On an AE86 Corolla GT-S, the Listing Said Limited-Slip. The Axle Code Said Otherwise.
John Lloyd An AE86 Corolla GT-S carries a JT2AE88 VIN, an AE86 firewall stamp and a T282 or T283 axle…
car authentication
On a Torino Talladega, the VIN Says Cobra. The Proof Is in the Rockers, the Shocks and the Paper
Eve Nowell A 1969 Torino Talladega looks like the easiest Ford to authenticate. The nose is long, the grille is…
On a Lotus Elan, Sprint Stripes Prove Nothing. The Date-Coded Chassis Number Does.
Shawn Henry A 1969 Elan S4 in a ClassicCars.com ad wears “Elan Sprint” lettering and a gold bumper. Here is…
On an Alfa Romeo Duetto, Only a 1600 Is a Duetto. Here Is How to Prove It
A 1966 Alfa Romeo 1600 Spider on Bring a Trailer shows how to test a Duetto: type code,…
On an Integra Type R, the VIN Trail Matters More Than the Plaque
Kyle Matthews Integra Type R originality comes down to the VIN trail: body stickers, powertrain tags, window sticker and year-correct…
A 1970 Buick GSX Has No VIN of Its Own. Here’s How to Prove the GSX and the Stage 1
A GSX wears an ordinary GS 455 hardtop VIN, and stripes and decals are easy to reproduce. Here…
On an Austin-Healey 100S, Alloy Panels and Disc Brakes Prove Little. Recreations Have Both.
Recreations copy the 100S’s aluminum body, head and discs. Here are the chassis, body, engine and gearbox numbers…
On an E46 M3 CSL, the Carbon Roof Proves Nothing. The BMW Build Record Does.
A carbon roof, a carbon airbox and a CSL-style trunk lid can all be bought and fitted to…
On a Hakosuka GT-R, Originality Lives in the S20 and the Plate, Not the Flares
A genuine Hakosuka Skyline 2000GT-R is defined by its S20 engine and KPGC10 or PGC10 identity plate, not…
On an 80-Inch Series I Land Rover, a Moveable Plate Proves Little. The Stamped Chassis and Factory Ledger Prove More.
Land Rover Series I originality begins with an uncomfortable fact: on the earliest 80-inch cars, the number most…