After a three-year hiatus due to COVID-19, the Ypsilianti Orphan Car Show rolled back onto the Southeast Michigan collector car scene with another fine event at Riverside Park.

We were mighty glad to see the annual Ypislanti Orphan Car Show make a return this year after three years on hold due to the pandemic. It’s always been one of our favorite events because it features cars you aren’t likely to see anywhere else: the lost and misplaced brands of the automotive world, from Packard to Panhard. Of course, the list of orphan brands has grown in recent years with the demise of Pontiac, Oldsmobile, and other storied makes, but for us that only adds to the interest.

At this year’s show, the car count was down somewhat and the crowd was maybe a little thin, no doubt a result of the three-year layoff, and also possibly due to a schedule conflict with the fancy Detroit Concours (formerly St. John’s) at the Detroit Insitute of Art a few miles east. We’re just glad that a great car show is solidly back on the calendar, and we’re already looking forward to a bigger and better event next year.

The Ypsi Orphan Show is special among classic car events, and these three gentlemen help to make it special: master of ceremonies Ron Pinsonealut and historical narrators Bob Elton and Ed Ostrowski. Ron has been a key part of the show since its inception and knows many of the exhibitors personally, while Bob and Ed have an astonishing command of orphan car lore. Grab a seat near the public-address system and get a graduate-level education on automotive history. Below are a few of the cars that caught our eye this year. Click on any image to start a slide show.