Coach build numbers needed!

[Erika]

Hello Newell Owners,

We are asking all Newell owners who have pictures in the Gallery, if they could provide us with their coach build number along with the year, gallery number, so we can include it in the gallery.

Thank you for your cooperation,

Forum Admin :)

[fulltiming]

GREAT IDEA!!

I will be happy to start it off:

1992 Album #2 and #3 are both my coach (#2 was prior to my ownership, #3 was after my purchase). The build number is 281.

1992 Album #6 is build number 283. I correspond with Larry, the owner of 283 periodically.

1990 Album #2 is build number 242. I had a contract to buy this coach at one time.

1991 Album #3 is build number 277. I had looked at purchasing it and had a test drive in it.

[chockwald]

Where would I find the "build #" on a 1982 Newell? I just purchased this coach 6 weeks ago.

[fulltiming]

Interesting question. The real answer with your 1982 is 'I don't know' and to the best of my knowledge there is no easy way to determine that information. From 1967-1983 there were a total of 384 Newell's built (I believe). So your was probably from the first 370 Newell's ever built. HOWEVER, a build number was not part of the VIN number at that time and the coach numbers you see posted by owners on this site do not match up with the information I just gave.

Let me delve further into this subject. Newell changed their numbering schema several times over the years. Your 1982 has the advantage of falling into the currently federally-mandated VIN system, which was implemented in 1980. Unfortunately, you are outside the beginning of the second most recent Newell numbering schema which began in 1983 but was only incorporated into the VIN in April 1989 with deliver of the Series 2000 coaches. Beginning in 1983, Newell began an internal numbering system starting with coach 1. However, even that number was not utilized in the VIN. Beginning with the Series 2000 coaches, the last three digits of the VIN corresponded with Newell's internal number, which was 214 at that time. Since April 1989, the last three digits of the VIN have been referred to as the Coach #. Prior to that time, there is not that I am aware of, an easy way to determine a coach number and if you did, it would conflict with numbers used in the VIN due to the 384 coaches built prior to the numbering system begun in 1983.

Now, one further spin on the ball. In 2006, Newell changed the numbering system used in the VIN to account for the 'missing years' of Newell coach construction. During 2006, Newell skipped forward in VIN numbers to get the number in the VIN to match the actual number of Newell's constructed since the first coach in 1967. So, you will find no coaches with VIN numbers between about 816 (that may not be exactly correct but was the preliminary estimate of the coach number change) and 1200 (the preliminary estimate of the first of the 'new' coach numbers).

So unfortunately, those with Newell classics don't have an easily discernable coach # like those beginning with the Series 2000 and extending through the current P200i's.

[chockwald]

I found an invoice from The Newell Corporation this morning in the documentation given to me by the last owner. It is the purchase order invoice for the coach back in March of 1982. It has stamped on it "No. 408", and in the upper right hand corner it shows "Invoice #: C-408". Is it possible this is my coach number?

[fulltiming]

Possible but it seems just a little on the high side.

[chockwald]

Mike...you're probably right now that I look at your coach # which is way lower than 408...OK...I'll keep looking.

[fulltiming]

The real issue is that since Newell started their numbering system over beginning at 1 again in 1983, there would be duplicate number from 1 through about 384, then a skip of numbers from from the low 800's to about 1200. As an example, recently Newell had advertised for sale two 2007 coaches, #810 and #1200, although 1200 just sold.

In my earlier post I indicated that the change in numbering took place during 2006, which I believe to be correct, however, I should have noted that it was during the 2007 model year.

If in fact a 'coach number' which could be obtained for the classic models prior to 1983, we would still need to have some alternate designator such as the 'C-xxx' you mentioned since there would be nearly 400 duplicate numbers otherwise. Even finding the coach numbers for the 1983-1990 classic models (I understand that there was at least 1 classic model built as a 1990 model) would be a challenge since everyone has depended on the last digits of the VIN for the coach number since some time in 1989.

[HoosierDaddy]

1993 Album 4 is my coach 316. Somebody has hacked in to the comments section of that album....Can you fix?
Dean Stoops

[Neweller]

Hi HoosierDaddy,

I will check on it now.

[JohnC]

As a matter of note, Newell will skip over the 1300 series of numbers i.e. coach 1299 will be followed in production by coach 1400.

JohnC

[zcasa]

Hi, 1992 Album #7 is Coach #303. We don't know where the pic's came from as there have been some updated graphics added to the coach. We'll figure out how to post some updated photos. We have owned the coach for three years now and couldn't be happier.

David and Denise

[fulltiming]

Thanks for the information John. As a point of interest, which coach number was the last before the jump to 1200. I thought it was about 815 but I could be off.

David, nice looking coach.

[KimnKim]

My 1987 model (built Dec. '86) has a notation on the top right hand corner of each page of the original owner's "Coach Order And Price Schedule" of PL186. Reading the numbering history that Michael lays out ('83-'89), this looks like it could fit...do you agree?

[fulltiming]

Kim, I agree that for a coach built in late 1986, number 186 would be a reasonable number starting from 1 in 1983.

