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Edmonds’ Frances Anderson Field was transformed into a nostalgic haven during the 2026 Edmonds Orphan Car Show Saturday. With more than 50 vintage vehicles on display and the classic sounds of Chuck Berry, the Moonglows and the Beach Boys filling the air, visitors spent the afternoon swapping stories and reminiscing about the beloved rides they wish they’d never let go.
What is an “orphan car,” you ask?
Once the pride of the American highway, these are vehicles whose parent companies have either gone out of business or discontinued the line to keep pace with changing times. Iconic brands like Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Studebaker, Rambler, Willys, Hudson, DeLorean and Nash may be gone, but they live on in the hearts of those who loved them — and Saturday’s turnout was ample proof that the memories linger.
The show’s roots run deep in Edmonds. Back in 1985, Ed and Kathi Straw organized a local Oldsmobile Club, launching an annual summer gathering at Frances Anderson Field for members to showcase their rides. Little did they know that 20 years later, General Motors would retire the venerable Oldsmobile brand entirely — or that Pontiac would suffer the same fate just five years after that, joining other icons of the American highway that had gone before.
Determined to keep the tradition alive, Ed and Kathi continued hosting the event each summer. However, in recent years, attendance began to dwindle and fewer cars lined the grass.
That changed in 2025 when fellow vintage car enthusiasts Guy and Patty Schoonmaker approached the Straws with a brilliant pivot: expand the show to include all discontinued vehicles.
“The first Edmonds Orphan Car Show was a hit,” Guy said. “We attracted scores of entries and decided to put the entry fees to good use by donating every single cent to Clothes for Kids.”
Now back for its second year, the revamped show is expanding its impact.
“Clothes for Kids has an information booth on-site today, and we’re even running a silent auction to raise extra funds,” Guy said, highlighting the vital support of local sponsors Scanwest Autosport and Panther Road Classics.
With a park full of timeless classics, a soundtrack from the golden age and a community rallying for a great cause, the 2026 Edmonds Orphan Car Show proved one thing: These cars may be history, but their spirit is still firing on all cylinders.
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