Orphan Cars - Great Cars

From the PBS series Great Cars. Edsel, Corvair, Hudson, Studebaker, Hupmobile, Crosley, Maxwell and more --- these are the Orphan cars. Every summer out on the edge of Ypsilanti, Michigan a group of car lovers gather for a car show that has been called eccentric, misguided or just fun. This passionate bunch of auto fanatics hauls out a group of ghost cars that they've nurtured for years. These are cars that fizzled and died out. Many of these "orphan cars" had unusual design and engineering features. They were created by people willing to go out on a limb. Unfortunately, the limb broke. But there are dedicated people who savor these marques and have turned these underdogs into show winners. It's a salute to the fallen that intrigues everyone who attends. More at GreatCarsTV.com

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• orphan
• rare
• collectable
• tucker
• kaiser
• unusual
• classic
• Edsel
• Corvair
• Hudson
• Studebaker
• Hupmobile
• Crosley
• Maxwell

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[majorporpoise]

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

And kick out all the Jap cars.

[animalcorvair]

@NFS4LFE i have 6 in my barn