A few of my favorite things

Cars, girls' names, cocktails and songs

I started this list for the benefit of Mr Nick Laird, doyen of Dunedin design pedagogy and our admired and esteemed leader through many battles with dim university administration and far from ideal HODs. Go well, old friend, hopefully in one of these...

1952 Bentley R Type. The last one took ages to sell (if it ever did) so we must assume the local market for Standard Steel Bentleys is slow. Even so there is much to be admired in these cars that were designed for the serious owner/driver with the best of materials and technology available in post-war Blighty. You would certainly cut a dash in one today without the parvenu associations with the latest Continentals (have you watched the vids of Paris Hilton's hit and run?): For: Just the thing for taking someone to the Hunt Club Ball. Against: A bit pompous.

1958 Chevrolet Impala Coupe. Not much seen in New Zealand and good value compared to overpriced '57s, the later wide bodied Chevrolets exude a tasty menace that I find quite attractive. The Impala Coupe is particularly handsome with the squashed roof and flattened fins adding to the general effect of Las Vegas low morals. For: Not ubiquitous. Against: Not much of an investment either.

1962 Porsche 356 B. These are heading to the wrong side of 100K now so this 356 is attracting strong bids. The B models retained the purity of the early car's slipper form with smaller taillights and less glass than the later C's. Everything is available in remanufactured form for these older Porsches so the key to high values is originality. For: Your banker will probably approve. Against: Check the quality of the work.

1967 Buick Riviera GS. Unusual for being in New Zealand from new and in right hand drive form, this '60s Riviera overcomes many of the impediments associated with dodgy US imports which are no history and shoddy repairs. It all looks straight and well cared for so the price is surprisingly reasonable. Ask for the original wheels back on it and pay even less. For: Superlative looks and ideal for NZ conditions. Against: Why is it not being used?

1974 Rover P6 3500. I have often opined that a P6 Rover would make a great base for a high performing saloon with the right modifications. Here is an example retro-fitted with a five speed manual  gear box and ready to go. The dark green paint looks great and I would even keep the wheels. For: A very capable car. Against: Nothing much at that price.

Progress on the Flavia

I posted some pictures of the Flavia post-paint and got some pleasing feedback (thanks Hugh and others) so here is a brief update.

The car is back on its four wheels (painted Lancia cream as dictated by the factory) and sits well on its rebushed suspension. The characteristic nose down attitude of these cars is a result of wear and a spirit level along the sills tells me it is now level. It may even be nose up with a full tank. The long battle with the chrome plater (name supplied if you ask me) concluded with the return of the front bumper, grill surround and sundry small parts after almost four years. Most were poorly repaired and the plating on the headlight surrounds is bubbling already. Pattern replacements for these parts are now available for the first time but the price will make your eyes water. I purchased another grill surround from Italy but it was little better than the one I have so both will be traveling to Timaru where another plater will pick the best one and repair it properly.

Having the engine on a subframe is useful when undertaking major repairs but the downside is much of the minor stuff is inaccessible when the engine, gearbox and wheels are back under the car. Simple things like the position of hose-clamps become critical when you want to tighten them but find they are blocked by something that was nowhere near it when you last looked. Much grunting and wriggling on a cold garage floor was required to get close to final assembly, along with fabrication of missing and damaged small parts. Stripped threads in the alloy engine cases only become obvious when tightening something up and it is too late to pull the engine again.

It is brakes next. The four wheel discs of the Flavia were state of the automotive art in the early '60s. They are a Dunlop system split into dual circuits and controlled by a fiercely complex servo that required a separate factory manual to set up. I have undone one old major bodge which saw an alien master cylinder replaced by the genuine article while the servo has been checked and fitted with a new seal kit. The lines to and fro are running at crazy angles and my sense of order tells me these must be replaced with ones that can be gathered back onto the firewall and go logically to their natural places on the calipers. Easier said than done I suspect. I found a great outlet in Dunedin called Automec that sells all forms of hydraulic fittings as well as copper nickel tube. Working on the theory that anything made by man can be remade, I will be making wire patterns and bending tube long into the night.

Five for the start of the winter season

Cars, cocktails, girls' names and songs

I don't know what they were drinking in Athens, Georgia in the 1970s that could have given rise to this but apparently they drive Plymouth Satellites on Planet Claire.

1967 Plymouth Satellite. So of course there has to be one in the list and what better than a genuine low milage example freshly refurbished after thirty five years in storage? It looks like a smaller Imperial Coupe and combines a full width bench seat with an auto floor shift. Oh, those crazy Americans. For: Manageable. Against: Middle Americana.

1963 Humber Sceptre. Most of the Rootes' saloons were dull affairs, well put together but ponderous. They made a real effort with the Humber Scepter, however, which got an attractive four door coupe roof line and a great interior with Italianate hooded instrument pods. An Alpine engine moves things along respectably. For: A small executive saloon for not much outlay. Against: You will not lose your hat at the lights.

1963 Rover 3 Litre Coupe: Along the same lines but a definite step up in quality was the coupe version of Rover's big saloon. The lowered roof exudes glamour in a slightly sinister way that few other Brits could manage. Even people who know nothing about cars think these are glorious. For: Cor, that's a nice motor, guvnor. Against: You might start acting like the Krays – or Margaret Thatcher. I can't think which is worse.

