gm, recognized the transparent top in 84 was a high theft item. so the started to put the Vin numbers to the vette on the left or right conner of the top. your Vin number on your top should match your Vin number on your vette. that is if it's the original one that came with the car. they did this for all years up. the painted one was not a high thieft item it doesn't have the vin that the vette came with.
Joel Adams
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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"
Like I said my acrylic top is serialized but does not seem to have any relationship to the VIN on the car.