CAFÉ RACER 76: WOULD YOU OWN AN ORPHAN CAR?

My taste in cars tends to border on the obscure, with a number of orphan marques on my list of vehicles I want to own…someday.

Orphan marques, you ask? It’s simple: they’re brands that no longer exist, meaning owners of Tatras, Panhards, Duesenbergs, Saturns, and other car companies are on their own when it comes to repairs, spare parts, historic documentation, and other nice-to-haves as a vintage car owner. They’re not essentials, of course—there are plenty of pre-war cars around running and driving…they’re just not often 100% original.

I owned somewhat of an orphan with my 1985 Citroën 2CV Charleston, as the automaker had long since pulled out of the country. The local Canadian Citroën club was my one and only resource, and they were exceptional, helping to source tires, provide technical help, and organize fun outings. I hate to think of those who don’t have such a great resource or help nearby.

Have you owned a vehicle originally made by a now defunct automaker? What lengths did you have to go to in order to keep it in working order? Did a local club help out? I find these sorts of stories fascinating…