Six Beautiful Cars From Brands Long Since Departed

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"Fallen Flags" is a familiar term among railfans, aviation enthusiasts, and trucking industry enthusiasts. It describes companies and brands that are no longer in business. It's also used by car enthusiasts to refer to auto manufacturers that have gone out of existence. These brands include Studebaker, Packard, DeSoto, Plymouth, Saab, and Nash, among others. You might also know them as "orphan brands", since they're still known by their name, but have lost the parent company that produced them.

1949 Packard Eight Super Eight Club Sedan

This 1949 Packard "Survivor" has a Fastback two-door body style and is one of the only 5,871 Super Eight Club Sedans made that year. It's powered by a 327 cubic-inch "Straight-Eight" engine producing 145 horsepower. The engine is in working order, but could use some detailing and care. A three-speed manual transmission with a Borg-Warner R11 overdrive sends power to the rear wheels. The seller claims the brakes have been rebuilt using original brand new (NOS) parts. The car's black lacquer finish reminds us of Bruce McCall's Bulgemobile designs. The rear chrome bumper has a worn patina, and the brown fabric interior can seat a family of twelve, or so they claim. Packard stopped producing cars in 1956.

1954 Studebaker Regal Panel Wagon

This 1954 Studebaker Regal Panel Wagon may be one of two possible things: a station wagon or delivery vehicle that has been heavily customized, or one of three vehicles that were never produced. The serial number identifies it as a station wagon, but the seller claims there's no sign of it ever having any side windows. Power comes from a Ford small-block V-8 engine, with an Edelbrock intake manifold helping to breathe. The exact horsepower is unknown, but it's mated to a Ford automatic overdrive transmission. This cool, air-conditioned car could be the perfect start to a side hustle like grabbing food for a food delivery service. After 12 years of operation, the South Bend, Indiana-based Studebaker Corporation closed up shop in March 1966.

1957 Plymouth Coronet_generation Coronet marketed as Firesweep Sportsman.

This sleek, finned vehicle embodies the design spirit of 1950s cars with its flowing lines, distinctive jet-age tailfins, and abundance of chrome that was enough to momentarily blind anyone walking by. Powered by a 325-cubic-inch Dodge "Semi-Hemi" V8 engine with a 2-barrel Stromberg carburetor, it produced a maximum of 245 horsepower. The three-speed transmission is operated by easy-to-use pushbuttons on the dashboard. With its turquoise and white body and interior in great condition, including vinyl seating for up to six people, this Firesweep Sportsman is a rare find that would be a prized addition to any collection of Mopar enthusiasts, particularly those with a serious interest in vintage cars.

1960 Nash Metropolitian

This two-toned 1960 Nash Metropolitan is "California Cute" and ready to roll. It's powered by an in-line 1500cc four-cylinder engine, with a single-barrel carburetor and three-speed transmission. Other features include four-wheel drum brakes, a two-spoke steering wheel and 13-inch Firestone whitewall tires mounted on steel wheels. It also comes with a spare tire mounted at the rear. The interior is in good condition, although there are a few spots on the seats. The Metropolitan was manufactured in Austin Motor Company's U.K. factory for export to the U.S. The seller claims this "rolling bathtub" is mechanically sound and perfect for weekend cruising. Nash production ended in 1957 due to the creation of American Motors Corporation.

1966 Plymouth Barracuda

This 1966 Plymouth Barracuda in a yellow and black finish is one of the original high-performance cars from its era. It's powered by a non-original, 318-cubic-inch V-8 engine upgrade that includes an Edelbrock intake manifold and a four-barrel carburetor from Quick Fuel Technology. The vendor claims it gets a good run. Its distinct look is unique to 1966, as the 1967 model was reimagined. The factory exhaust manifold connects to a custom dual-exhaust system that improves sound. The V8 pairs with a three-speed automatic transmission and features manual steering and brakes, labeled as "Armstrong." The interior is well-preserved, with minor signs of wear on the black vinyl. The Plymouth brand of cars and mini-vans was phased out by Chrysler in 2001.

1967 Saab Sonett II

The seller asks, "When you turn on your car, does it return the favor?" Is that likely, though, if you were behind the wheel of this Swedish car? The Sonett II was one of the first to come with a 73-horsepower V-4 engine, sourced from Ford's Taunus. Only 70 of these V4 models were made in 1967; the rest were sixty-horsepower two-stroke models. The interior, with its wood dashboard, could benefit from some TLC. The engine was rebuilt around ten thousand miles ago, but the actual mileage is unknown. The car rides on rare Cromodora alloy wheels. Saab went out of business after a deal between Spyker and General Motors fell through, forcing Saab Automobile to declare bankruptcy in December 2011.

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