I prefer original...but when the dents and rust have to be fixed...you have to paint. My 68 Z/28 RS is a 42,000 mile survivor, the sequoia green paint is long gone, but the white stripes still look good. It has a couple of small dents but no rust. I've noticed people like to look at all the original things just as much as they do the new stuff. I think you can paint a solid car and it looks good, but if you've ever looked at the stripes on a survivor Z, I do not think many painters will take the time or have the knowledge to recreate all the little things I see in my stripes. PS I'm a newbie and this is just my opinion so don't beat up on me!!! Like they say, "it's only original once"!