This 1975 7ECA Citabria project began life as a bare fuselage, 10 boxes of parts, a worn out O235, and wood spar wings.  The price was right.  Three years and $50,000 later, I was issued a new data tag by American Champion as a completely restored 2001 7GCAA with a date of manufacture of 21 March 2001.  It took 3 DARs and 1 DER, double checking my work for 8 hours, to give final approval.