VINs and plates
Identification changes with the era
WWII dash plates, Willys and Kaiser serial tags, AMC body codes, Chrysler build records, and modern 17-character VINs require different rules and sources.
A modern VIN rule cannot decode a CJ-2A
Pre-1954 serial numbers, manufacturer-specific formats through 1980, and standardized 17-character VINs are separate schemes.
Tags describe different things
A serial plate, certification label, body code plate, build sheet, and Monroney label are related evidence, not interchangeable names.
No decoder ships yet
The research is not ready for a rule-backed public decoder. The first release explains the eras without guessing at individual vehicles.