An auto tragedy: Cash for clunkers junked some classic cars
Filed under: Technology, Economy, Ford Motor Co.
As the CARS program -- a.k.a. "cash for clunkers" -- helped an estimated 700,000 cars find new homes, it was sometimes easy to forget the opposite end of the process. For every car that was purchased, another car was traded in, and these unwanted heaps were, allegedly, put to death with a nasty process that involved shredding the engine with liquid glass. Even when it only involves a car, capital punishment is never an attractive situation, and many of us reassured ourselves with the notion that the cars being destroyed were unattractive gas-guzzlers, like Ford (F) Explorers, Jeep Grand Cherokees, and Chevy Blazers. This was largely true: as the final listing of destroyed vehicles demonstrates, six of the top ten trade-ins were "Fraud Exploders" from the late 1990's, and most of the cars that met their ends were the sorts of generic models that tend to give Detroit a bad name. Still, numerous beautiful or exceedingly valuable cars managed to find their way onto automobile death row. Some of these, like the 1990 LaForza SUV were valuable because they were rare. The same goes for the GMC Typhoon, which originally numbered only 4,697 cars, and is now down to 4,696, at most. Others, like the Bentley Continental-R and the Maserati Quattroporte that found their way to the wrecking yard were not particularly beautiful, but represented the output of super-premium brands.
On the other hand, some of the cars that were destroyed were simply masterpieces. For example, the 1987 Excalibur Phaeton is a classically-styled convertible that hearkens back to the most luxurious rides of the 1920's. Only 3500 Excaliburs were built, and three Phaetons were exchanged in the CARS program. Similarly, the Aston-Martin DB7 Volante, a sleek pairing of a Jaguar body and a six-cylinder 3.2 liter engine, managed to combine classy looks and impressive performance. Seven thousand were built in 1997, and one of the stunning convertibles was destroyed as part of CARS.
Even beyond this, there were numerous gorgeous -- if common -- models that managed to shrug off the mortal coil as part of the program. For example, while the 1988 Alfa Romeo Spider that met its demise wasn't particularly rare, the destruction of even one of the gorgeous convertibles makes one think about the dwindling supply of beauty in the world. Similarly, the demolition of 97 Corvettes, six Porsche 928s and more than 1,000 Jaguars are enough to make anyone think twice.
Still, as Ecclesiastes (and the Byrds) remind us, while there is a time to cry, there is also a time to laugh. In its favor, the CARS program also managed to rid the world of 87 Pontiac Azteks, which is undeniably a victory in the name of beauty and aesthetics.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
9-25-2009 @ 5:12PM
lisa said...
The pathetic part of this whole program is that it won't make a dent anywhere insofar as global warming or gas consumption being reduced. A very small percentage of people were able to participate. When will you take the REAL gas guzzlers off of the road, the REAL classics? '57 Chevy, '60 Cadillac, Model T's, etc. Someone will request this at some point, so be prepared to pay the price to hold on to your Classic car and drive it on the road.
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9-25-2009 @ 6:01PM
Brad said...
As long as SEMA is around, nobody will have to worry about real classics ever being thrown in the clunker trash. Cars built from the 70's and earlier are generally well kept and the majority are sparingly ever driven, which would make a Toyota Prius carbon footprint look like Bigfoot compared to say a '57 Chevys carbon footprint which would be the size of a mouses footprint in a decades time. Ever wonder how many newer cars that get totaled on a daily basis contribute to pollution when they have to get crushed? It certainly does take lots of coal to power up all the crushers out there plus the disgarding of used transmission & engine oils, batteries (particularly hybrids) plus the various plastics used in these newer cars. Unfortunatley it takes more pollution to disgard than it does to keep a vehicle in good running condition & many people are just not educated on that subject.
9-25-2009 @ 7:05PM
Mr. Bill said...
The only thing pathetic here is your comment.
9-25-2009 @ 7:47PM
mike said...
Put out the sun if you want to stop global warming. Who's business is it how much gas is guzzled anyway. All this drivle is just a money grab by the politicians. We are citizens not subjects...
9-25-2009 @ 11:53PM
M treloar said...
And this bothers you why?
9-26-2009 @ 10:42AM
carmen said...
Obviouisly you know nothing about cars except for what you hear others speak...... When will you take the REAL gas guzzlers off of the road, the REAL classics? '57 Chevy, '60 Cadillac, Model T's, etc..... the largest engine the 57 Chevy had was a 283 V/8....smaller than MOST of the V/8 engines today, it got better gas mileage than most mid-late 1990's SUV's. The Caddy's of the 50's and 60's were behemouths yes, but their gas mileage was as good as most pick up trucks are now. Cash for clunkers was another gov't freebie that cost this country more $$$$ and put us still DEEPER in debt. The gov't is huge, bloated and turning more fascist every day. Yes, Fascist, by running the auto, mortgage, banking, and student loan industries with more on the way, what else would you call it? Certainly not freedom.
