The Aesthete scrapes the bottom

The Aesthete's Fleet

 Work continues on the GTV. It is like trying to weld a lace brassierre  but I figure that a few dainty holes around a securely fixed patch is better than a complete absence of metal. The side window mouldings were previously held on with old mastic so the finished result should be more durable at least.

It has been a bit of a dull old week on Trademe so your Aesthete has been looking elsewhere for queer old cars.  Anyway, the first one is interesting and should appeal to that dreadful climber up there in the seat of the nation. Not you Grant. 

1952 Mk VI Bentley Countryman. This Harold Radford-bodied saloon hides a nifty feature, being an early form of hatchback saloon. The two piece tailgate is cleverly integrated into the bustle boot and the rear seat folds flat to provide a prodigious load area ideal for carrying fishing rods, shotguns, dead pheasants, hounds or a small canoe, depending how you feel like comporting yourself around the old estate.

For: What-ho, chaps!
Against: For the modest price, I cannot see a lot against it.
Investment potential: 3/10. A snob's Bentley and that is saying something.

Bugatti Type 35 Special. I will not call this a 'replica' as it would not fool my aunt Sylvia after two bottles of Old Pale Gold. The Aesthete generally abjures from the whole idea of homages but this looks like it has had some genuine use and is powered by a harum-scarum 2 litre Alfa Romeo motor which almost redeems it. At least it is not plastic and mounted on a VW platform.

For: A fake but an honest one.
Against: You may meet a real Bugatti owner and what then?
Investment potential: 1/10. Could provide lots of fun though.

1964 Ford MkIII Zodiac. Vendors have been asking silly prices for these cars recently so it is a surprise to see this decent looking example offered at 16K. A better class of bounder's car, the styling of the Mk III Zodiac gained much from a swoopy prototype provided by Frua. The wilder excesses of the Italian styling house were smoothed out at Dagenham but the lines remained much as Pietro intended. I would keep the wheels and paint the roof white.

For: Ian Dury would have had a few choice words for it, I am sure.
Against: No sports car, it must be said.
Investment potential: 4/10 while there is still an old bodgie drawing breath somewhere

1970 Renault 16 TS. The rarity of these fine Renaults is such that this is the first time one has appeared on the list. The vendor is honest about the car's faults. They were prone to rust but were wonderful to drive as only a big 1960s French saloon can be. The mismatched seats suggest a mend and make do attitude but it would seem that the important things have been attended to. Now if someone can find a 16 TX with square yellow Cibie headlights, tinted glass,  sunroof and electric windows... grwwlll.

For: Striped shirts and Gitanes all round.
Against: You will need another four for spares.
Investment potential: 0/10. They are almost worthless, sad to say.

1960 Morris Major. Another scene from Product Planning. A paneled office, somewhere in the Midlands, 1958.
Alfred Prufrock: I have a cablegram from Australia, sir.
Major Sir Reginald Pilkington-Spratt, Ret. Damned colonials! What do they want now?
Alfred Prufrock: They seem to be asking for a larger Minor, Major.

For: Both more than and less than the equivalent Riley.
Against: The vendor is sounding a warning about rust.
Investment potential: 3/10. It's only $189 so what are your moaning about?


Ngggraghhhah!

It looks like Iso Rivoltas have finally come to the attention of 'investors' if US59.5K for this distressed example is anything to do by. I hear there is one in Alexandra if someone cares to confirm the rumor.








 

The Aesthete mocks the afflicted

The Aesthete's Fleet

I have been performing MIG microsurgery on the new GTV that failed its last warrant due to rust in some strange places. One area noted by the inspector was termed a 'C pillar' but he was referring to the strip of tinsel that separates the side quarter window from the fixed section. It has the structural integrity of an udon noodle so heaven help any driver whose survival depends on it holding the roof up in a crash.

1970 Austin 1800 Ute. Somewhere in the Midlands. 1968. A scene in the BMC Product Planning Department.
Sir Neville Clotworthy: 'Those damned colonials like utility vehicles, don't they?'
Stanley Jobsworth: 'Yes they do very much sir but BMC ADO 17 is a front wheel drive car.'
Sir N. 'You impertinent pup! Are you trying to tell me they know the difference?'

