Orphan Cars - Great Cars

[7927jackpark]

I have a problem with the Corvair calling an "orphan," too. It was just a discontinued line of a very significant (and surviving) make. Nice to see that Nash Healey though, still gorgoeus after all these years.

[canthill3]

We used to see them all around football stadiums because they were invalid cars

[cochranexyz]

I would love to get to Ypsilanti for this!

[grandcarriage1]

Not all Orphans. I saw a Citroen DS pulling in, and the Corvair, of course. But this is really cool!!! Thank you for posting. I might try to hit this show.

[majorporpoise]

The U.S. really needs to start bringing small car companies back into the picture.

And kick out all the Jap cars.

[Dulein]

I wonder if you could really consider the Isetta an orpahan as it was made by BMW which still exists, compared to cars like the Studebakers,Amphicar,Nash, Packards etc. It was a model like the Corvair is a model of Chevrolet. Nice car tho.You certainly dont see many around these days and that is better than going to a show and seeing row after row of 55 Chevys or Chevelles.

[mrpitv]

@Dulein I think they were classifying it as an Orphan because it was originally produced by Messerschmitt and as I remember, BMW was second in line. I think the car was derived from the airplane cockpits of the fighters. Again, my old brain does tend to garble things a bit, but that's what I recall. It's a fun show and the organizer is great. He still works out of his father's Hudson dealership.

[michaelXXLF]

@mrpitv Not exactly. BMW bought a license to build the Isetta from the Italian Iso-Rivolta company, which built mainly refrigeratiors by that time (hence the unusual front door!). Messerschmitt built the Kabinenroller, also a micro car but a completely different look and approach.

Iso started building super-sports cars in the 1960s - quite some contrast - but probably saved BMW with the Isetta.

[patsematary]

@Dulein: don't criticize the schematic words of a short documentary, original Isetta was projected & builded by Iso-Rivolta in Italy.

helas in Italy Vespa,Lambretta were preferred and newborn Fiat 600 challenged this pretty "scooter-car" but she was well appreciated in Germany.

[Dulein]

@patsematary I wasnt critizing. I was merely wondering. I like the Isettas, as i like any car that is out of the ordinary as somebody commented Corvairs arnt really "orphans" being they are only a model made by Chevrolet, unlike car companys that no longer exist.

[NFS4LFE]

I've seen so many Covairs it's rediculous

[OzzInter]

@NFS4LFE

CORVAIR is a Chevrolet model rather a seperate brand.

Whole brands have disappeared such as rather short-lived attempt like Crosley as well as the very long lasting Studebaker.

This short video only mentions US brands; worldwide hundreds of minor brands have come and gone.

Rather sad as this has lead the demise of some very interesting designs and personal ambitions!

[mrpitv]

@OzzInter True -- we go into more detail in the actual program. But it is very US oriented. Should be a broader look at the international landscape. And Corvair isn't really an orphan under the organizer's guidelines but people like to bring them and they're popular. I like the car's history too but since GM was bailed out it avoided being a true orphan in the storm.

[animalcorvair]

@NFS4LFE i have 6 in my barn

[TomLibby100]

It always seemed to me that the independent manufacturers had to have a little something extra to get customers to buy them. They were often more unique in design, and had features that the "Big Three" didn't have. Nash, for example, had the best heating system and seats that folded into beds.  Packard had air conditioning starting in 1940, and Studebaker had sophisticated design. Kaiser also excelled in body design from 1951 on. Independents definitely made cars more interesting.

[mrpitv]

True but they were crushed because they didn't have the scale for purchasing, marketing, engineering and distribution. The innovations didn't prove to be as significant as size.

[TomLibby100]

Yes, of course, that's the way it turned out. Sometimes they traded "advantages," like Nash trading Weather Eye to GM for Hydramatic. Kind of sad, though, to see these fine old cars go.

[mrpitv]

I agree. I always liked the outsiders, the little guys who battle the giants. Much better story. And it's where a lot of the innovation comes from.

[OzzInter]

@TomLibby100

Totally agree!

Some very advanced ideas were introduced by small, independents!

The Big Three are notoriously conservative and seeing a small manufacturer try something different and fail only reinforced a very conservative approach by others.

[madcapromanian]

HA! HA! Nice Video! Pretty soon though, GM, Chrysler and Ford will become "Orphan Cars". It's about time they got the brush for squishing out the "Independant" car companies!

[BetoG34]

sorry your wrong those companies are going to be around for a long time.