9-25-2009 @ 5:24PM
Steve said...
Jeep Grand Cherokees, an "unattractive gas guzzler"???? Screw you, Bruce. I have a 2004 Grand Cherokee Overland that gets 23+ mpg on the highway WITH a V-8, and it's a beautiful rig. Does everything I need it to do up in the snow country. Of course, with today's green goon mentality being forced upon us, everything that's not an ugly POS Prius or "Smart" car is considered a "gas-guzzling SUV". Enough with the cliches and generalizations, already!!
"CFC" was a HUGE clunker, by the way.
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9-26-2009 @ 9:07AM
bd said...
Steve - I agree. My four Jeep's are anything but gas guzzlers or clunkers. They all have over 150, 000 miles, and are tuned up, fixed up and running right. My 90 Jeep Cherokee has 324,000 miles, all original and going strong. The 3 other Grand Cherokees have V-8 engines and get between 22 and 24 miles per gallon. I live in the Rocky Mts. and a 4 wheel drive vehicle is essential in the snow and off-road. Only a fool drives a Prius or any other "smart" car here. No "green" cars for me. They will take my Jeeps away when I am cold and dead, not before.
9-25-2009 @ 5:33PM
jim said...
if the poliicians shut their collective mouths we could decrease global warming to a greater degree than the cash for clunkers fiasco
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9-25-2009 @ 5:39PM
Me said...
hahahahahhahahahaha, I love u.
9-25-2009 @ 5:43PM
Steve said...
Jim shoots, Jim SCORES!!!
9-28-2009 @ 4:13PM
ecmscw said...
I just have to get this off my chest. Obama you are a complete idiot. You would have save millions and millions if you just bought the cars for these people. You would have saved money you F***ing jerk!
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9-26-2009 @ 10:16AM
vaughn d. gale said...
And what were you calling BUSH when he PLEDGED ALLEGIANCE TO THE GAS GUZZLER AND OIL INDUSTRY YOU LOSER!!!! OBAMA HAS TEN TIMES THE BRAIN THAT BUSH HAD. SKIN COLOR CAN'T HIDE THAT!!!!!
9-25-2009 @ 5:46PM
bob40wil said...
Article scared me for a minute, I thought I was going to see 57 Chev. Bel airs, 56 Ford Crown Vics, Gto's, Mustangs, real classics.:)
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9-25-2009 @ 7:14PM
Oscar said...
Just goes to show you what people consider "classic" these days. For something to be a true classic, it has to be more than just old and rare. It has to have broad appeal, outside the car nut crowd. Somehow I just can't classify the Excalibur clown cars as classic. On another note, I can understand people scrapping the Jags, since the only way to keep them clunkers on the road is to drop a Chevy smallblock in them, but the wisdom of scrapping a Vette makes no sense. You could sell the parts to the street rod crowd for more the pittance the government was paying.
9-26-2009 @ 11:23AM
Goose said...
Those cars junked are nothing compared to all the classic muscle cars junked before they became classics. I remember someone back then had an old 67 mustang convertible; in the late 70s; needed a lot of work; but they were trying to get $100 for it back then. I could have bought it; as is; let it sit in a garage for 20 years; and sold it for thousands of $$. Who knew it would become a classic car back then? Same with my cousin's 71 Dodge Challenger; which he sold for $1500 back then.
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9-26-2009 @ 1:49AM
sykiks said...
You think that is bad...In 1971, the year I graduated high school you could buy a good used chevy for $100-$200. I had the opportunity to buy a 1953 Corvette for $1500. Sigh.....who the heck knew?
9-25-2009 @ 5:52PM
Steve said...
God help these schmucks if they try to take my 1967 Wagoneer off the road....
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9-25-2009 @ 5:55PM
al ebert said...
You do not drive a classic car everyday. So have much gas are you using? I have 1966 chevelle with a 454 big block and i drive it maybe two or three times a month and use maybe 10 gallons in gas. Oil will be our main source of fuel for at least the next 50 years!
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9-25-2009 @ 6:17PM
Carl McCann said...
My '95 Cadillac had to go. Replaced it with a 2010 Prius.
The Red prius now sits next to a "real Classic", my red 1968 Mustang convertible in the garage.
CARS was a smashing success!!
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