EDIT: Based on further investigation, 186 is probably too high a number for a 1987 coach built in late 1986. That number would probably belong to a 1989 model or possibly a 1988 model built right at the end of the model run. I would suspect the number you are looking for is in the range of #120 to #150. Brian (2 Dogs) found #139 marked on the bottom of his engine bay doors on his 1987 built about a month before yours so if his number is correct, yours should be in the 140's.

[KimnKim]

Hello Newell Owners,

We are asking all Newell owners who have pictures in the Gallery, if they could provide us with their coach build number along with the year, gallery number, so we can include it in the gallery.

Thank you for your cooperation,

Forum Admin :)

Album #4 in the 1987 section is coach #186.

Cheers

[Tom and Linda Schneider]

Hi, I'm Linda Schneider and my husband and I are the owners of the Bud Eisenlohr 1979 Newell. According to the information on the side of our counter next to the door, our Serial # is 351 ORE1O93D22O 9N
Engine # 6VFO38878DET92
GFAWR 1200#
GFAWR 18500#
GFAWR 30500#

Where would I find the build number? I can't find it in all the paperwork I have on the coach.

[fulltiming]

Without research by the factory, it is doubtful that the 'build number' could be determined for your coach. Any coach prior to 1983 did not include a build number in the VIN/Serial Number and even the accounting sequence number was not used that I know of.

Being a 1979, it is likely to be in the upper 200's or very low 300's but based on my understanding, there is little way to determine a build number for most of the pre-1982 coaches and it wasn't in the VIN where it is easily locatable until the 1990 model 2000's came out.

By the way, thanks for including the GAWR's and GVWR (there is a missing 0 in the Front Axle Weight Rating). I have been trying to get some idea of the Weight Ratings of various year and size Newells.

[Tom and Linda Schneider]

Michael & Georgia,

Thanks for the information on the 'build number' situation. At least I know that our coach is somewhere between the upper 200's - low 300's.

Linda and Tom Schneider
1979 Bud Eisenlower Coach

[Brian Long]

Please advise where I can locate the numbers on my 1987 coach. It is in album 3, the blue and silver coach.
Thanks,
Brian

[fulltiming]

Brian, I have no idea how you would locate the number of your '87 coach. By deduction, it is likely to have a build date in 1986 and be about three years before the 2000 series were built in April of 1989. At about 30 vehicles per year, you would likely be in the 120-150 range. If you find any build documents in your documentation at is in that range, you might be able to narrow it down. Otherwise, unless Newell can help you, I don't know that you can narrow it down any further.

[ABnormal]

Brian - I own an '87 and the coach number is #130. I found the number on the bottom of the floorplan, which accompanied the coach. I was not certain what the number was and called Newell. They verified that 130 was the coach number according to a relatively new numbering system they were using at the time.

I cannot remember for sure, but I believe the coach was order in April, 1987 and after several modifications it was delivered to Johnny Rutherford in August, 1987.

Larry P in KC

[fulltiming]

Larry, could you confirm that your 1987 model was 'built in August, 1987'. My coach lists a date of manufacture of March 1991 and the Certificate of Origin was dated March 29, 1991 and it listed on the Certificate of Origin and the VIN plate as a 1992 model. I also know that coach 1258, a 2009 model was completed on or before February 1, 2008.

I would have expected a 1987 model to be completed in August of 1986 rather than 1987.

[Brian Long]

Thanks for the responses, I will contact Newell and see if they can help.
Brian

[2dogs]

funny thing happened, I have been trying to find my coach number on our 87 build date november 86. was cleaning up the engine bay and written in pencil on both sides on the bottom of the doors was left #139 and right #139 what luck!!! Brian.

[ABnormal]

Michael,

I stand corrected. The floorplan indicates the order was placed 4/7/86 and Revised 8/27/86. Not 1987 as I had earlier reported. The plate on the wall next to the driver seat carries a date of July, 1986. Ordered in April, started manufacture in July and delivered in August???

Larry P. in KC

[fulltiming]

Larry, thanks for the update. Those dates make sense. The date of July, 1986 indicates that the coach was substantially completed in July, 1986. Based on the time to build, I would suspect that work began on the coach not long after the 4/7/86 plan date. It is not unusual for a owner to make changes during the build process. It is also not unheard of for the owner to make additional changes when they arrive to pick up the coach or may even return the coach for additional changes after it is picked up initially. That would likely be why the Revised 8/27/86 date shows on the floorplan. Without the Certificate of Origin, you would not know the delivery date.

For example my floorplan was dated 2/1/91 with revisions 2/14/91 and again 9/17/91. The changes in September would have been after delivery as it had 56 miles on it on 3/29/91. In my case the floorplan date of 2/1/91 may not be the actual date of order. Even at that time, going from order to completed coach in less than 2 months would have been surprisingly fast.

