There was a case in CA a few years ago, a 1967 Barracuda being sold with a 1968 VIN & title.
The CHPs investigated.
They contacted the NICB with the SO number on the body & they linked it to the original VIN.
The seller had the title & dash VIN seized since they did not match the car & he was given the forms to apply for a state issued VIN since there was no record of the '67 being stolen.
The body numbers are legal identifiers even on the older cars.
