Mike, looks like you have asked a question in my realm. As Newell owners, we can positively identify a specific coach by its coach number BUT that applies primarily to non Classic models.
With one exception, #212 was the last Classic Newell. It was the last 1989 built. (Factoid: #317, a 1993, was built as a Classic per Newell). In short, if you are looking at a Newell Classic you want a pre-1990 model and with the exception of the elusive #317, if it has, or lists, a coach number it will be below #213.
The Classics are typically listed by year since it is more difficult to determine the build number of coaches built prior to 1990. Coaches built after 1989 are much more easily identified by their coach number since it is a part of the VIN (the last 3 to 4 digits). Finding the coach number on a 1983-1989 Newell involves either 1) finding a copy of the original floorplan (they typically list both the VIN and the Coach #), 2) finding the coach number on the inside of the engine bay doors, or 3) finding the coach number on the inside of one of the many wooden interior panels such as valance panels. The earlier Newells, pre-1983, were never given unique coach numbers. The 1980-1982 Newells VIN included the last three digits identifying the build sequence number for the year, i.e. the VIN ending with 012 would have been the 12th Newell built in that model year. Prior to 1980 the serial numbers for Newells were only decipherable by a handful of Newell employees, all of whom, to the best of my knowledge, have retired years ago.
In the 2007 model year, Newell skipped from #816 to #1200 (skipping 383 numbers) to account for the 383 coaches Newell built prior to the beginning of the new accounting system in 1983.
Hope that helps you in your quest for a Classic and gives you some background into identifying Newells. See
http://newellgurus.com/showthread.php?tid=1252 for a listing of model year vs coach numbers that I try to keep reasonably up to date.