[Tony Berridge]

My coach is 1975 vin 3500RE1042D3610J Can anyone tell me the coach number pls. Just bought this and trying to find infomation. Thanks Tony

[fulltiming]

Tony, your coach was built before the 'new' numbering system was implemented in 1983 so a coach number that would be relevant to later coaches is virtually impossible to determine. What we do know is that your coach was built about mid point between the beginning of construction of Newells and the point where the 'new' numbering system began in 1983. Since there were 384 coaches constructed prior to 1983, it would be safe to assume that your coach was in the first 180 Newells built.

Deciphering the VIN numbers on the pre-1990 coaches is not easy. There are few if any folks left at Newell that can decode them.

[Show 488]

1988 Album #4 is my Coach, The build number is 180

Duanne

[slateblue911]

I just bought my coach a couple of weeks ago. I have two numbers that doesn't really tell me much of anything. Please help me decode.

1971 Newell Coach 30' 391 Industrial Engine Allison 6 speed Trans.
M/N 26141 R2HM 391
S/N 5E28 S5183

[fulltiming]

I doubt that Newell even has anyone left on staff that could decode those numbers. Back in the 70's and early 80's every company just made up their own Serial (VIN) numbers. Likely the last three digits of the motorhome number is the size of the engine.

Prior to 1983 when the 'new accounting system' started counting coaches at '1', there is no way to determine a coach number other than knowing that there were 384 coaches built between 1967 and 1983. You are fortunate to know that your coach is certainly in the first 120 Newell's ever constructed.

[Hammer]

there is no way to determine a coach number other than knowing that there were 384 coaches built between 1967 and 1983. You are fortunate to know that your coach is certainly in the first 120 Newell's ever constructed.
I guess we can collect vin's and then figure them out like my being the same year i would be high or lower in the last digit i would think. Is there any info on how many a years were made 1967,68, etc

[fulltiming]

I have not been able to determine any specific data from Newell regarding the number of coaches built per year in the 60's, 70's and early 80's.

There were an average of about 30 coaches per year being built during the 1983-1986 period.

During the first 16 years of Newell, 1967 - 1982 there were 384 Newells constructed. That would average about 24 per year BUT the first year or two were lower production so the average for the later years might be closer to 26/year.

[Hammer]

I know newell keep's a history on there motorhomes they charge per hour to look for them, I wonder if maybe a group of us could work on getting it in to a database so newell owners could search there own coaches information. I would help out no problem i just dont want to spend $500.00 for a history if it was 5 hours to find.

[rheavn]

The 1999 Album #1 is coach #531.

[Flydrifter]

The 1996 Newell Album #3 and #11 are the same coach, #420 45'-102", DD60, Allison, now owned by Ray & Shirley Penick, Tulsa, OK

[Bob & Peggy Standeford]

The 1999 Album #13 now belongs to Bob & Peggy Standeford of Tulsa. I don't know who placed the pictures in the album. The number on the coach is 516.

[tjmahon]

Hi,,I own a 1990 2000 series 42 ft coach #224

[sopicki]

Hi all,

Our Newell was ordered in 1971 and completed in 1972. I contacted Newell earlier this year after we purchased her and was told that the last 2 digits of the serial number represented her build number. Jessica France at Newell told us that ours was the 96th Newell built. Jessica was able to also provide the original order sheet and drawings for the coach showing that it came with a Ford 391 industrial motor as would seem to be indicated by the last digits of the MTR.NO. on the build plate located next to our main entry door. A picture of that plate is attached below.

4609

That's really too small to read so here's what it says:
Newell Coach
Miami Okla
MTR.NO. 21085 S25HG 391EHD
SER.NO. 3F30 S5196

[Neweller]

Hey Bob, glad you shared this updated info. Somehow, there have obviously been a couple misconstrued posts by current or former members stating that Newell didn't provide this kind of information and have drawings available. I had discussed and verified a couple of times while visiting the factory that what you have stated is true with regards to the availability of drawings etc... I have been told that an owner of any coach ever built by the Newell Coach factory has access to his coach drawings.

[renewell]

I would like to post some recent photo's but can't seem to get them to upload. Any suggestions on how to do this? I have uploaded twice to the Newell Showcase with no results.

[NewellCrazy]

I would like to post some recent photo's but can't seem to get them to upload. Any suggestions on how to do this? I have uploaded twice to the Newell Showcase with no results.

Hi ReNewell,

Are you trying to upload to the showcase or forum? I can try & help you if needed.

[renewell]

Sean;
I tried to upload directly to the showcase with no results.

[sopicki]

I tried to upload directly to the showcase with no results.[/QUOTE]

I've been trying to upload pictures to the gallery for quite a few months with no luck either. I have been able to attach photos to my posts however.

[NewellCrazy]

The problem is that you can't upload directly to the showcase you have to email your photos and contact an administrator who can upload them for you.

[sopicki]

Ok, I used the wrong term......I've twice taken the time to e-mail photos as instructed to the address on the showcase page (gallery@newellshowcase.com). They've never been posted.

[rellick]

Ok, I used the wrong term......I've twice taken the time to e-mail photos as instructed to the address on the showcase page (gallery@newellshowcase.com). They've never been posted.
I have tried a couple of times also with no luck. I finally gave up, maybe the admins are on holidays again?