When was the last production day for C-Bodies?

[PeugFra]

This was the decisive tip-off:

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
...
Keywords I'd search for within the month of June would be "Chrysler, Jefferson, New Yorker, layoffs, UAW, Plant Manager, retool"

Using another search interface I found an article by Louis M. Heldman entitled "Chrysler’s Jefferson plant gets a new life" (Detroit Free Press, October 31, 1978, page 16). It reports on the start-up of truck production at the plant. There it says:

"The plant produced its last cars on June 24, when Chrysler Corp. ceased production of the large C-body Newports and New Yorkers it was building there."

So we should look for cars whose MDH starts with 0624.

 

[LeBaron1973]

According to this Hemmings article from dec 6 2018, this car was supposed to be the last 78 New Yorker- it sold in Augusta Georgia and was originally ordered by Bill Pettit of Pettit Chrysler in Louisa VA, who did not sell it until 2001. If this truly"is" the last car it's good that it has survived.

Https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2018/...8-chrysler-new-yorker-brougham/comments-block

 

[LeBaron1973]

Furthermore, considering the successful recent search for the New Yorker located in Las Vegas, this "Pettit" New Yorker shouldn't be too hard to locate to verify the various numbers.

 

[PeugFra]

That would be absolutely necessary! The Hemmings text only says "6-78 production date on the door sticker", but to my mind that is not enough to earn a car the title "one of the last C-bodies produced" or "possibly the last C-body produced". Only cars produced on June 24, 1978 can claim that honor.

 

[LeBaron1973]

Indeed it will be necessary as the ads will only say 1978, fortunately hemmings mentioned the month. Perhaps they have a record of the dealer from whom more inquiries can be made???

 

[GregG48203]

the last model of any long standing nameplate

The problem with this scenario is that 1978 wasn't the last "New Yorker". And if you're going to put marketing resources into a particular model, it makes more sense to spend it on a new model introduction: the 1979 R-body.

 

[PeugFra]

Playing around with my new toy I also found something on Belvidere for the 1977 model year:

"CHRYSLER CORP. says it will start production of its Dodge Omni and Plymouth Horizon mini-cars on schedule this month and is expanding facilities for building Chrysler LeBarons and Dodge Diplomats. The No. 3 carmaker said its Belvidere, Ill., plant, closed since July 15 for conversion, will reopen Nov. 21 with a work force of more than 4,000."
(Detroit Free Press, November 4, 1977, page 12)

The last production days of the C-bodies are:

June 12, 1975: LeBaron
July 15, 1977: Gran Fury, Royal Monaco, Town & Country
June 24, 1978: Newport, New Yorker Brougham

 

[LeBaron1973]

The problem with this scenario is that 1978 wasn't the last "New Yorker". And if you're going to put marketing resources into a particular model, it makes more sense to spend it on a new model introduction: the 1979 R-body.
View attachment 261104

Yes indeed, I should have said the last C-body New Yorker.

Seems our Dutch friend has located the dates, hopefully that Pettit car can be located, and the details recorded. Maybe our southern members can locate it for us???

 

[LeBaron1973]

I see the Pettit car was sold at Mecum in Kissimmee last month, apparently it's a 1 of 1 color combination believed specially ordered by Mr Pettit.

If anyone is able to log into Mecum to view the results it was Lot L51.1. Lovely photos and only 197 miles on the odometer.

 

[commando1]

If this

I see the Pettit car was sold at Mecum in Kissimmee last month, apparently it's a 1 of 1 color combination believed specially ordered by Mr Pettit.

If anyone is able to log into Mecum to view the results it was Lot L51.1. Lovely photos and only 197 miles on the odometer.

And the high bid was...

 

[1978 NYB]

If this

And the high bid was...

View attachment 261134

It didn't sell?

 

[1978 NYB]

Was the VIN posted on that car?

 

[commando1]

Was the VIN posted on that car?

CS43T8C181574

1574.

 

[1978 NYB]

CS43T8C181574

1574.

So we can all agree that this is the latest Formal known to mankind and the highest known VIN.

And probably the last one....

 

[LeBaron1973]

If this

And the high bid was...

View attachment 261134

That's the one, seem to recall Bill Watson stating that 1514 was the last one built, or at least the last sequence number, so we now know what the last day of production was but not that the car still exists. This one must have been close to the end - maybe the actual last assembled???

Good result

 

[1978 NYB]

Very, very nice car. This was a 1 of 1 color combo?

CS43T8C181574

 

[commando1]

So we can all agree that this is the latest Formal known to mankind and the highest known VIN.

And probably the last one....

The best we can say is "probably".

 

[1978 NYB]

The best we can say is "probably".

I think I might send a letter to Chrysler Historical and tell them we figured out the last Formal information for them.

 

[PeugFra]

You are talking about this car:

This information is already in the list I shared in both this and the "1978 NYB, 393 miles, For the sceptics" thread.

Like I said before, I will only humbly kneel before a Formal with an MDH starting with 0624.

As to Chrysler Historical, yes, what are they doing all day long?

@LeBaron1973: Our Italian friend is Dutch.

 

[commando1]

As to Chrysler Historical, yes, what are they doing all day long?

Too consumed reading inquiries from idiots asking if their 2014 Challenger is a 1 of....