What was going on when I was born?

The nation's Big Three automobile manufacturers reported today that new car sales from Dec. 1 to 10 were up 14 1/2 percent over the same period last year, marking the seventh consecutive 10-day reporting period of improved sales. Analysts were reluctant, however, to declare the long auto sales slump ending. ''It's encouraging, but we shouldn't get carried away with enthusiasm,'' said Philip Fricke of Goldman, Sachs & Company. ''The comparison is off a relatively poor performance last year so the percentage gain is not indicative of a market that is roaring ahead.''

The Dow Jones industrial average plunged 14.90 points yesterday in a hectic session that included a huge swing of almost 35 points. Trading volume accelerated to 98.4 million shares from Monday's 63.1 million. Analysts said that mounting concern over the weak economy was the main cause of the stock market's abrupt decline. With selling pressure intensifying in the final hour, the Dow finished at 1,009.38. By contrast, the average was up 19.95 points by 10:30 A.M. as investors responded with initial enthusiasm to the Federal Reserve's half-point cut in the discount rate, to 8 1/2 percent, announced on Monday after trading had ended.

'' It is not pertinent that there are so many people unemployed today.

Governor Carey and Democratic legislative leaders today proposed a new regional payroll tax to close a budget deficit of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and help forestall proposed increases in bus, subway and commuter-rail fares. Final details of the proposal were still being drawn up tonight. But legislators said it would raise about $225 million for mass transit, through a tax of about four-tenths of 1 percent on employers' payrolls. Business lobbyists said they would oppose the tax; Senate Republicans said they were willing to consider it.

The United States and France announced tonight that they had reached agreement on specific projects for coordinating allied strategy on economic relations with the Soviet Union. Under the agreements, and with the expected approval of the other allies, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization will for the first time play a major role in defining economic issues that may affect the alliance's security. The specific details were disclosed at an unusual news conference held close to midnight by Secretary of State George P. Shultz and Foreign Minister Claude Cheysson of France at the Quai d'Orsay, the French Foreign Ministry, after a black-tie dinner. The two men, apparently concerned that the degree of agreement reached by the two governments, which have been at odds in recent weeks, had not been made clear during an afternoon news conference by Mr. Shultz, decided to reveal more of the details.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 14.90 points, to 1,009.38, in a session that saw the Dow swing almost 35 points. Volume rose to 98.4 million shares. Analysts said the investors were interpreting the weakness in the economy. (D1.) Long-term interest rates rose and bond prices fell. Investors and traders cited fears that the Fed's latest moves could have the effect of reviving inflation. (Page D7.) The dollar fell against most major currencies, while gold retreated in late trading, closing at $433 an ounce in New York. (D12.) Livestock and grain futures markets were mostly lower. (D12.)

President Reagan, making new concessions to salvage production funds for the MX missile, agreed today to let Congress freeze expenditure of the funds until it ratified a system for basing the missile. Mr. Reagan's agreement, announced at an abruptly called news session at the White House, had the effect of plac- Transcript of news session, page A20. ing a sharp new restriction on the Administration's ability to proceed with its program to develop a missile that could carry up to 10 nuclear warheads. White House officials explained that Mr. Reagan accepted the deal after being told that approval of the missile was in jeopardy in the Senate. The House of Representatives deleted production funds for the missile last week, dealing the Administration one of its biggest legislative setbacks.

Anxiety permeates the station house of the 23d Precinct as 1982 comes to an end, but it is not the result of a commander's ire or a citizen's complaint or an officer's mistake. Nor is it the product of a particular crime, like the recent spree of store robberies along First Avenue or the fatal shooting of a woman in her car on East 87th Street. The anxiety is caused by the radical redrawing of the precinct's boundaries that is scheduled for Jan. 1, and would divide the ''two worlds'' that have long been the hallmark of the square-mile precinct that extends from Fifth Avenue to the East River between 86th and 110th Streets. In conversations in the station house and at community meetings, officers and residents concerned about crime talk about 1982 as a year of having to settle for less than they wanted, a year in which success stories, such as the marked decline in robbery and burglary reports, were often overshadowed by the kinds of compromises and ambiguities that affect everything from police manning to arrest levels to the case of little Abraham, a case the police could not handle.