For: Wrongheadedness wins over practicality every time.
Against: A lot of effort for a fairly terrible vehicle.
Investment potential: 2/10 if you can weld. Otherwise -5/10.

1955 Nash Farina.  I know what you are going to say. Anything with a Pininfarina badge on it and the Aesthete goes all wan and limpid. Maybe but I encourage you to examine the lines of this superb Nash and tell me it is not amongst the handsomest of all early '50s American saloons. That reverse rake rear pillar is almost Lancia-like. Grwwlll.

For: Oh come on. We like a challenge.
Against: It is the sort of thing you can buy from the original US owner for 10K in beautiful condition.
Investment potential: -3/10 See caveat above. And the vendor's mother sounds like a formidable woman.

1978 Fiat 128 3P. The last time a 128 Coupe was featured on this list it was damned with faint praise. Even Fiat saw the need to up their game, hence the late arrival of a glammed up hatch version excitingly named the 3P.  The vendor is correct in that they have become very rare but does that make you want it more or less?

For: It has an extra door! On the back!
Against: I know. I am doing it again.
Investment potential: 2/10 One for the Fiat completist.

Alfa Romeo 155. Now here is something the Aesthete can fulsomely recommend. The V6 powered 155 is the epitome of the ugly Italian saloon that can be driven to hilariously good effect. There is enough torque steer to turn it into a Mobius strip and the V6 makes the best noise of any '90s car that you or I could afford anyway. I like the cut of the vendor's jib and he has a Fiat Millecento.

For: This is a seriously good car and the vendor is sensible about the price.
Against: Nulla! Ti ammazzo!
Investment potential: 7/10 if it stays around the asking price.

1968 Hillman Imp. Someone has gone to a great deal of effort with this Imp and while it may not be one of the exciting coupe variants it is charmingly presented and appears very usable. The duotone paint scheme shows the complex lines to good effect and it looks just fine on its painted steel rims with original shiny embellishments. Everybody should own an Imp, if just to remind Messrs Clotworthy and Jobsworth that Minis aren't so great.

For: Not a lot for a good Imp.
Against (in arch tone of voice: 'Is there a good Imp?'
Investment potential: 4/10 and low cost running too.

On some faraway beach...

1965 NSU Spider.  The Wankel powered Spider used the pretty Sport Prinz body as a rolling test bed for the engine that would send reciprocating pistons to wherever they sent autogyros. Well we know that did not happen even with a lot of development from Mazda and they have given up now. The single rotor engine looks like a washing machine pump but is enough to sling the little NSU along nicely.

For: This is surely the ultimate rear engined buzz bomb.
Against: Better get friendly with a German rotary expert.
Investment potential: 4/10 surprisingly enough. This is history.

 

The Aesthete is in a pensive mood

Tommy Ramone dies on the same day my i-phone goes through the washing machine. Coincidence? I don't think so. I almost wept a tear over the phone the way you might do over a deceased pet but then I heard about the passing of the final Ramone and felt bad for getting sentimental over a piece of overpriced tech. The phone cost more than the Alfetta GTV if that helps put things in perspective.

 1967 Alfa Romeo GTV 1600. Guilia coupe fans turn reverse flips over step nose GTVs with well restored examples now going for dizzying prices in Europe. There is perhaps more of the la dolce vita about them than the later versions and the 1960s decor better suits the Baroque body shape. This car has had a clout in the rear and is rusty in the usual places but you get another car thrown in. I would be inclined to change the colour to a deep metallic grey and fit a red interior. Grwwlll.

For: The Aesthete's weaknesses are well known to all but this is an opportunity for someone.
Against: 17K is a lot for a project it must be said.
Investment potential. 5/10. Not a Grey Lynn villa but neither is it a million dollars.

1959 Marshall Special. I suppose the vendor thinks we all know what this is and some readers indeed may. It looks like any one of the myriad specials that were cunningly got together out of bits and pieces of dubious provenance. The bolt on wires and flat head V8 suggest that some it it dates from the 1930s and a Ford was the the likely donor.

For: The period photo suggests it was quite handsome.
Against: A lot of work to do yet.
Investment potential: 2/10 unless you own a junk yard full of pre-war cars. Oh yes. Of course you do.

