Cash-for-clunkers gems: Corvettes, Camaros, Mustangs and one infamous Bentley meet the end of the road

By now, the high-profile casualties of cash-for-clunkers are well documented: a Bentley Continental R and an Aston Martin DB7 Volante from 1997 and a 1985 Maserati Quattroporte all perished under the government-funded incentive program.

But scratching beneath the surface reveals that scores of everyday enthusiast rides such as Mustangs, Camaros and even some Corvettes met ignominious endings by having their engines destroyed and their bodies crushed.

While it’s likely that many of the nearly 700,000 clunkers turned in actually were at the end of their roads, the final report released by the government reveals the demise of plenty of affordable, likely still-fixable cars that could have been enjoyed by collectors of all ages.

Ford’s sales were boosted considerably by the clunkers incentive, and the Focus was the fourth best-seller among new cars bought under the program. But many of its favorite cars of yesteryear were scrapped--most notably, the stable of Mustangs on the nation’s roads is considerably smaller. A total of 1,611 pony cars from 1984 to 2008 were turned in, including--surprisingly--one ’08 model. Yes, many of these were the forgettable rides of the 1980s and ’90s, before the car was remade similar to its original iconic form earlier this decade, but it’s still a considerable figure of sportier-than-average cars taken off the road.

The Blue Oval also saw the end of 107 Taurus SHOs from 1993 to 1999, and a whopping 3,061 Thunderbirds from 1984 to 1995. Stunningly, a 2005 T-Bird, one of the 1950s-styled coupes Ford brought back on a limited basis, also was slated for scrapping.

Luxury cars were not immune to the crusher, either. A 1999 Mercedes C43 AMG, a 2000 Jaguar XK8 convertible and a 1998 BMW Z3 Roadster will not be buffed or polished again. Additionally, two 1991 BMWs, a M3 and a M5 never again will be ultimate driving machines, and a slew of 7-series, including 100 from 1988, are done.

The Continental R was perhaps the single most infamous car taken off the road. In addition to its inglorious clunkers ending, the car also is notable because 70 percent of all Bentleys ever built are still in existence, though that’s a pre-clunkers figure released by the company.

Other top-shelf rides that saw the reaper included a 1989 Maserati 222E and four 1985 Biturbos.

The Cadillac of clunkers was the Escalade, as 72 copies of the hulking, fuel-hungry luxury ute are toast, with 68 of those from the 1999 to 2000 model years. More than a little surprising: a 2006 STS sedan also received a death sentence.

The General Motors brands also lost plenty of rides favored by car guys and gals. Corvette fans will miss 131 versions the sports car from 1984 to 1995, including 34 convertibles. And though the Camaro crowd rejoiced at the car’s return this year, 1,007 of its predecessors are now history, including at least eight from every year from 1984 to 2000. The early ’90s were particularly brutal, with 127 from 1991 and 116 from 1992 getting handed a blind fold and cigarette.

One Camaro sibling, a 1989 20th Anniversary Trans-Am, also a bit unexpectedly was on the list, as was a 2002 Firebird. They’re joined by a 1987 Buick Grand National GNX, an intercooled, turbocharged marvel highly sought after by collectors.

Perhaps a bit less iconic, 61 Pontiac Fieros from 1985 to 1988 were turned over, and one of the ultimate beater cars, the 1986 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, was trimmed by 185 models.

The third Detroit-based automaker, Chrysler, was the victim of four of the newest clunker trade-ins. One 300 all-wheel-drive model from 2008, two from 2007 and a Hemi-powered ’05 all won’t live to see what plans Fiat has in store for their maker.

One owner of a 2006 Nissan 350Z also turned over the keys, as did those of two 2006 Roush Stage 3 F-150s. Two 2008 Foose F-150s also were among the customs that had a date with the crusher.

Thirteen Porsches and 28 Alfa Romeos also are off the road.

All told, cash-for-clunkers resulted in almost $2.9 billion in rebate claims and boosted the economy considerably this summer. The nation’s fleet is undoubtedly more fuel-efficient, but fewer Mustangs, Camaros and even the random Bentley means it’s also a bit less fun.

By Greg Migliore