There was a time when the automotive landscape was full of brands all over America, though most were concentrated around Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. The ones that didn’t survive each had a respective reason to curtail production and, as cars were often disposable, these brands often were never heard from again. That’s why Ypsilanti, Michigan’s Orphan Car Show is so important — you get to see vehicles that often are ignored by the mainstream.
Not too long ago, the Orphan Car show was the unofficial homecoming for these marques — cars like Nash, Kaiser and Studebaker, among many others that have come and gone from the American landscape. So, it is with some tinge of unease to see Pontiacs, Plymouths, Oldsmobiles and Mercurys, as it doesn’t seem congruent to include those with Hupmobiles and Crosleys, but they too are considered orphans today and therefore are welcome to stand alongside the veterans.
![](https://journal.classiccars.com/media/2022/10/1936-hupmobile-touring-1.jpeg)
The mission of the Orphan Car Show is “to feature vehicles that the parent company no longer exist. To grow the interest in this special collection of vehicles for the next generation.” That’s but one level of consideration of what is an orphan, but there are others:
- Brands that were dropped in 2010 or earlier though the parent company still exists, like Edsel, Monarch and Saturn.
- Vehicles that were separate brands at some point in their history, such as Imperial and Continental.
- Imported brands previously sold in the U.S. but now absent for 25+ years yet may still be sold in other countries, like Citroen, Rover and Borgward.
- Brands that are continuations of previous production cars (though not kit cars), like the Avanti.
![](https://journal.classiccars.com/media/2022/10/1958-packard.jpeg)
There are two exceptions: the Chevrolet Corvair, which has a connection to Ypsilanti, and Jeeps before 1988, as they were manufactured by a company that no longer exists.
The show is held at Riverside Park, which is a gorgeous piece of property right by the Huron River. Bike trails and fishing are but two features, making the park a stellar location for the event.
The gallery below features the usual suspects, like Packard, DeSoto and American Motors, but you’ll also find rarities like Cole, Liberty, and even Willys-Knight.
1906 REO and 1908 Renault 1920 Cole Aero 8 1020 Liberty 10-C Touring 1920 Nash 687 Sport Touring 1923 Studebaker Light Six Touring 1926 Yellow Cab 0-5 1928 Hudson 8 Roadster 1929 Packard 633 Roadster 1929 Pierce-Arrow 1929 Willys-Knight 1929 Willys-Knight 1929 Willys-Knight 1930 Willys-Knight Great Six 1934 Terraplane Terraplane hood ornament 1936 Hupmobile Touring 1937 120 and 1936 Packard 1401 1936 Hudson 77 Custom Touring 1937 Nash Ambassador Business Coupe 1937 Nash Ambassador 1937 Packard Super Eight Victoria 1939 Studebaker Champion 1940 DeSoto 1941 Packard 120 1942 DeSoto 1942 DeSoto 1942 Hudson Super Six 1946 Willys CJ2 1947 Crosley 1947 DeSoto Suburban 1948 Pontiac Torpedo 1948 Pontiac Torpedo 1948 Hudson Commodore 8 1949 Packard Custom Eight 1951 Crosley Super Sport 1951 Crosley engine 1952 DeSoto Firedomes 1952 Hudson Hornet 1952 Studebaker Champion 1953 DeSoto Firedome 1953 Packard Clipper Sportster 1953 Studebaker Champion Starlight Regal 1953 Willys Aero-Eagle 1954 Kaiser Special 1954 Packard Convertible 1955 and 1956 DeSotos 1955 Packard Super Clipper Panama 1955 Studebaker Champion 1956 Plymouth Fury 1957 DeSoto Firedome Sportsman 1957 DeSoto Firedome 1957 Hudson Hornet Custom 1957 Plymouth Belvedere 1958 DeSoto Firesweep Sportsman 1958 DeSoto Firesweep 1958 Edsel Citation 1958 Packard 1959 DeSoto Firesweep Sportsman 1959 Plymouth Sport Fury 1959 Plymouth 361 1959 Plymouth Sport Fury 1959 Plymouth Sport Fury 1959 Rambler 6 1961 Chevrolet Corvair Rampside 1961 Rambler and AMC Pacer 1962 Amphicar 1963 Plymouth Sport Fury 1965 Chevrolet Corvair 1965 Mercury Park Lane 1965 Mercury Park Lane interior 1965 Mercury Park Lane 390 1965 Mercury Park Lane 1965 Mercury Park Lane 1965 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 1966 Rambler Marlin 1966 Rambler Marlin 1966 Rambler Marlin interior 1967 Plymouth GTX 1969 Plymouth Road Runner 426 Hemi from 1969 Road Runner 1973 AMC Javelin 1977 Mercury Cougar Villager 1977 Mercury Cougar Villager interior Avantis Chevrolet Corvairs Tribe of Citroens
Not one photo of a Mercury Cougar XR7?
I was in a car show last year and out of 670 cars I had the only Cougar…. of any year. Mine is a 68 and I am stopped by someone virtually everyday. I drive it everyday and the usual comment is either “I have never seen a car that looks like that” or “I haven’t seen a real Cougar in a least 40 years”.
It would depend on someone bringing one to the show.
I agree you rarely see cougars. I have a 67 XR7 that I have had in a few local shows but will be having in more once I get it back from being painted.
Not one photo of the gorgeous 1993 Rover 220?
Some pics don’t turn out well.
Win some, lose some.
Sorry that no Graham cars are listed. I’ve had my 36 in that show 2 or 3 times and it was well received. They were made in Detroit from around 28 till 1941, then bought out by kaiser. Graham produced more supercharged cars than anyone until Buick finally managed to beat them in the 80s I believe