CAR DONATION HALL OF FAME
We love our vehicle donors and our donors love their cars! Over the years, we have had a number of terrific donations, classic vehicles, specialty vehicles, boats, planes, and more. We’ve also hear some amazing stories from our donors that explains their deep connection to the charity and the loyalty. Our Hall of Fame highlights some of our favorite car donations. We’ll feature our weirdest, wackiest, funniest, and favorite donations of all time. It’s also a place to celebrate the generosity of our donors and the impact their gift has on charity.
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Golden Wrench’s Best Car Donation of 2022
The votes are in! Golden Wrench’s Best Car Donation of 2022 is the 1961 Jaguar MK2, donated to KNKX. The Jaguar Mark 2 is a luxury sports saloon that was produced from 1959 to 1967 by Jaguar in England. The previous Jaguar models made between 1955 and 1959 are known as Mark 1 Jaguars. The Mark 2 was a fast in-line saloon that came with Sir William Lyons’ 1950s advertising slogan: Grace… Space… Pace… The Mark 2 also came available with any of the three versions of the advanced Jaguar XK6 engine. The 2.4, 3.4, or 3.8 litre engine. Since 1967, there has been no direct successor to the Mark 2 series. This 1961 Jaguar was donated to KNKX, a public radio station in Washington, serving the Seattle Metropolitan Area. When you donate a vehicle to benefit KNKX, you are actually turning your car into the programs you rely on and love. Learn more about public radio and KNKX at the link below!
1967 Ford Mustang
This 1967 Ford Mustang made our Top 5 Grossing Car Donations of 2022 list coming in fourth place with a sale price of $33,000! This Mustang was donated to Habitat for Humanity through its Cars for Homes program. The proceeds from the sale of this Mustang will help families in the Habitat for Humanity Portland Region who are looking for a place to call home. Donate your car to Habitat today!
1976 Volkswagen Beetle
This 1976 Beetle was donated to WBUR, Boston’s NPR station. The Beetle is a 2-door, rear engine economy car that was manufactured and marketed by German automaker Volkswagen from 1938 to 2003. Beetle’s were originally designed in the 1930’s due to World War II, and were produced to be a cheap, simple car to be mass produced for the new roadways in Germany. The original Beetle was designed with only 25 horsepower, which means a top speed of only 62mph! The Beetle’s history is very interesting, click the link below to learn more about the classic Volkswagen Beetle and its redesigned new Beetle introduced in 1998!
1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS
This 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS made our Top 5 Grossing Car Donations of 2022 list coming in first place with an astounding sale price of $51,000! This Chevelle was donated to North Country Public Radio through the Car Talk Vehicle Donation Program. The proceeds from the sale of this “cool car” will actually be turned into the music and news of NCPR. Make a difference at NCPR by donating your car!
1992 Polaris SuperTrack
Think we just accept car donations? Well, at Car Donation Wizard we accept all kinds of different donations. In addition to cars and trucks, we accept boats, personal watercraft, RVs and motorhomes, motorcycles, and more! This 1992 Polaris snowmobile was donated to Habitat for Humanity and will help build homes in the Salt Lake Valley Habitat for Humanity Area. Polaris was founded in 1954, with its first off-roading vehicle invention of the snowmobile following in 1955.
1995 Land Rover Defender 90
Check out one of our top grossing car donations of 2021! This 1995 Land Rover Defender 90 was donated to Habitat for Humanity, and will help build homes for families in the Habitat for Humanity NYC and Westchester County Area. The Land Rover Defender is a series of British off-road cars and pickup trucks. They were developed in the 1980s from the original Land Rover series which was launched in April 1948. In 1990, Land Rover renamed the 90 and 110 models as the Defender 90 and Defender 110. Click the link below to learn more about these vehicles!
1950 Tatra 600
This 1950 Tatra 600 was donated through the American Cancer Society’s Cars for a Cure Program. The Tatra 600 was named the Tatraplan and was a luxury automobile produced in Czechoslovakia, behind the Iron Curtain. The 600 has a very interesting history to go with the outstanding craftsmanship and amazing art deco design. This was one of the last luxury automobiles produced in the communist Eastern Europe. After World War II, Tatra returned to its pre-war business of building passenger cars in addition to commercial (and military) vehicles. Tatra manufacturing was nationalized in 1946 two years before the Communist takeover in 1948. The Tatra 600 Tatraplan was designed in 1946-47 to celebrate nationalism and developing communist pride but also celebrated technology and had a distinct éroplan inspiration (‘éroplan’ means airplane in colloquial Czech).
Porsche 911
Every now and then we receive a really cool car donation that makes a huge impact for our charity partners. Recently, we processed a 1999 Porsche 911 6- cylinder from a generous donor in Florida. This beautiful car had just over 33,000 miles and was well cared for. Porsche lovers will recognize the 1999 model – code name 996 – as the first new body redesign since the Porsche 911 debuted in 1963. Curious about what motivates someone to donate a high value luxury car, I reached out to the donor, Carl, who was more than happy to share his story.
1972 Jaguar E-Type Series III
The “Duck Truck”
The “Zehnomobile”
This is the Zebra/Rhino mobile, a.k.a., the Zehnomobile. This 1995 Mazda MX-5 Miata saw a transformation from sporty to stripey when the donor’s company, “Zehno Cross Media Communications,” rebranded itself and adopted the Zehno mascot. Never heard of a Zehno before? Well, it’s a cross between a zebra and a rhinocerous. Zehno Communications got the idea to transform this vehicle when Zehno’s Paulette Hurdlik was trying to sell her car and couldn’t find a reputable buyer. The company got creative and transformed it into their mascot. Kathy, now the proud owner of the Zehnomobile, explained in an interview how the best part of owning it is the reactions it draws from motorists, children, and tourists. Click below to read the full interview between Car Talk and owner Kathy, and why she decided to donate it to her local NPR station.