1973 Alfa Romeo 1600 GT Junior. What price for a clean and recently refurbished Alfa Guilia coupe? The 1600 Junior was the budget model that came with rubber mats but there was no skimping on the important bits so you get five speeds, four wheel discs and a superb alloy motor that revs more freely that the bigger 2000. For: Unimpeachable classic Alfa. Against: A bit on the pricey side in these straightened times.

1973 BMW CS. Alternatively, your head may be turned by the luxurious appointments found in this BMW Coupe. This is the softer option in the range but the automatic will still allow an expensive yowl to be wrung from the big three litre six. Just the thing for weekend return trips to the ski lodge. For: So good it is hard to believe it is not Italian. Against: Imported from Japan.

Five for the middle of the month

Cars, cocktails, girls' names and songs.

This week's song essays the state of things in Coventry when they stopped making cars and the video features a Cresta. So, I'll have a lager and black, thanks mate. And one for Stella.

1955 Riley Pathfinder. The Pathfinder was undoubtedly modern with its Gerald Palmer designed full width body shared with the lesser Wolseley 6/90. Renamed Ditchfinder due to off road episodes caused by weak rear ends, they are now seen as worthy sports saloons with the big 2.5 Riley twin cam four offering a brisk turn of speed. For: Like an English Lancia thanks to Latinophile Palmer. Against: The gear shift is on the floor by the driver's door. I don't know why.

1959 Ford Thunderbird. I know I am a bit perverse about these things but I like the Uglybird. White tones down the Baroque excesses of the exterior while the cabin is a riot with separate bucket seats and dramatic centre console. This is a low milage car that requires a tidy and the price is commensurate with the work needed. For: In the movies the unattractive girl takes off her glasses. Not this time. Against: Personality counts too.

1965 Ford MkIII Zodiac Automatic. Good examples of this very handsome model are soon snapped up so I wonder why this Zodiac is not selling? Pale primrose is the right colour and the car would be nicely set off by a white roof. I would lose the modern wheels but they can look rather lost on the standard rims. For: Dunedin provenance and originality. Against: I can see little.

1966 Ferrari 330GT Mk2. Once top of the Ferrari range, the 330 has been slow to reach the bewildering values of its smaller siblings. The conservative Pininfarina styling appealed to an older clientele and many have been wrecked to create more expensive models. Still. it reminds me of my Flavia Coupe of which I could have 100 for the asking price of this one. For: La dolce vita. Against: Who would use it?

1968 Lotus Elan +2. Apparently Colin Chapman was outraged on first viewing Ron Hickman's stretched Elan although I cannot see what upset him. Many though the original Elan ugly as well but time has done both many favours. Designed around the front screen of the unloved Consul Capri, the +2's looks are accompanied by excellent dynamics. For: Possibly better than an Alfa GTV. Against: A tired one is awful.



 

Five for the seriously disturbed

Cars, cocktails, girls' names and tunes

The Modfather gets half of the old firm from the Jam together for one last caper. And is that Mike Garson going free style on the old joanna? (Listen to Alladin Sane if this is all too vague)

1957 Humber 80. Humber 80s only existed in New Zealand. It was a piece of badge engineering by Todd Motors to cash in on the superior connotations of Humber whose limousines were used by the NZ Government to ferry important personages about. Cheapskates. This one is in a ravishing colour combination and they make demon classic race cars if that is your bent.  For: The early ones like this are the best looking. Against: A bit ponderous in standard tune.

1961 Chrysler New Yorker Coupe. The 'letter series' Chryslers that send collectors into fits are essentially that year's New Yorker Coupe with added performance options. Here you get the looks and luxury with a slightly softer V8 and a floaty ride. Dare I say you may not see 200K difference if you drove them both? For: Those off centre stacked headlights. Against: Still a bit on the pricey side, looking at US values.

1966 Austin 1800 Camper.  It was a toss-up this week between a 210K silver Ferrari 330 GT and an  Austin 1800 Camper so you must know by now I am in a strange mood. It is almost impossible to imagine how an 1800 could be uglier than its designers intended but voila! And a nice bespoke interior in teak ply to kip in while the rest of the camping ground sniggers from their Winnebagos. I know where I would rather be. For: Preposterous. Against: Plenty, I am sure.

1969 Honda S800. What a heap of #@*! I hear you say. Has the Aesthete lost his mind? Perhaps. as 13K is a lot of money to pay for a decaying Honda but look at what you are getting. An 800cc dry- sumped alloy motor that would spin to 10,000 RPM for a start and that is a sensation that is almost impossible to match outside a single seater. Is this the classic for our times? For: Go on, be brave. Against: Could break your heart.

1970 MG 1300. No-one can say the Petrolhead Aesthete lacks for variety this week. I featured a four door MG 1100 a few months back which still languishes unsold so maybe a 1300 two door will do the trick. Arguably the best of all the ADO 16 variants as well as being a rare and lovely thing. For: A honey. Against: Very little that I can see.