5 reasons to adopt orphan project cars
Walk the aisles of your local pick-a-part, or scroll the seemingly endless pages of projects listed for sale on the internet, and you’ll find plenty of cars just waiting for a new home. Decades of market forces have shaped the roster of cars that have survived this long. There’s a certain safety in going with the grain—relatively generous parts supply, aftermarket options, a knowledgable and engaged community—but going the other direction with a particularly rare or unloved model has its own rewards. Here are five reasons to adopt a car from an orphan brand:
Forces you to better understand your car
Parts availability often trends with popularity and production numbers. That means that while those who love Chevrolet Chevelles are spoiled by the ability to procure just about any part or piece they might need to keep their car on the road. Someone with an AMC Javelin is often left to sort out how new and old parts might play nice together.
This doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Mainstream bolt-on kits often make meaningful compromises, and the simplicity of a one-stop shop means the installer doesn’t need to be terribly scrutinizing. In absence of such easy solutions, we might more clearly think through what we are trying to build and not get distracted by low-hanging fruit.
You’ll become a member of the community by necessity
Lived experience is a powerful thing. Usually, the most valuable resource for someone working on a given car is to talk with the people who have been doing it for much longer. Our knowledge and understanding of how our cars work changes over time, as well as changing with the technologies at hand, so not everything should be taken as gospel (look no further than a lot of performance modification books from decades ago) but there is incredible experience to mine from those who have tread the path before us. It’s probably possible to restore a first-generation Mustang without engaging with anyone else, but doing the same with a basket-case Nash? A lot tougher, and a few savvy Nash friends will make your journey a lot richer.
It’s impossible to hide
It’s fun to be known for something, especially if you can pick what it is. “Steve? The guy really into rotary NSUs?” Or “Alex? The Studebaker nut?” Just about any old car will stand out in modern traffic, but an orphan of years gone by is likely to draw even more attention. People just don’t know what they are. The rarer it is on the road, the more likely it is to draw comments and conversation at every fuel-up or parking lot. Not everyone wants to become the center of attention wherever they go, but it can be to have your work in keeping history on the road foster human connections.
Event eligibility
If you like driving your car and attending tours and events, an off-beat or otherwise unusual car can be your ticket into exclusive gatherings that run-of-the-mill cars will not be allowed access. Driving tours and large shows typically have to cap entry, often favoring interesting or unique cars so as to avoid a parade of too-similar vehicles. One example: The Colorado Grand “is open to racing cars and sports cars of distinction built in 1960 or before.” That means Peerless GTs are as welcome as Mercedes-Benz SL Gullwings or Shelby Cobras. One of those is available on a blue-collar budget, while the other two are, well, not.
The barrier to entry is typically lower
Speaking of prices, take a scroll through your favorite classifieds site. It doesn’t take long to suss out that defunct brands generally trade at lower value than those from, say, the Big Three. Your dollar often goes further if your are agnostic as to the grille badge. For the price of an entry-level but popular car, you can sometimes nab the top trim of a more obscure car. While others may spend time and money up-badging or even up-restoring (think of all the Chevrolet 150s that became Bel Airs over the years) it can be satisfying to have piece of history that requires no asterisk. Not to mention the fatter parts budget.
Are there downside that come with choosing the path less traveled? Of course. It’s harder, for one, but the upsides should not be ignored. An oddball car might send you on an adventure that benefits not only you but helps preserve a small part of car culture that would have otherwise faded away.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I have motorcycles to haul and a space in my driveway for a Studebaker pickup to do the grunt work. It’s out there somewhere.
Orphans or “What are you thinking?”. Back in the late ’70s, I nabbed a ’70 Jeep DJ-5 Postal Jeep that was decommissioned. Chevy 153 4-cyl with a Powerglide! Paint, pinstripes, header and Hush Thrush, Firebird buckets and shag carpet later – what a blast doing 60+ with those doors locked open (it had a/c!). Not to mention the looks and comments, which I wasn’t seeking but liked anyway! Due to life (ha!) had to sell it, it was bought by my mailman! Currently working up a ’51 Ford F-1 Panel Truck. Orphans, oddities or just crazy? But I smile!
88 Dodge Daytona,
Been in the family since it rolled out of the Dodge dealership down the road.
Countless roadtrips to Laughlin, it was always our go to car for getting out of town.
around 100k on the odometer, (it stopped measuring miles years ago) tac still works.
my stepchild car, mostly sits in the driveway, baking in the Arizona sun.
I never had the heart to get rid of my “Dayna”.
Heavily regulated on board computer keeps her running strong, passes emissions every time.
I’m amazed that people will stop me in lots and tell me they’ve never seen one before -???
(Didn’t they ever watch “Hunter?”) Didi McCall catching bad guys in her red T-top?
It’s been tough keeping her on the road, 2 steering racks, several water pumps, struts and brakes, alternators, head gasket, countless mp injectors, 4 fuel pumps (she hates methanol laced gas).
One time she literally ate the timing belt, there was just a piece the size of a shoelace left, before I figured where the noise was coming from.
She’s easy to work on, but parts are getting scarce,
I jumped in her the other day just to spin around the block.
Didn’t hear the pre whine of the in tank fuel pump. DAMN!
gotta drop the tank -again…
Did I mention I really hate the garbage gas were stuck with…
I guess I better save that Saab hatchback in the driveway. It’s got dents and dings in every panel from three kids and eight years of student driving, BUT the 2.0Turbo is a champ!
I enjoy preserving and displaying my low mileage highly original 1962 Rambler American four door. It does attract attention from some, who might comment that the town librarian or a lady piano teacher down the street drove one years ago. Never heard that the fire chief or someone’s lumberjack uncle had one. I’ve often wondered how come.
