So, who has or has had an orphan car?

"Pearson Hurst" (phurst) 08/12/2013 at 11:06 • Filed to: Orphan Cars, Orphans, SAAB, Pontiac, Isuzu, Plymouth, International Harvester, Renault, Oldsmobile, Datsun

0

15

I was talking to a friend of mine the other day about how his Saturn is an technically an orphan car, since Saturn no longer exists as a division of GM. Having owned several orphan cars myself, I thought it would be interesting to see what kind of orphans my fellow Opponauts own or have owned. The only rules are:

1) The company must no longer exist, or must no longer sell in the US market.

2) You must currently drive, or have driven the car after the company went under or ceased US sales.

So, here are mine:

Past: SAAB 9-3, Pontiac Grand Prix GTP, Isuzu Trooper, Plymouth Voyager, Renault Alliance, Oldsmobile Safari, Datsun 510

Current: International Harvester Scout 800A

fhrblig > Pearson Hurst 08/12/2013 at 11:11

0

I bought an Oldsmobile Alero a few months after GM announced they were shutting them down. Saved a buttload of cash, and it was a great car. I've owned a Pontiac and a Mercury, but not when they were orphaned. My sister bought a Pontiac G6 convertible after they closed Pontiac and hasn't had many problems with it.

FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 > Pearson Hurst 08/12/2013 at 11:14

0

On my first one- Mercury Grand Marquis. I will admit that the orphan car status was part of the allure of buying her.

GhostZ > Pearson Hurst 08/12/2013 at 11:15

0

I learned to drive stick on this:

Aya, Almost Has A Cosmo With Toyota Engine Owned by a BMW. > Pearson Hurst 08/12/2013 at 11:17

1

Is Indonesian Made Cars count?

Mine was a Timor S515i, Made back in 90's when indonesia's President wants an Indonesian version of Volkswagen. So they bought a bunch of Kia Sephia Chassis, body, and Mazda 323 Engines, build the car, and sell it for 2000 US$ back in 1996.

And she still running, and Timor is dead in 1998.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Pearson Hurst 08/12/2013 at 11:18

0

I own 2 orphans right now!

1968 Mercury Montego MX (Cyclone Package)

2007 Mercury Milan V6 FWD

Takuro Spirit > Pearson Hurst 08/12/2013 at 11:19

0

HAD:

Eagle Talon after Eagle went under, but worked at a Dodge dealer and could still get parts/service

Oldsmobile Bravada after Olds died. No worries, same as Blazer, didn't need any body parts.

Pearson Hurst > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 08/12/2013 at 11:21

0

I dig that Montego!

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Pearson Hurst 08/12/2013 at 11:30

0

Thank you sir! Feel free to search the tag MONTEGO PROJECT in OPPO. You can see a ton more pics and some of the progress! Just posted a new MONTEGO PROJECT post about 60 seconds ago (yes, I mean that literally).

The Stig's Rustbelt Cousin > Pearson Hurst 08/12/2013 at 11:35

0

I'm not sure that a lot of the orphans that people will list here (including some that the author mentioned) will really count as such.

For starters, vehicles from discontinued brands whose parent company still exists are really just discontinued models from that company. All the Pontiacs, Plymouths, Mercurys, Datsuns, (etc) continued to be serviceable by other dealers of the same company long after their brands went away. GM even made a point of designating which dealers were going to handle the warranty work for Saturn/Hummer/Pontiac and so on. Moreover, most of the parts for these cars were still available through these dealers, because they shared so many components with (or were almost identical to) other cars in the parent company's lineup. These cars have more in common with young Bruce Wayne than Oliver Twist; rich family members were there to look after the newly parentless child, and so they were never in danger of being sent off to the boys' home.

The Isuzus come closer, though the unfortunate Rodeo owners would continue to visit their local Honda dealers for years, even though the Honda techs hated working on those terrible shitboxes. Same can be said for Geo storm owners, at least until the Geo brand went away.

Older cars aren't really orphans either, because after a certain amount of time, most (if not all) manufacturers stop supporting their ancient products. Even though there's still a Chevy dealer down the street from you, if you take your 55 Bel-Air in there for service, I doubt they'll have the parts laying around, or technicians who were specially trained to work on it. So, out go the Datsuns.

Cars that were abandoned when their makers left town come closer. Just ask anyone trying to find parts for their old British classic. The aftermarket has done a fine job of supporting most of their replacement part needs, but obtaining them still involves more effort than getting parts for your Ford Ranger, parts for which are available at most gas stations.

No, when I think orphan car, I'm thinking Packard, Studebaker, Hudson, Tucker, etc.

pianomanzero > Pearson Hurst 08/12/2013 at 12:21

0

We currently have a 2001 Saturn SL2 (which ironically enough was involved in a minor fender bender yesterday) but since its parent company is still alive and well and servicing Saturns, it's more of a trust-fund orphan hehe.
We call it The General, cause no matter what hell we put it through it keeps soldiering on (the name actually came from the previous owner but we decided to keep it)
He can be a little grumpy sometimes, but for what it is The General is a tough little car.

The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 > Pearson Hurst 08/12/2013 at 12:48

0

A pair of 1992 Grand Marquiseses and a 1972 Cutlass Supreme.

VincentPrice > Pearson Hurst 08/13/2013 at 00:06

0

A 1983 Oldsmobile 98 Regency just like the one above. I do not currently drive it, as it does not run. I have however pushed it some distance and have "driven" it while others have pushed.

GRawesome > Pearson Hurst 08/13/2013 at 13:00

0

Some cool orphaned cars you all have owned.

My first car ever was an Orphan and not cool at all, a 1986 Peugeot 505STi (not my car in the picture, just generic 505sti off the google)

One of my current cars is somewhat of an Orphan, they still sell Land Rovers in the US just not the current model of this car. A 1972 Land Rover Series 3 RHD.

Pearson Hurst > GRawesome 08/13/2013 at 15:38

0

I do love a Rover :) That Peugeot has a certain amount of charm as well.

GreenN_Gold > Pearson Hurst 08/13/2013 at 16:00

0

Bought one of the last Plymouth Neons and kept it for about 9 years, but it hardly felt like an orphan with so many Dodge Neons/Dodge dealers around.