jalopy

[ juh-lop-ee ]

/ dʒəˈlɒp i /

an old, decrepit, or unpretentious automobile.

Origin of jalopy

An Americanism dating back to 1925–30; origin uncertain

jalapa, jalapeño, jalapin, jalee, jalisco, jalopy, jalor, jalouse, jalousie, jam, jam nut

Then they hit the thruway—nine of them packed into the jalopy—the oldest one just seventeen years old.

Code Three |Rick Raphael
It looked something like a cross between a schoolboy's jalopy and a scaled-down army tank of former times.

Badge of Infamy |Lester del Rey

jalopy

/ (dʒəˈlɒpɪ) /

informal a dilapidated old car

C20: of unknown origin