Those Orphan Cars in the Chesapeake Region by Ted

HE HESAPEAKE ULLETIN T C B Volume 47 - Number 10 October 2007 Visit our website: www.aaca.org/chesapeake Published monthly by the Chesapeake Region of the Antique Automobile Club of America Those Orphan Cars In The Chesapeake Region Many Chesapeake Region members second time in 2005. Are these bramds (they somewhat stretch the defunct have orphan cars – those car marques just dropped car models of Chevrolet division criterion a wee bit).” To that are no longer made because the and Ford, or orphans? learn more about the Orphan Car Tour manufacturer is not in business click on: www.orphancartour.org. anymore. The mid-Atlantic area of the Possibly the best definitions of what antique car hobby is unique because it constitutes an orphan car is from Jon Because AACA membership covers all supports the annual Orphan Car Tour, Battle (Bull Run Region, AACA), who makes of antique vehicles, our Club has which has a scenic and historic one-day is one of the organizers of the Orphan a diverse representation of orphan route in Maryland makes owned – AMC, and/or Virginia Cord, Edsel, Crosley, each year in early DeSoto, Graham, June. And now our Hudson, Hupmobile, Club is a sponsor Kaiser, MG, Packard, of the Orphan Car Willys, Studebaker, Show, which has Metropolitan, several been held for years brass era cars; plus in Carroll County the Plymouths and during July. Oldsmobiles. There are a lot of Owning and restoring opinions about some of these orphan what qualifies a car cars presents a make as an orphan. challenge in obtaining Some purists think NOS, used, and repro that the automobile parts and information. manufacturer had While there are active to cease making single make national cars – like Nash, car clubs to help Packard, Hudson, provide support, it’s or Studebaker. Others think that a car somewhat tougher to own an orphan make can also be an orphan if the Shown above are four orphan car car; but maybe that’s what adds to the automobile maker closed a division – examples clockwise from the top left: fun of owning an antique car. like DeSoto, Plymouth, or Oldsmobile. Allen Weinstein, 1941 Hupmobile; And there are some automotive Jerry Ross, 1954 Kaiser; Art Rutledge, The Studebakers historians who believe that the number 1932 DeSoto; and Jim Among the orphan car makes in the of mergers and buyouts among Synodinos, 1947 Packard. Chesapeake Region, there are several American automakers has clouded the ________________________ Studebakers that are owned by six issue of which carmakers went out of members, and a couple of other business – like the Hudson/Nash and Car Tour – “We define an Orphan as members have owned them in the recent Willys Jeep to AMC to Chrysler Corp. any vehicle (car or truck) manufactured past. Current members that we’ve series of transactions starting in 1954 by a company or company division identified with Studebakers are Bob and ending in 1987. which is no longer engaged in the Johannessen – 1963 Avanti, Pat manufacture of vehicles. We seem to Wenderoth – 1928 sedan, John To further confuse the definition about slightly tweak this each year! In fact, Raffensparger – 1963 GT Hawk, which cars are orphans, consider that we have a “big tent” outlook and don't Donald Reisberg – has several from the Chevrolet dropped Corvair back in the make a big deal about it if we get a late 1920s to 1960, Ed Dashiell – 1941 ’60s and Ford dropped Thunderbird a Corvair, Imperial, Zephyr, or LaSalle Continued on the next page >> THE CHESAPEAKE BULLETIN OCTOBER 2007 Orphan Cars - continued Motors in Edgewood, MD, the original records, it’s quite possible that this car selling dealer. The original buyer was never sold and instead kept by the pickup truck, and Ted Schneider – 1964 traded it back in 1972 and the dealer 1960s Atlanta area distributor. Cruiser. stored it for about ten years to give to his son when he grew up. But when the The body number and serial number son came of age he was into Camaros indicate it was made in the first month or so of ’64 production in 1963. Larks The car was in decent shape with only were considered compact cars, but by 79K miles and needed some cosmetics today’s standards it’s huge – 113 inch like outside chrome redone and some wheelbase, 3,300 pounds, 289 CI V-8. interior work. The Avanti is an AACA Senior car, but is also a driver. Donald Reisberg has what’s known in Studebaker circles as “a flock”, but only one is a “bird” car – his 1960 Lark. The rest of the collection John Raffensparger’s 1963 GT Hawk includes: 1927 EU Sport Coupe, 1932 is unusual because he is the only owner. SC2 1-1/2 ton truck, 1947 M15A John bought the car out of the dealer’s delivery truck, and 1947 4 dr. sedan. showroom back in 1963 when he was All of these vehicles are restored. just picking up a part for the 1958 Studebaker he owned. Instead of Ford Motor Company’s Edsel buying the part he traded the car. Another Orphan brand, which is only owned by a couple of members, is This was his first new car, but it was Ed Dashiell’s 1941 Studebaker M5 Ford’s famous failure – the Edsel. lightly used because he always had pickup truck will look like this when another car as his daily driver. Several the restoration is finished. About ten years later it was retired, but John kept years ago Ed began looking for a 1947 it until he restored it recently. pickup to restore. After a long search, a suitable ’46 was found in central Virginia. Before buying it he checked the serial number (M5 281) and found that the truck was actually an early ’41, not a ’46, and therefore very rare. Ed bought the truck because he liked its looks and rarity. The total production of M5s was only 4,685. Jim Popp’s 1960 Edsel convertible is a good example of the several dozen Ed’s truck came from the factory with Edsels that he has in a storage facility only one accessory – the cab dome Pat Wenderoth’s 1928 Studebaker that has a sign above the door “Shrine light. It didn’t even have a rear President is well known to most Club of the Holy Grill” – a statement about bumper, which was also an accessory. members because he likes to drive it to what many believe was an ugly car. Ed hopes to have it restored for the many events. This was the top-of-the- 2008 SDC International Meet in Jim has been collecting Edsels since line Studebaker with a powerful straight Lancaster, PA. 1959 and stuck with them when even as eight engine and the size, finish, and antiques they were shunned by many. appointments to qualify it as a luxury Today, Edsels are somewhat pricey and car in its time. sought after. Pat acquired this fine Studebaker in the The other Edsel is owned by Frank early 1960s. It easily keeps up with Ruehl III, who has a 1959 convertible. modern traffic and has excellent mechanical brakes that stop this heavy So for all our Club members who get car. It’s also great for parades because hung-up on whether or not they have a you can comfortably get seven people Chevy, or a Ford, or a Mopar – or a so- in it. called prestige car like Cadillac, or a Ted Schneider’s 1964 Studebaker big dollar muscle car – remember that Bob Johannessen’s 1963 Studebaker Cruiser was purchased on e-Bay and is there are a whole bunch of antique cars Avanti (see the picture on page 5) was a Georgia car that had red clay dirt in out there with unfamiliar names that bought about 20 years ago from Jones the trunk to prove it. Based on sketchy need some lovin’ too! 2.

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