When was the last production day for C-Bodies?

[Carmine]

Gentlemen,

If you would ever like to make a day pass like 5 minutes, I'd caution against this. Unfortunately you have to be there in-person:

Detroit Newspaper Search | Detroit Public Library

Three Search Options

1. Come to the Main Library and conduct the search yourself with some guidance from library staff. There's no charge except for printing.
2. Complete the Newspaper Search Request form and have the search conducted by library staff for a fee. Search results will be mailed to you.
3. Engage an independent researcher.

When I was researching my Sundance Polara, I used this magical resource. Basically enter any word or phase you'd expect to find in an article on the subject and if it ever appeared in print, you'll see it in a few seconds. Of course you can narrow it by date.

In my opinion, the odds are good you'll find an article on the subject. Back when we had newspapers vs. advertising pamphlets and sensationalized opinions, this city had very good journalism. Naturally the auto industry was covered in great depth. Keywords I'd search for within the month of June would be "Chrysler, Jefferson, New Yorker, layoffs, UAW, Plant Manager, retool"

I was able to conclude my Sundance research fairly quickly after reading coverage of the 1973 Auto Show (which I didn't realize was held in November of the prior year back then, it's been in January my whole adult life and soon moves to June). Because I was already there, I just started looking up random things, like the address of homes I own, my name, relatives names, etc. It's definitely one of those toys that can suck up a day if you love history.

I'd gladly take a shot, but I have no idea when I could spare the time. I'd say the odds of finding an actual VIN are low, but I'll bet the last scheduled date of production is in there along with other fun details. While I do have friends with higher Chrysler seniority dates than my own birthday, those who worked at Jefferson have either gone to the big assembly plant in the sky, or I've fallen out of touch over the years.

 

[1978 NYB]

I still can't believe that Chrysler doesn't know anything or at least have a picture of the last C body coming off the assembly line. You would think they would of made a big deal out it.

I bet the local newspapers probably had a picture of the lot C-Body coming off the line tht du on the front page. It probably impacted a lot of people at Jefferson.

 

[commando1]

Maybe the invisible 392 mile NYB is it.

 

[1978 NYB]

Maybe the invisible 392 mile NYB is it.

Maybe.....

Wasn't the last VIN 183514

He said the last 4 on this car is 3615

 

[commando1]

Maybe.....

Wasn't the last VIN 183514

He said the last 4 on this car is 3615

Where did the 3514 come from?

 

[1978 NYB]

Where did the 3514 come from?

Bill Watson came up with 183514 as the last Formal built.

 

[LeBaron1973]

Were the cars built in sequence order? I recall Studebaker stored bodies and they weren't manufactured in numerical order, did Chrysler do the same?

 

[69CoronetRT]

Were the cars built in sequence order? I recall Studebaker stored bodies and they weren't manufactured in numerical order, did Chrysler do the same?

No. See post 157.

 

[LeBaron1973]

Ok, where are the post numbers, I can't see any, maybe I need to change my preferences? Thx for the information.

 

[Dobalovr]

Ok, where are the post numbers, I can't see any, maybe I need to change my preferences? Thx for the information.

Turn your phone sideways John then you see the entire post with numbering

 

[LeBaron1973]

Thx Graham.

 

[commando1]

Turn your phone sideways John then you see the entire post with numbering

Not working...

 

[Dobalovr]

Not working...

View attachment 260533

 

[PeugFra]

The last VIN we thought was 183514 and this car is 183615.
This car is 101 cars past the last VIN we thought was the last.
Maybe this isn't the last car produced either???

Up until now the reasoning was: 83,514 cars produced at the East Jefferson plant, so the last VIN/SPN has to be 183514.

The assumption that the last VIN of a given production year is directly related to the total number of cars produced can no longer be correct. The VIN space is larger than that number, probably because some VINs never appear on production cars, for reasons beyond my knowledge.

This is sad news for all who are engaged in the quest for the last C-body ever produced. We just don't know when we are dealing with the latest series of VINs, because there could always be one or more still higher VINs somewhere out there.

Looking for information in 1978 publications is probably the better way to solve the mystery of the last production day for Chrysler C-bodies.

 

[69CoronetRT]

......because some VINs never appear on production cars, for reasons beyond my knowledge.

This is sad news for all who are engaged in the quest for the last C-body ever produced. We just don't know when we are dealing with the latest series of VINs, because there could always be one or more still higher VINs somewhere out there.

Orders from dealers were cancelled after VINs were assigned.
Orders to dealers could have been canceled due to lack of payment or credit after VINs assigned.
Cars couldn’t/didn’t meet quality control after assembly and were scrapped.
Tentative in house orders (sales bank) cars were scheduled to be built but cancelled as outside orders came in.

There could be many reasons why VINs were assigned but not used. Meaning.....trying to determine a VIN number based on a possibly inaccurate shipping or production number is a bit dicey.

You can only document what you can document... meaning you can only go with the highest VIN, or latest door sticker or documentation you can find. Unless and until detailed factory records surface, Anything else is just guessing.

 

[Dobalovr]

Orders from dealers were cancelled after VINs were assigned.
Orders to dealers could have been canceled due to lack of payment or credit after VINs assigned.
Cars couldn’t/didn’t meet quality control after assembly and were scrapped.
Tentative in house orders (sales bank) cars were scheduled to be built but cancelled as outside orders came in.

There could be many reasons why VINs were assigned but not used. Meaning.....trying to determine a VIN number based on a possibly inaccurate shipping or production number is a bit dicey.

You can only document what you can document... meaning you can only go with the highest VIN, or latest door sticker or documentation you can find. Unless and until detailed factory records surface, Anything else is just guessing.

Same holds true today. As we get closer to model buildout FCA will cancel assigned VINs for cars they can’t get built in that model year. They will re-order the vehicle as the next model year and re-VIN it for the correct year

 

[commando1]

First and foremost, usually the last model of any long standing nameplate gets a PR photo of it at the end of the assembly line with a bunch of brass hats.
Never seen one for any 1978 Formal.
No news release, no docs, no nuttin.
I think they didn't care so we'll never know.

 

[Mr C]

First and foremost, usually the last model of any long standing nameplate gets a PR photo of it at the end of the assembly line with a bunch of brass hats.
Never seen one for any 1978 Formal.
No news release, no docs, no nuttin.
I think they didn't care so we'll never know.

As far as I know it was never done with the last 75 Imperial either...I read in WPC news in the 80's that it was a black on black 4 dr with red interior...I seem to recall the VIN was mentioned too. Never saw a pic of that car.

 

[commando1]

As far as I know it was never done with the last 75 Imperial

To me, that is damn close to immoral on Chrysler's part.
Chrysler executives in the mid seventies just didn't give a **** anymore and were just sucking on the company's teat hoping for a golden handshake early retirement buyout.

 

[PeugFra]

As far as I know it was never done with the last 75 Imperial either...I seem to recall the VIN was mentioned too.

The VIN of the last 1975 Imperial produced was YM43T5C182947 and its date of manufacture was June 12, 1975 (from an article in Collectible Automobile). It was not the highest VIN, as YM43T5C182952 also existed.