1959 Jaguar 3.4 Litre Saloon. I am not sure about the white wire wheels but everything else looks tickety-boo with this Jaguar, including the magnificent interior. One hopes the front seats are still intact under their fleecy covers. The Mk II axle with its wider track fills out the rear wings nicely and the upgrades sound sensible on what is a 120 MPH car. There was not much around to touch it in 1959.

For: What more do you want?
Against: The old Moss gearbox is essentially a three speed unit.
Investment potential: 2/10. It seems that the world has tired of Mk IIs once again.

1986 Rolls Royce Silver Spur.  Here is a comeuppance for the bloated Japanese plutocrat who bought this thing new. I imagine it has been left to sit around in a Shinjuku back street while slowly shedding yen until valueless. It is now being sold for the cost of freight so get in now for what is essentially a free Rolls Royce.

For: Cor! What did you pay for that, guvnor?
Against: Check the door pockets for severed digits.
Investment potential. 0/10. What will be left out of 20K after a wood restoration, a new vinyl roof and a good respray? Very little...

1961 Lincoln Continental. Or you could show far better taste and buy this Lincoln. Alright, I know its not actually in New Zealand but would you not be better off putting your money into this rather than some filler laden sledge? Someone has already spent 90K on it and the local dollar is almost level pegging with its US counterpart. And has metallic pink ever looked better on a car?

For: Oh, that black leather interior....
Against: What is wrong with you? Some kind of communist I suppose.
Investment potential: 2/10. Maybe.

The Aesthete practices the manly art

 The Aesthete's Fleet

The manly art of shed cleaning preparatory to welding up the new GTV that is. The day was spent moving redundant objects from one shed to another leaving the new car isolated from anything that could possibly catch a stray spark. Having been set on fire before,  the Aesthete hopes that fate will chose someone else for the auto-de-fé next time.

1957 Jaguar 2.4 Litre Saloon. Dove grey paint and red leather is a fetching combination and this 2.4 Jaguar looks a lot better than its low start price suggests. It is the interim model with the wider grill opening and rear spats deleted which is how a small bodied Jaguar should be presented. It would be useful to know what is stopping it from gaining a WOF. If it is not shot through with holes it should be a relatively straightforward process of recommissioning.

For: Delicious.
Against: The paint looks too good to be hiding a horror show but look carefully anyway.
Investment potential: 3/10 if the price stays close to 4K

1966 Rover 3 Litre Mk III. With the last of the venerable side exhaust valve sixes before the alloy V8 took over, this Rover saloon needs to be a bit special to hold its proud Viking head above the later cars. This example features the bucket front and divided rear seats that makes the Coupe feel so glamorous and the overall condition suggests that it will be silky smooth on the road. Raw performance is not the issue with these cars as they tend to sway around like my aunt Sylvia at a wedding.

For: Bentley quality for a more modest outlay.
Against: Much admired by retired engineers who will bore you silly at club night.
Investment potential: 2/10. Compared to the cost of restoration, it is a bargain already.

1965 DKW Junior. Ready to roar into reeking life after a lengthy rest in a shed is this two stroke DKW, made before the whole outfit reverted to the old pre-war name of Audi. The  quality construction and sure footed front wheel drive handling were selling points and the motor cycle like ring-a-ding-dang on the over-run always produces a smile. As long as you are not following it.

For: Count them. Three ignition coils!
Against: Environmentally unsound.
Investment potential: 3/10 with cold war credentials.

1919 Bignan Type 132C. A what's that now? Bignan was a French manufacturer of high performance cars that ran second only to Bugatti in the Le Mans voiturette class in 1920. Most were bodied as open roadsters although the alloy and wood boat tail looks very fresh. It is a pity the vendor is not more forthcoming with the history of this fine belle epoque machine as there must be quite a story to tell.

For: C'est magnifique!
Against: Well, it is 85K.
Investment potential: Authenticity is important in the international Bignan market, I imagine.

1952 Mercury Sports Coupe. Occasionally one sees an American car that must have been studied closely in Italy. The tail end of this Mercury certainly puts the Aesthete in mind of Pininfarina, particularly the harmonious relationship between rear wings, lights and boot lid so beautifully carried out on their Ferrari 250 coupes. Is that enough to sway any of you? Thought not.

For: Tasteful American.
Against: I can't see a lot.
Investment potential: 1/10. Rarity is not everything.