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.

 

[MedigoFlame]

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.

I would say that the Jeep Compass/Patriot and later JK Wranglers still could be had with manual locks and crank up windows. Only recall this due to working at a Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/Ram dealer in 2014-2016 when the first generations were still new and on lots. Not sure they were the last ones myself, but those features lasted longer than 2006.

Interesting thread idea that I would like to learn more facts from. Though, would it help to have sources for fact checking? Can't say I know what would be a trustworthy source to find this sort of information though.

 

[Centroid]

The Lotus Esprit and Chevrolet Corvette (C5) were the last volume productions cars to have pop up headlights.

The MK2 C5 was the last Citroën to have any form of Hydropneumatic Suspension.

 

[05XR8]

In the Australian market:

• last Mercedes-Benz passenger car to have a manual transmission was the 2018 SLC180 Convertible
• last Toyota Corolla(non- GR models) to have a manual transmission were the 2021 models.

 

[Roo]

@GranTurNismo Do you get the Ariel Atom/Nomad over there, or are these lists strictly volume models? Figured an Ariel would cover off last without a radio/electric windows/AC etc.

 

[Liquid]

In motor racing, the 1995 Forti FG01 was the last Formula One car to have a manual gearbox.

Not strictly road car related but the manual gearbox is a worthy thing to highlight.

 

[GranTurNismo]

@GranTurNismo Do you get the Ariel Atom/Nomad over there, or are these lists strictly volume models? Figured an Ariel would cover off last without a radio/electric windows/AC etc.

Yeah we never got them here, sadly.

 

[Famine]

Yeah we never got them here, sadly.

The USA very definitely got the Atom. It was built by Brammo under licence in Oregon (adapted with a GM Ecotec due to not being able to source the Honda K20A), and then the original was made by TMI Autotech in Virginia in a facility also used to build Ginettas.

I don't think the TMI cars are road legal, however.

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

2012 - Last production car using a rotary engine as a prime mover (RX-8)

 

[ScottPuss20]

October 19 2017: The last Australian made car, a Holden Commodore SSV Redline, rolled off the production line at the Holden plant in Elizabeth, Adelaide.

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

• 1952 - Kaiser Henry J was the last car in the US to have a base sticker price under $1,000.
• 1991 - Yugo GV was the last car in the US to have a base sticker price under $5,000.
• 2010 - Hyundai Accent was the last car in the US to have a base sticker price under $10,000.
• 2025 - Nissan Versa will be the last car in the US to have a base sticker price under $20,000.

Based on this, the cheapest car in the US market has out-accelerated inflation by ~2x in the last 20 years.

 

[Volksauto]

The 1998 Lada Niva (also known as the VAS-2121) was the last car to ever built with a manual hand crank starter.

 

[MIE1992]

View attachment 1422881

Based on this, the cheapest car in the US market has out-accelerated inflation by ~2x in the last 20 years.

I’ve genuinely heard that the food/beverages at Disney World are even worse in this regard.

 

[Meythia]

I don't think the TMI cars are road legal, however.

Propably with exceptions, but generally not road legal.

Ariel Atom, Ariel Nomad, Ariel North America FAQ - Ariel North America

Ariel Atom, Ariel Nomad, and Ariel North America Frequently Asked Questions.

www.arielna.com

"Ariel vehicles do not meet Federal Motor Vehicle Standards set forth by the NHTSA (or any other Federal vehicle regulatory department) and are presented as - Off-Road Use Only - at the federal level."

And here I was thinking, that in the USA basically everything is road legal. Ignorant me.

 

[Tornado]

For cars built outside of the US it's basically the opposite, actually. Prove it's either compliant or exempt or ICE will take it and crush it.

 

[Liquid]

"Ariel vehicles do not meet Federal Motor Vehicle Standards set forth by the NHTSA (or any other Federal vehicle regulatory department) and are presented as - Off-Road Use Only - at the federal level."

Off topic but reading this just made me think of the Canyonero.

The Federal Highway Commission has ruled the Canyonero unsafe for highway or city driving.

 

[Famine]

And here I was thinking, that in the USA basically everything is road legal. Ignorant me.

In essence, it needs to be made for the US market to be road legal, or pass through some tests.

You may remember monstrosities like this:

Basically that's to allow the car to pass these tests - although owners were free to remove the adornments after the car was sold.

If the car doesn't pass, or isn't submitted, it can only be registered for "show and display" use (which requires some judgment on "historical or technical significance") and not used on the roads. There's also a rolling 25-year exemption which makes cars 25 years old legal again - as you might recall from fuss about certain cars becoming legal every now and then, like the R32 Skyline last year - but as we've seen from a bit of recent griping from certain quarters about Kei cars, it's not without challenge.


And then they make fun of Europe for telling the Cybertruck to **** off.

 

[Northstar]

And here I was thinking, that in the USA basically everything is road legal. Ignorant me.

it's funny how that statement is both completely wrong and yet completely right. This guy basically just had to show he legally obtained the parts for his kit car to get titled (I'm sure the process is different in other states, which just further complicates things).