Loki’s Best Friend, Rove
Not every car donation featured in the Hall of Fame is a fancy ’99 Porsche, or Tatra from the 50s. Some donors choose to share their personal stories and experiences with us, many heartfelt. This donor purchashed a used Land Rover LR3 back in 2013 because it was one of the only cars that would fit his 90lb German Shepherd, Loki. The donor would take an annual camping trip to Aspen, CO until 2018 when Loki fell ill. Loki spent his final moments sitting in the back of the Rove before his passing. The donor shares how it was fitting how the back of the Rove where they had spent so many fun times together, was the place where they shared their last moments. Click below to read more about this emotional story and why the donor decided to donate to public radio.
Smokey and the Bandit Trans Am
Check out this epic donation, an almost exact replica of the Trans Am from the 1977 film Smokey and the Bandit. In this donor’s story, he shares how he purchased this car as a restoration project and a tribute to the film. Over the years, this donor unfortunately hasn’t had the time to finish the restoration, but hopes that by donating it to the right pereson, the job can get done. As a cancer survivor, this donor feels donating to the American Cancer Society is a perfect fit, as their research and commitment has helped people like himself beat cancer. Click below to read more about this 1979 Trans Am.
2004 Chevrolet Express Bus
This 2004 Chevrolet Express Bus was donated to the ALS Association. The proceeds from this donation will go to helping those affected by ALS. These donors shared their special story with us. In 2018, the couple converted this bus into their home while they went to school. The couple lived in the Express for two years, and upon graduating in 2020 they were able to purchase their second home. Click below to read their full story!
1973 Ford Mustang
Check out this classic car, a 1973 Ford Mustang. This vehicle was donated to Habitat for Humanity, where it will help build a home for a family in the Habitat for Humanity Fort Worth Area. The donor purchased this car when his son approached him one day asking to learn about cars and to rebuild one. The donor bought the Mustang from a coworker without even seeing it first. After the donor got home, unloaded the Mustang from his trailer, and started inventorying parts, he noticed something interesting in the trunk. Click the link below to find out what was stored in the Mustang’s trunk and to view the full story!
Read our blog for more amazing car donation stories.
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Latest Reviews for Car Donation Wizard
Car Donation Wizard
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Great job handling my vehicle donation from first contact to pickup. I was promptly contacted with a very well organized process to handle the donation. The pickup was a bit difficult as the vehicle was in the garage and could not be started. … More The gentleman who handled it was courteous, patient and skilled. Thank you all.
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The donation process was very easy and painless. They walk you through taking pictures of your car for the eventual buyer to see and entering the odometer reading. A couple of days later, someone shows up to take your car - you don't … More have to do anything.
Public Radio and Television is a great charity, and I loved Car Talk. I highly recommend this charity. -
I had a great experience donating my broken down used car. Every step was explained to me in easy to understand emails, and when I had questions I was able to talk to someone on the phone who was friendly and helpful as well. It was sad … More to see my car go after 13 years of good service, but I feel like putting it in the hands of Car Donation Wizard so that someone else could get some use out of it softened the blow and turned it into something positive. Thank you Car Donation Wizard!
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Car Wizard and Habitat for Humanity made my car donation so easy that I wished I had done it months earlier. One phone call, then await word from a local towing company as to when they'll come - that was it! They even gave me a link … More to a video demonstrating exactly how to fill out the title for the sale. Great experience and helpful, kind people.
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Thanks again for your assistance with getting my vehicle picked up. All of the timing issues were solely with me, as my opportunities were causing so many scheduling issues. Your help was greatly appreciated and the tow company was so incredibly … More gracious and helpful. I was such a pain to them and even when the driver arrived be was nothing but professional and respectful of me and my time.
With the exception of the problems that I personally caused, utilizing this donation program has been amazing. I spent my entire life listening to Car Talk on NPR, and just to know that I was able to be a part of a program that they started means so much to me.
Thank you again for your help. You'll never truly understand how grateful I am.
If you have a vehicle, no matter it's condition, contact them. Let them help you. I went to the NPR Car Talk Vehicle Donation Program website and it was all very seemless. I'll receive tax info in the mail once they sell the vehicle to claim as a donation on my taxes next year. -
My experience with Advanced Remarketing Services has certainly been worth a 5 star rating! I was unsure I would be able to donate my vehicle due to a lost title and a car that was out of state. Kathy a communications representative went … More above and beyond to check for ways in which we would be able to get my car donated. With lots of knowledge and a positive attitude I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Thank you, Kathy, and the Advanced Remarketing team!!
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The entire car donation experience, from making arrangements to having car picked up, to being informed of the car sale at auction , went very smoothly.
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very easy application. shows many options/charities that take car donations. Once I applied, I got a response right away
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Easy transaction. Process is clear. Makes you feel good about the donation.
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Very efficient process. They made it painless to donate my car.
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Watching 26 years of memories getting loaded on to the tow-truck and rolling on down the road was bitter sweet. Our Rodeo Sports Addition brand new in Hawaii when we got her will help support the programs we love to listen to on WRLH.
