Would You Own an Orphan Car?

I seem be death to certain Marques. Shortly after I purchased my first Rover they went belly up. Seven years ago I started an affair with, you’ve guessed it, a SAAB. Between my wife and I we drive two SAABS and a Rover. I’m thinking of taking bribes from rival manufacturers to purchase cars.

I own an Ockelbo, and I think it might qualify as an orphan car. Though my Swedish car is based on a 1953 Austin Healey, it had a Volvo heart and drive train. No manuals, no books… I had to research the history of Ockelbo and contemporary race cars to find solutions to the many challenges while bringing it to life again. A lot of people thought it was impossible: Indeed it was a very challenging restoration, but it was worth every minute. I hope you agree… 🙂

I would consider all three of the brands I own Alfa, Lancia and Fiat as orphans. None of cars have any factory support and there has not been a meaningful U.S. presence in many years. Even though Fiat and Alfa are back the new dealers have no interest in their history. In the case of Lancia I consider the brand dead as their products now are just badge engineered.
I’m thankful to faithful aftermarket companies that allow me to keep my cars on the road.

I love my 1962 Studebaker Daytona, simple and easy to work on, and haven’t had any trouble finding parts.

I learned to drive in a 1966 SAAB 95 2 stroke. I had a bunch of other stuff but went back to SAAB from 1982 thru 2011. Overall I have owned 11 SAABs. I just could not buy one more when the company was on such shaky ground. I do have another orphan though, an MG-B that is waiting for the good weather to arrive.

I am the happy owner of a 1933 Licorne L760, a large sedan from a once renowned French marque which produced quality cars until 1950. The vehicle is complete and authentic in every respect: it still has got its original paint, the interior is well preserved and tidy, the body structure is intact, the engine is running, brakes and 12V electrics are working. The only piece that is missing is the knob of a window handle… This venerable car is a true time capsule which I will not “restore” but simply keep in its present “oily rag condition”. Exactly 2,000 cars of this model were made between 1931 and 1935, and probably 20 of them still exist in France, The Netherlands and Germany. My car has spent the past decades unmolested in a tiny museum which explains its fabulous condition. Should anything fail, it can be easily repaired or reproduced – that is why even very rare pre-war cars have the best opportunities to survive, if they are complete. By the way, no need to spend more than 10.000 dollars or euros on such a vehicle. But you’ll need lots of patience, taste, and of course: luck.

Depends on just how “orphaned” one might be. Can products from shuttered divisions get serviced and repaired at still-extant dealers? Mercurys and Plymouths were essentially trim packages on corporate platforms. Not so sure about Saturn S-cars, though.

Past that, the big concerns are age and complexity – in the sense that older is better. Would I go for an MGB or a Spitfire or an Alfa Spider? Sure. The cars are simple and straightforward and fairly easy to maintain and repair, and the current support situation is probably even better than when BL or Alfa Romeo were going concerns in America. (The new Alfa doesn’t count, especially since I’m not totally convinced it’s really here yet.)

Something more individual from about the late Eighties onward, though, would only be viable if the buyer had access to a good specialist mechanic.

What is the car in the bottom left hand picture?

I own three Swedish orphans. ’03 Saab 9-5 Aero wagon, ’97 Saab 9000 Aero (5 sp manual), and a low mileage Classic ’94 Saab 900 Turbo convertible (5 sp manual, last of the pre-GM 900s). Granted, these are “recently” orphaned, and the parts business is still relatively healthy. So far, I’ve had no issues finding parts, even for the 900, and I have a great Saab mechanic here in LA. Luckily they are all rust free and haven’t needed any rare junkyard sourced parts. I hope to keep them all for a very long time!

I have a late model Pontiac GTO that I love very much.