MTK's dad in law 550A project
 

here it is originally, on the track in Riverside CA circa 1960
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...tachment-6.jpg

he is having it restored all numbers matching, should be done by the end of this year

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...chment-2-1.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...chment-3-1.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...CK/Photo-1.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...CK/Photo-2.jpg

have you taken any recent pics of it? that thing is sweet. pretty penny too.

more pics next week

Awesome. Can't wait to see the finished car. Is it local?

the midworst, but i'm sure it'll be concours level, maybe a future pebble beach?

i'm feeling lazy but what does 'numbers matching' mean?

if i get some rust-bucket w/ a fender w/ a rusted hole and a missing headlight. i assume i could get the fender fixed and it would remain 'numbers matching'? what do you do about misc things like headlights, bad interior plastic/leather/etc?

a quick school lesson would be appreciated...

- chuck

first off the car belonged to Jack McAfee . . .
Jack McAfee - Sports Car Racing

A numbers matching car is a car in which the engine and transmission are marked with the same sequence number as the chassis VIN number.

This number is called "the partial VIN code". Since all these parts & numbers match, they were installed at the time the car was built, and the car can be confirmed as original from this standpoint.

The rearend is almost never marked with the VIN. It will have a date code on it which needs to correspond with the vehicle that's being checked. For example it can't have a date on it from AFTER the car was assembled.

Jack McAfee = Porsche racing legend!!! :respekt:

When done, this 550A is going to be a real treasure. :bow:

Following up on MTK's response... if you are interested in vintage auto's, its one of the first and most important questions worth asking, and can make a material difference in prominence and valuation premium. As he mentions, its typically the serial # stamped on the chassis, certain body panels, and the engine... tells you that "this is as it was born, all original"... or not.

Ok n00b question but if it adds so much to the value of the car, why not stamp a matching serial # on the panels etc. if you can't find all the original parts. Some people are probably only interested in cashing the premium wich comes with an all numbers matching car.

MTK: :coolpics: