One of the many questions I constantly get (and love!) is how to decode a Corvette's Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). The VIN can contain some interesting information including Body Style, Engine Size and if the Corvette may be one of a select number of special edition Corvettes. Early Corvette VIN's contained mostly just the body style numbers. Beginning in 1972, the engine option was coded into the VIN, and in 1978, the first special edition Corvette, the Pace Car Replica had its own digit in the VIN.

An interesting website called Decodethis.com has put together a search engine for VIN's that will decode your VIN if it appears in their database. Currently VIN's for 1953-1974 Corvettes are available, with more coming soon. The site is also accessible from mobile phones and PDA's, so if say you are at a show or auction, just tap the VIN into their search and voila! Instant results! The site also decodes Mustangs, Camaros, Firebirds, Chryslers and more.

When making any classic car purchase, knowledge is power. In today's muscle car climate where imitators are cloning Corvettes faster than you can say Dolly, the VIN is where to start the documentation process.

Source: Decodethis.com via Autoblog.com
Photo: CorvetteImages.com

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