I found the older FOR SALE posting from the original seller "sfsportscars" If you look at the pics here, you will see the small block engine and the automatic transmission in the listing. The one thing that caught my eye, was the BLACK door pulls (they should have been orange), which is pictured on the car when it was a advertised as a small block with TH350 transmission, as well as the newer listing stating numbers matching big block with manual transmission. This proves that this is the same exact car, but somebody seems to have tampered with the numbers on the big block. Now, maybe I am wrong, and someone bought this car, and somehow, with a lot of luck, was able to fine the original big block engine and original transmission, and installed them into this car...but I have my doubts. You can form your own opinion on the "originality" of this pace car.
Shame on these sellers. I hope they see this and correct their advertisement. If not, I hope the buyers come across this and take action. I represented a client who bought a supposed numbers matching Z28. Lucky for him he had a friend who was into old Camaros and a lawyer, who took legal action on his behalf and got him the value difference between a numbers matching Z28 and a base coupe Camaro with a 302, which was $45,000 back in his pocket and he was able to keep the car. Not to mention, the seller was out of state, but was hailed into the buyer's jurisdiction because he advertised on a medium that extended into it. The seller fought it tooth and nail, and even tried to deny they knew of the falsity, but in the end, it cost him big time. It didn't matter if he knew or not...he SHOULD have, and he advertised the vehicle as "Numbers Matching". I am telling this story in the hopes that it will make all parties realize that this is a serious matter, and if this car is sold in its current state as advertised, there is some serious liability. This is NOT a case of buyer beware. The seller is on the hook if he is sued.