Colombian peacemaker finds the rebels unyielding A2 Spain ending its blockade of the British colony of Gibraltar A3 British to increase military out- lays in war's aftermath A3 Reagan reaffirms choices for two foreign policy posts A3 Jordan agrees to ''special'' link with a future Palestinian entity A4 U.S. and A.F.L.-C.I.O. assail Suriname for recent killings A5 U.N. drafting a resolution on Pretoria's raid on Lesotho A6 South African papers criticize raid into Lesotho A7 Transformer fire causes wide- spread blackout in Quebec A8 Around the World A9 FitzGerald, Ireland's leader again, asks sacrifices A10 U.S. cool to Soviet offer on inter- mediate-range missiles A20 Government/Politics Retired Boston official indicted in pension fraud A14 ''Mellow'' Rizzo girds for Phila- delphia drive A15 Pentagon reporters balk at sign- ing a secrecy agreement A17 Legal Services board members criticized on consulting fees A25 Clinch River reactor funds set aside A28 Koch warns agency heads on need of more spending cuts B2 Panel said to recommend four to Cuomo for Appeals Court seat B3 Cuomo plans large audience for inauguration, but at low cost B3 Judge says he will resign and at- tacks criminal justice system D19 Washington Talk Briefing A30 What Washingtonians command on the lecture circuit A30 The filibuster, a treasured Senate institution A30 The Living Section Food Holiday feasts, Swedish style C1 John Updike on food C1 The ''little'' wines of France C3 The 60-Minute Gourmet C3 Food Notes C12 Wine Talk C17 Living Family is focus of leisure time C1 Metropolitan Diary C2 Kitchen Equipment C2 Kitchen Library C9 Personal Health C10 Discoveries C11 New Yorkers, etc. C20 A gala hospital benefit C20 Arts/Entertainment Chamber Ballet U.S.A. in debut C24 ''Monday After the Miracle'' opens at the O'Neill C25 Seven world-class violinists per- form in Tel Aviv festival C25 Sotheby stock sold to N.J. con- cern C25 Three rock bands making rare joint appearance C29 ''Honkytonk Man,'' Clint East- wood film, opens C29 ''Gandhi'' named best 1982 pic- ture C29 ''Lesson's From America's Best- Run Companies'' reviewed C33 Films on two jazz saxophonists shown C34 Lindsay Wagner stars in ''Memo- ries Never Die,'' on CBS-TV C36 General Around the Nation A16 Jurors find Gold E. Locks guilty of trespass A16 Two networks explain shift in coverage of President A20 Precinct 23: One neighborhood battles crime B1 A classical trumpeter doubles on cornet with Salvation Army B2 City's denial of a tax break to Trump is ruled improper B3 Loss in Bronx company robbery is raised to $9.8 million B3 Developer faces bribery charge in new Abscam trial B5 A11 Obituaries John Button, painter and teacher D19 Sports Pages Phils get Giants' Morgan and Holland for Krukow B6 George Vecsey on actions and reactions in sports world B6 Indiana's Thompson No. 1 in soc- cer draft B6 Perkins is reported to be replac- ing Bryant as Alabama coach B7 Pistons beat Knicks B7 Sabres down Islanders B7 N.B.A. upholds protest by Spurs B8 Rangers' Rogers developing into more than just a scorer B9 Scouting: Two champions play it safe B9 McGriff-Martin shuttle at defen- sive left end helps Giants B9 Plays: Cowboy's aplomb on run with fumble a form of art B9 Features/Notes New York Day by Day B2 About New York B3 Sports People B8 Going Out Guide C26 Editorials/Letters/Op-Ed Editorials A34 Dump the grain slowly Orwell in Warsaw Public service for public health Without transit, nothing Letters A34 Russell Baker: Nowhere near sited A35 James Reston: A Christmas bonus for Congress A35 Lawrence H. Fuchs: Proper im- migrant reform A35 Stephen J. Morris: The best way to aid Cambodia A35

Poland announced today that it was cutting back on cultural and scientific relations with the United States Government and was restricting visas for Americans. The Polish Government said it would stop cooperating with the United States Information Agency, the State Department's public relations arm, and ''any other Federal agencies that engage in anti-Polish activity.'' In another development, Lech Walesa, head of the outlawed Solidarity movement, gave Western reporters the prepared text of a speech calling for ''open, democratic and peaceful means'' to win back the gains made by the union before the imposition of martial law a year ago. Walesa Hopes to Speak Thursday Mr. Walesa intended to deliver the speech on Thursday in Gdansk at a rally marking the shooting of workers during riots in 1970 and the erection in 1980 of a monument in their honor.

Nine major publishers filed suit yesterday against New York University, 10 of its faculty members and an off-campus copy center, charging them with copyright infringement. The suit, financed by the Association of American Publishers, is the association's first legal action aimed directly at universities and faculty members accused of violating the 1976 Copyright Act. In April 1980 several members of the association won a suit against the Gnomon Corporation, a photocoyping service with outlets near several college campuses, forcing them to cease and desist. 'Not Necessarily the Worst' Carol Risher, who handles copyright issues for the association, said that N.Y.U. is not necessarily the worst violator but is ''representative'' of schools that violate the copyright act. She added that, ''Universities must recognize that they have a responsibility for what their employes and faculty members do, and the faculty members must recognize their individual responsibilities as well.''

In an effort to keep Brazil from financial collapse, a plan is being prepared to coerce Brazil's 1,400 creditor banks into restoring any reductions in outstanding credit to the South American country and to make new loans to Brazil, banking officials said yesterday. The plan is being organized primarily by the International Monetary Fund, but with strong support from the United States Government and from major American banks, which are Brazil's biggest creditors. Brazil, which owes foreigners $89 billion, has been running out of the foreign exchange it needs to meet its financial obligations. A large part of the problem is that many of the 1,400 foreign banks that have lent money to Brazil have been refusing to renew maturing loans to Brazilian entities or to renew deposits in Brazilian banks.