The first question I ask "is it a #'s matching engine?" If not then "is it a Pontiac?" If not then I completely lose interest.
Like you said "different strokes for different folks". I think its the main reason why these cars are so great. Poncho engines are torque monsters compared to similar displacement chebbys. Anyone can just drop a SBC into anything. Lots of beautiful Ford hot rods have (yet another) SBC. They are just too common. (Which is why they are so cheap).
