car to be in decent shape. I found out about it 3rd person from someone in my Mustang club.
I am waiting to talk to the owner. I've seen a few picture and a copy of the original invoice from, coincidentally the same Ford dealer I've purchased my last 5 cars from.

Back to the question...

From what I know so far ... the car is supposed to be all original except for the engine.
If I found out the engine was in fact replaced at some point. What do you think the impact is to value (now and in the future)?

I suppose partly it depends on what it was replaced with (same, bigger, etc ...).

Buying from the original owner intrigued me but the engine change makes me wonder. Again I don't know what it was replaced with or if it was definitely replaced.

Any thoughts would be appreciated. Curious to get some thoughts before talking to the owner.

Thanks!!!

 

[CougarCJ]

Depending upon which engine came in the car.

A 302-2V was standard in a 1971 Mach 1. Not terribly special, easy to find and replace.

351C-4V or 429CJ those are much more difficult to replace and have significant value added to the car.

 

[rvrtrash]

Agreed. If it was a 302 or 351-2V, I don't think it would make much difference. If it was a 351-4V or 429, it would impact it a little. The biggest downside is that although the 71-3's had better steering and suspension, they just aren't as popular. I'm a big fan 'cause I "grew up" in one but that's just me.

Steve

('71 Boss 351, 73 Q code Mach 1--next projects)

 

[BroadwayBlue]

I'm still waiting to hear from the owner - he has my number.

All I know is that's an automatic with a 4bbl which to me means it's not the 302 it's at least a 351.

I guess I'm just trying to gauge, assuming the same as original or bigger engine ... does that impact value greatly ... or is it a personal preference thing like a repaint?

Numbers matching carries some weight right?

As soon as I have more info I'll let you know. I know it's tough to assume but just wanted to get a feel.

The asking price I heard was reasonable and in the ballpark of what I've seen 71 Mach I's going for.

Thanks!!!

 

[BroadwayBlue]

Interesting...

this guy says a non-original engine can impact value up to 50% (lower)

That sounds like a lot to me. I guess if you're looking for concours but I know people on this site have swapped out and upgraded engines and I don't think the value of their cars have dropped 50%.

http://www.expertvillage.com/videos/vehicle-appraisal-classic-car-evaluation-engine.htm

part of video transcript...
if you have a 57 Chevrolet and it has the motor that left the factory and that car is easily worth 50% more and maybe even more than that than a 57 Chev that's come out of the factory and had the motor replaced at some time. You get into cars that's an enormously important aspect of those cars, if you have a Dodge Charger that has all of the original equipment or the original motor, everything that is enormous value if that motors been changed some time there again you can affect the value enormously 50% easily, it's reduced in the value of the car often just by the motor not being the original motor in the car. You establish whether or not it's the original motor by the VIN number on the car, by the number on the engine block, they're all labeled you can find whether the numbers match in cars, they're the correct numbers they left the factory and still have the numbers that match what they were in the factory as far as the engine and body on the car

 

[Mustanger]

Interesting...

this guy says a non-original engine can impact value up to 50% (lower)

That sounds like a lot to me. I guess if you're looking for concours but I know people on this site have swapped out and upgraded engines and I don't think the value of their cars have dropped 50%.

http://www.expertvillage.com/videos/vehicle-appraisal-classic-car-evaluation-engine.htm

part of video transcript...
if you have a 57 Chevrolet and it has the motor that left the factory and that car is easily worth 50% more and maybe even more than that than a 57 Chev that's come out of the factory and had the motor replaced at some time. You get into cars that's an enormously important aspect of those cars, if you have a Dodge Charger that has all of the original equipment or the original motor, everything that is enormous value if that motors been changed some time there again you can affect the value enormously 50% easily, it's reduced in the value of the car often just by the motor not being the original motor in the car. You establish whether or not it's the original motor by the VIN number on the car, by the number on the engine block, they're all labeled you can find whether the numbers match in cars, they're the correct numbers they left the factory and still have the numbers that match what they were in the factory as far as the engine and body on the car

...it all depends on your buyer ... until recently, the top-priced BJ auction Mustang was a '67 Shelby GT-500 with non-original color and non-original engine ... the changes were nice, went to black and to a 427, but they were not original to the car ...