There are certainly a few statements here that I cannot agree with, you wont be supprised to learn
'But this matching numbers rubbish is merely a foible of the rich car collectors; It could go out-of-fashion as easily as it came in'
This is total nonsense. 20 odd years ago, you barely read anything about matching numbers when a car was advertised for sale. Then Ferrari dreamt up their 'Classiche' certification, whereby a car is inspected by an official Ferrari dealership, and verified as have all major components original to the car, or not ! They can do this, because all major components are numbered and listed. Then sellers of lesser makes, cottoned onto the fact that it looks great when selling a car, you mention that the engine no. and possibly chassis are original to it. It has nothing to do with rich car collectors, or even poor car collectors for that matter. It is just seen as a way of achieving the highest price for the vehicle, by the seller. And as for matching nos going out of fashion, trust me, it wont, it is here to stay. Just as sure as picking up a Daytona for ?100k today, it aint going happen.
'A motor mount crack is of no significance except for what it means: endless future repairs resulting in eventual chassis failure'
You cannot possibly state that as a fact. The pictured chassis with crack to the engine mount, is a very early chassis, before they were strengthened in that area, with a double thickness piece of steel where the bolts run through. I have not seen any failures to chassis' with strengthening plates in that area.
'Bragging about having an original factory chassis is about as useful as bragging about having original factory valve guides, and it adds a similar value to the vehicle.
This would be true with a run of the mill tired Elan, that has had 12 owners and covered 180k miles, with a worn out interior. But if you are lucky enough to own Lotus cars that still show one or two owners, are competely original with low miles, say 40k or less, then having an original chassis, IF it is in good order, is a bonus.
Leslie