GET IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT

Whether you're interested in a 1929 Duesenberg or a 1970 Camaro, it pays to do your homework before paying big money for a classic car. Here are some tips:

Educate yourself. Read books on classic cars. Or go online --there are entire sites dedicated to some of the more popular models.

Check the paperwork. Cars leave a long trail of paper in their wake -- registration and title documents, repair bills and so on. Gather as much of this as possible and try to verify what you can.

Check the numbers. If the car is a genuine original, serial numbers, the vehicle identification number and other identifiers should all jibe. That doesn't guarantee authenticity because the numbers can be faked. But nonmatching numbers are a tipoff that at least part of the car isn't original.

Inspect the car. If you're buying a car in your local area through an online site or newspaper, it's worth the money to go see it, or to pay someone who's in the area to check it out for you.

Make calls. If the seller claims the car was owned by a little old lady in Pasadena who drove it only on Sundays, track her down and talk to her. And call her neighbors.

Consult the experts. Local classic car clubs can be a great source for expert advice on the car you're interested in. For really expensive cars, consider hiring a professional authenticator.

More than just a random series of digits and letters, serial numbers, vehicle identification numbers (VINs) and other automotive fingerprints provide a peek into a car's history. The VIN above was lifted from a 1963 Chevrolet Corvette, as decoded by car detective Colin Comer. Here's what the numbers mean, from left to right:

• 3=1963

• 08=Corvette 8-cylinder

• 37=Coupe

• S=St. Louis production plant