I think my SAAB Sonett makes a great candidate and the cost to join the clan is well below what the limited production numbers would seem to justify.
Orphan cars are great. People shouldn’t be afraid to buy one. The internet will eventually have anything you need. I restored a 1930 Graham-Paige ( the maroon one with wood spokes if you google it ) that was a shell from a salvage yard in SD.
Also have a 64 GTO and it is true what was said earlier. The Graham gets way more attention, questions , parade invites and it does make you the neighborhood celebrity. Only problem is there have been some shows I’ve attended that I couldn’t walk around because of all the questions about the car. But it’s all good. There will always be buyers for Mustangs and Camaros and this is great, but we have to save the orphans too.
I have restored both a 1969 Torino convertible and a 1956 Meteor Niagara two door hardtop. I received generous help with advice and especially parts for the Torino from members of the forum at http://www.torinocobra.com. One fellow even transported a parts car for me from southern Virginia US to Port Huron Michigan border crossing for me , NO CHARGE !!! He was bringing a tractor trailer flat bed partial load there , and was a relative of the guy I bought the shell and parts from. He wouldn’t take any $ from me, my only cost was a fork lift at the transport yard to lift off his trailer and put it on mine, 20$. I still can’t thank those gentleman enough, 23 years later. I sold the Torino in 2019 to fund the restoration of the 56 Meteor, a Canadian only car and was fortunate to be introduced to a guy two hours from me that helped me find all the unique chrome trim for it and let me use his shop to finish it. I just got in on the road, and covid hit. With an uncertain future then, I sold it to a guy in Sweden. I was hurt in an accident and left with some disabilities so my hands on time with old vehicles is over. I still have my 1994 F150 short bed, and that will go eventually to my son.
You wanna go “deep” Orphan? Try a 1957 DKW 3=6 with a 3 cyl 2 stroke engine, suicide doors, teardrop shape, and spare parts never to be found at any local Auto parts store. A relatively low volume German made 5 passenger “import” from the 1950’s slotted somewhere between the VW Beetle and Mercedes 190, later to be resurrected as Audi.
Yes, it’s true – you become your own ‘historian’, racking up the experiences and miles driving an orphan like this, and trust me, any time I drive it anywhere it draws a crowd. Always gets LOTS of attention at shows (to the chagrin of Porsche and Chevy Tri-5 owners!) The “smiles” per mile are truly off the chart in an orphan like this. Makes even a Nash Airflyte or Studebaker Hawk seem like a common occurrence by comparison! People just want to know WHAT it is! Some even have personal stories they tell of one they knew about 50 years ago.. How many more Camaros or Mustangs or Tri-5s do we really want to see at shows at this point anyway?
I had a tan over grey 1959 DKW wagon when in university in 1966. Just another used car then, and not a valuable one at that. Liked the free wheeling aspect that the four speed column shift had. I’ve always liked odd duck cars. Keep yours running!!
1993 Mercedes 600 SEC. I learned a new acronym…NLA. Enuff said.
I restored a ’63 Studebaker Avanti.
It was always the topic of conversation, A great car if you wanted to be noticed.
The downside is a fuel stop usually took 15 minutes and you”D have to hear ” experts” tell you a mangled history of the car.
-“No, it wan NOT made in Canada”.
-“It’s powered by a Studebaker 289, not Ford”.
-“It’s a Studebaker, not a Jaguar”.
As the article says, at a car show people would flock to it overlooking many more expensive cars.
Once, I went to the local Italian car club show as a spectator, and a lot of the guys there had to look at my car.
A Ferrari owner was so impressed that after the show he took me for a ride in his car.
Have been a Hudson-Essex-terraplane club member for 40+ years, AMC club, and CORSA (Corvair) for lotsa years also. Everyone has a tri fiveor Mustang etc of every color..great however, I have enjoyed learning about other makes and their members instead of the masses.
I felt that I was reading my own comment when I read this one. About the only difference was I didn’t get a ride in a Ferrari after the show. LOL…
My brother sent me a photo of a restored Henry J he saw at a show in Tennessee. The front license plate reads “ITS WHUT?
My brother sent me a photo of a Henry J he saw at a show in Tennessee. The license plate reads “ITS WHUT?”
I have a 1974 International Harvester Custom 100 1/2 ton pickup I bought a little over 3 years ago. I had been looking for one that had the AMC American Motors 401 V8 installed in it by the IH Factory. Looked all over shopping for this variety pickup. I found one finally it was a very clean truck with 64,000+ miles on it. No rust or dents a very clean body. I was looking for something a little different at the time I could not get this sort of pickup out of my mind. Now that I have it is kind of fun having people gathering around it asking me all about it. Sometimes I am in a hurry to get where I want to go but I will make time for the conversations about my truck. Been to 2 Auto shows with it the previous owner only took it to Auto shows. I notice lately how old pickups are gathering momentum as individuals realize the history of our old pickups down through the years being a work horse now a show item too.
Have a restored 1970 Opel Caravan with a modified 2.0 L engine. The fast Opel Caravan in Kentucky lol.
I’ve marched to a different drummer all my life…. My first new car is a 1969 Pontiac Lemans…. the Sprint version with the high perf. OHC6. With all the stuff a 22 yr. old guy would want, fancy wheels, hood tach, 4 spd., positraction, turqoise with black top… AND… I still have it. Never winter driven, still cleans up nice, and the orphan spirit lives in this car, it gets lots of attention at shows… just as stated in the article. So glad I kept it, instead of selling it [as did my buddies their hot cars] I put it in storage for 11 years while my kids were little and cash was hard to come by. So glad I did… There are damn few things that now make me feel young again, but taking a spin in that car does it… along with the memories that come along for the ride.