Every nameplate eventually gets a final day on the assembly line, and for some the date is better documented than the debut. The vehicles in this gallery span sedans, vans, pickups and sports cars from several automakers, each tied to the month or day its production ended. Here are eleven models whose last unit has a place in the record.
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1. Pontiac Fiero: A Short Run Ends
Pontiac built 370,168 Fieros before assembling the last one on August 16, 1988, according to Wikipedia’s Pontiac Fiero page. The two-seater’s production run ended with that final car.
Anyone looking at a Fiero now is looking at a car that has been out of production for decades. Service records, a clean cooling system and a body free of rust are worth checking, and recall status can be looked up by VIN at NHTSA.
2. Volvo 240: Nearly Three Million Strong
Volvo’s own end-of-production release, cited on Volvo’s press site, says 2,862,573 240s were built, the last on May 5, 1993. A total that large reflects a long run for a single model line.
With so many built, 240s are still around, and condition varies widely from one car to the next. Prospective owners should favor examples with maintenance paperwork and have a mechanic inspect rust, wiring and drivetrain before committing.
3. Chevrolet Astro: Baltimore’s Last Van
Chevrolet sold about 3.2 million Astros in the U.S. from 1985 until the Baltimore plant built the last ones in May 2005, as TopSpeed’s Astro retrospective notes. The van came with rear-wheel drive, optional all-wheel drive and a tow rating above 5,000 pounds.
That towing capability is part of why Astros keep a following among people who need a work-capable van. Buyers should check the frame, drivetrain and tow equipment condition, and treat any claimed towing use with questions about how the van was maintained.
4. Chevrolet Impala: Sixty-Two Years Finish
The final Impala rolled off the line on February 27, 2020, after 62 years, and sales were about 45,000 in 2019, according to The Drive’s Impala eulogy. The nameplate ended with a figure well below its glory years.
Late-production Impalas are among the youngest cars in this gallery, so condition and history vary less than with older models. A VIN-based recall check at NHTSA and a review of service records are sensible steps for anyone shopping one.
5. Ford Taurus: Chicago’s Final Taurus
The final U.S. Taurus left Chicago Assembly in March 2019, after the plant had built more than 8 million Taurus-branded cars, Hagerty Media reports. The count refers to the plant’s total output under the name.
Used Tauruses are plentiful, which gives shoppers room to be selective. Maintenance records, a test drive that covers transmission behavior and a check for open recalls by VIN will separate good examples from tired ones.
6. Chrysler PT Cruiser: The Retro Wagon Wraps Up
A total of 1,050,281 PT Cruisers were marketed in the U.S., and the last was built July 9, 2010, according to Wikipedia’s PT Cruiser article. That is a large total for a car with such distinctive styling.
Because so many were sold, PT Cruisers are easy to find, but individual cars range widely in condition. Owners and buyers should look at service history, check recall status by VIN at NHTSA and have a mechanic review the cooling and electrical systems.
7. Chevrolet SSR: Convertible Pickup, Briefly
Chevrolet built the retractable-hardtop SSR pickup only from 2003 to 2006, with the final one built March 17, 2006, per Wikipedia’s Chevrolet SSR entry. Its production lasted just a few model years.
A short run usually means limited parts availability, so buyers should ask about the condition of the roof mechanism. A test of the retractable top and a look at maintenance paperwork can reveal problems before purchase. Specialized parts can also be harder to source for short-run models.
8. Plymouth Prowler: Eleven Thousand and Done
Plymouth built only 11,702 Prowlers, and the last one came off the line on February 15, 2002, according to Wikipedia’s Plymouth Prowler page. The low total keeps the roadster rare.
Rarity can make a Prowler a collector’s car, so documentation and originality count. Buyers should ask for service history, confirm the VIN matches the paperwork and have the car inspected by someone who knows its unusual construction. Prospective buyers should also inspect the body for rust and previous repairs.
9. Cadillac DeVille: The Last DeVille
The last DeVille was assembled at Detroit/Hamtramck in June 2005, per Wikipedia’s Cadillac DeVille article, after a record 234,171 sales in 1977. The contrast shows how far the nameplate’s volume had fallen by the end.
Used DeVilles from the final years are an affordable-looking route into traditional Cadillac comfort, but condition drives everything. Service records, suspension inspection and a recall check by VIN at NHTSA are good first steps. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is also a sensible precaution.
10. Ford Ranger: Compact Pickup Era Closes
The final 2012 Ranger came off the line on December 16, 2011, ending 86 years of production at Twin Cities Assembly and all U.S. compact pickup building, as Wikipedia’s Ford Ranger entry records. The date marked the close of a long local chapter.
Late Rangers remain common as used trucks, and buyers should look for service records and frame rust. A test drive and a check for open recalls by VIN will help sort sound trucks from neglected ones.
11. BMW Z4: Straight-Six Sign-Off
The last Z4 was built in May 2026, and the 382-hp 3.0-liter inline-six is gone with it, according to Motor1’s dead cars list. The date is recent enough that new-car inventory may still exist.
Shoppers interested in the final cars should confirm availability and specifics with a dealer rather than assume. Anyone considering one used can check recall status by VIN and review warranty coverage before buying. Buyers should also compare any dealer claims against official manufacturer information.
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