What Are Some Automotive "Lasts"?

[GranTurNismo]

I think there's a lot of talk in car circles about the "first car to have x". So, I've started to compile a list of the last cars to have a given characteristic or feature. Keep in mind these lists are very US-specific so I'm sure there's going to be a lot that I'm missing.

Car features:

• 1952 - Kaiser Henry J was the last car in the US to have a base sticker price under $1,000.
• 1954 - Packard Caribbean was the last car in the US to have an inline-8 engine instead of a V8.
• 1968 - Honda N 360 was the last car in the US to be sold with a 2-speed manual.
• 1973 - Chevrolet Vega was the last car in the US to be sold with a 2-speed automatic.
• 1979 - Chevrolet Nova/Oldsmobile Omega/Pontiac Phoenix were the last cars in the US to be sold with a 3-speed manual.
• 1990 - Geo Metro was the last car sold in the US to have less than 50hp.
• 1991 - Yugo GV was the last car in the US to have a base sticker price under $5,000.
• 1993 - Subaru Justy was the last car in the US to be carburated.
• 1996 - Cadillac Fleetwood was both the last car in the US to have exposed chrome bumpers and a vinyl roof from the factory.
• 1997 - Land Rover Defender 90 and Dodge Viper are tied for being the last cars sold in the US to not have driver-side airbags.
• 1998 - Porsche 911 was the last car in the US to be air-cooled.
• 1999 - Toyota Tercel was the last car in the US to be sold with a 4-speed manual.
• 2002 - Toyota Corolla/Chevrolet Prizm was the last car in the US to be sold with a 3-speed automatic.
• 2002 - Chevrolet Camaro and Pontiac Firebird were the last cars in the US to have convertible T-tops.
• 2004 - Corvette and Lotus Esprit are tied for being the last new cars in the US to have pop-up headlights.
• 2006 - Jeep Wrangler was the last car in the US to not have power windows and locks.
• 2007 - Chevrolet Monte Carlo was the last full-size coupe to be sold in the US.
• 2008 - Dodge Viper was the last car in the US to not have a radio as standard.
• 2010 - Lexus SC was the last car in the US to be sold with a cassette tape player.
• 2010 - Hyundai Accent was the last car in the US to have a base sticker price under $10,000.
• 2011 - Crown Victoria/Grand Marquis/Town Car were the last cars in the US to be body-on-frame.
• 2015 - Nissan XTerra was the last car sold in the US to lack any media options—base trim lacked both Bluetooth and an AUX port.
• 2016 - Chevrolet Impala was the last car in the US to have a front bench seat as an option.
• 2017 - Chevrolet Express/GMC Savana was the last car to have sealed-beam headlights.
• 2020 - Dodge Journey was the last car in the US to be sold with a 4-speed automatic.
• 2020 - Alfa Romeo 4C was the last car sold in the US to lack power steering.
• 2022 - Jeep Wrangler was the last car in the US to not have A/C standard.
• 2023 - Dodge Charger was the last car in the US to be sold with lift-up door handles.
• 2024 - Mitsubishi Mirage was the last car sold in the US to have less than 100hp.
• 2024 - Toyota 4Runner was the last car in the US to be sold with a 5-speed automatic.
• 2025 - Nissan Versa will (most likely) be the last car in the US to have a 5-speed manual.
• 2025 - Subaru Outback (most likely) will be the last car in the US to be sold with a CD player.
• 2025 - Nissan Versa will be the last car in the US to have a base sticker price under $20,000.

Cars themselves:

• The last Plymouth ever made was a silver 2001 Neon, which remained in storage for 20 years before being auctioned on Bring a Trailer in 2021 for a whopping $19,000.
• The last Pontiac ever made was a white 2010 G6 sedan sold to a rental fleet, which was crashed and totaled in 2015.
• The last Mercury ever made was a 2011 Grand Marquis, also sold to a rental fleet.
• The last Oldsmobile ever made was a burgundy 2004 Alero coupe, which was donated to the R.E. Olds Museum in Lansing Michigan, where it remained until 2017 where it was auctioned off to a private owner.
• The last Saturn ever made was a 2009 Outlook, and its whereabouts are unknown.
• The last Saab ever sold in the US was a 2011 9-3 Turbo Aero4, which was sold at an auction 2019.

So, what other automotive lasts can you guys think of? Let's get the ball rolling.

 

[05XR8]

I know the last Lancia sold in the USA was the ‘82 Zagato. My brother had the rare(only 75 made) black & gold ‘81 Zagato.

 

[Tornado]

• 2006 - Jeep Wrangler was the last car in the US to not have power windows and locks.

I suspect this one isn't true. If not all three brands, GM almost certainly would sell you a complete basic bitch truck at least up until they went bankrupt and were forced to try economies of scale with common denominator harnesses and the like; because I'm pretty sure I have a coworker who has a GMT900 that might be so equipped.

 

[GranTurNismo]

I suspect this one isn't true. If not all three brands, GM almost certainly would sell you a complete basic bitch truck at least up until they went bankrupt and were forced to try economies of scale with common denominator harnesses and the like; because I'm pretty sure I have a coworker who has a GMT900 that might be so equipped.

Yeah I should have been more clear, I knew that skinflint pickups and the express/savana still had crank windows until much later. Should have specified that the Wrangler was the last non work truck/ fleet truck to have crank up windows and manual locks, not the last American car ever.

Unrelated side note, the 1997-2006 Wrangler was the last Chrysler product to be in part developed by AMC.