DW, I was thinking the same thought. We do have "all the pieces"". Yet, After reading many of the comments on the Corvette site, I can see how dissention can occur.
What I am reffering to is that someone(group) decides on a standard to judge the cars by and everyone scrambles to make their car conform.
Yet, here on CRG, we kind of celebrate the diversity and realize and document the variances we find. It is a learning process. To say all the cars(insert your year and model) are "cookie cutter" exact would erase what all the years of site research have netted. An example: My 396 car has (had) only one screw holding the RH tailpipe hanger on and only 2 clips holding the muncie speedo cable in place. Although the AIM shows and I know both these details are not in conformance with what is known as correct, I am leaving the car "as found" even if it would cause "points" loss, which has no interest to me. On the other hand, with the flame paint job it had, I am glad there are documented examples of stripes, and other details I can reference, here, on the site.
To summarize: it is good to know how it should be when restoring and also good to keep it unique knowing things were not exact on the assembly line. NCRS, while probably the best organization promoting the Vette, has, or can have, inherent flaws in establishing conformity regarding judging standards.