Originality vs. value discussion

[Sicklyscott]

I know there's a marketplace discussion but this forum gets more traffic and I'd like a good sample of opinions.

At what point is originality thrown out the window when it comes to value of a car?

I have a 1980 SC with metal turbo flares welded on. The car has Recaro seats and a couple other modifications, most of which are easily reversible (except the rear flares). I was thinking about going one step further and doing a long hood conversion with TRE parts. I don't think this adds anything to the value of the car (unless the right buyer comes along) but on the other side of the coin I don't want it to detract from the value. Originality is important but this car already isn't original. Do I take it to the next level and do a '73 RSR style clone or do I keep the mods easily reversible and go for a '74 IROC clone?

I really don't want this to be a cost of conversion discussion or a "do what you like" discussion, looking more for an interpretation of the used Porsche market and how it has progressed and will continue to change. Will impact bumper cars be as haloed as the long hoods are today? Will people be doing restorations to get rid of the long hood look as we're seeing some original long hoods being converted back today?

I'm curious to hear your thoughts on my ramblings.

[Matt Monson]

Very nicely backdated cars are selling for more than decent driver condtion SCs these days. It's the half baked ones that seem to sit and languish. Buyers want an all original or they want something that's completely done.

[metzger]

Hard to say what will be, but with your car already having 930 flares you're not going to sell to someone who wants an all original show piece. The well done backdated cars are bringing substantial amounts of money over their impact bumper counterparts. Maybe that will change 20 years from now, but you've still got an unoriginal turbo-look car. If you're really worried about value, save your original parts and use a longhood hood skin over an SC frame so you don't have to modify the latch location.

I'm all for it. Have fun.

Also note that I do not have a Porsche listed in my signature.