Few cars invite closer inspection than a 1963-1967 Chevrolet Corvette. At any show, auction, or cars-and-coffee, someone will eventually lean over the passenger-side fender looking for numbers. There's a good reason: the difference between an ordinary small-block Sting Ray and a documented, original-drivetrain big-block car can be six figures or more.

This guide shows you how to read those numbers, what each one can prove, and where each one stops.

All 1966 Ford Mustangs rolled off the Ford assembly lines complete with a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and a Data Plate. The VIN is stamped atop the driver's side engine bay wall. The Mustang data plate, which is riveted on the driver's side doorjamb, also contains the VIN. These two items provide all the details of how the Mustang was first manufactured — the Mustang's DNA if you will.