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.
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