The Aesthete becomes erratic

The Aesthete's Fleet
The latest news on the GTV's driveshaft is that it needs various engineering jigs made up to centre its rotating masses in a satisfactory manner. I am beginning to think I should leave it as it is and try unbalancing the rest of the matter in the universe. It would be faster and probably cheaper. String theory suggests it is at least possible as time does not exist under its rules.

1970 Fiat Abarth 695. The vendor skirts issues of authenticity so it is doubtful that this Abarth is the real thing but who cares with ordinary Fiat 500 prices being what they are today? With new model Abarth prices knocking on 60K classic replicas offer the looks and fun, if not the sphincter clenching performance. The extra power is always welcome in these small and entertaining cars as the following listing takes to quite extreme lengths.

For: Abarth or not Abarth. That is the question.
Against: 9K starting price. What might the reserve be?
Investment potential: 3/10 if it is as good as it appears.

1966 Fiat 500 EA81 Subaru. At least there is no doubt that this is what it claims to be. It just depends if you are willing to flirt with the terrible forces at play in this repowered 500 that conservatively delivers five times the power of the original.  As drivers found in the similarly scaled Lancia Stratos, corners may not always be exited in the same direction of travel due to the short wheelbase.

For: No-one will laugh at your funny little car now.
Against: Make sure there are no immovable objects in your way. Newtonian physics still apply here.
Investment potential: 4/10 for sheer audacity.

1953 Citroen 2CV Fourgonnette. The pictures do it no favours but you are basically buying a build-it-yourself 2CV kit, the ideal winter project if you missed out on that Isetta last week. The van variant features a corrugated steel implement shed to which the ingenious owner would fit a sliding drawer long enough so he or she could sleep in the rear. It would then be the coolest camper ever.

For: Fourgonnette. I do not know what it means but is sounds rude.
Against: You should not be in a hurry to reach your destination. You may need a nap just climbing a modest hill.
Investment potential: 8/10. Oui.

1961 Morris Oxford Mk V Traveller. The vendor has a convoluted story about how this low milage and two-owner Traveller got into this state but the car itself appears to offer a sound case for sympathetic refurbishment and return to regular use. Some anonymous fellow with the metal snips at BMC got it right with the Traveller where the extra cabin length suggests that it will not trip over its front wheels like the saloon.

For: Low milage so it should feel like a new one after some work.
Against: Even new they were far from ideal.
Investment potential: 3/4 if it stays cheap.

Mini Marcos Mk IV. No-one can say that Jem Marcos was bothered with appearance but he did shorten the original Mini Dart that he took over from Dizzy Addicott in the mid-1960s. The Mini Marcos was supplied as a fibreglass shell of arresting ugliness into which was fitted Mini subframes. They were and remain great track day cars where you can recall the Le Mans race of 1966 when one of these ugly bugs was the only UK entrant to get over the line.

For: You can't see it if you are driving it.
Against: Functionalism taken to great lengths.
Investment potential: 3/10 depending on how much you can do.

On some far away shore.

1970 Alfa Romeo 1600 Zagato. Tipped for big things for many years, it is still possible to buy a Zagato for the price of an excellent Bertone GTV. There is no sense to this as the Zagato is one of the most striking shapes on the road and bristled with insights. Some like the perspex nose or the electrically raised rear lid did not take off but others assuredly did. The alloy shell took considerable weight off the parent car so the driving experience is exquisite. Buy this one from Italy and stand back.

For: Rare and brilliant.
Against: A bit exotic for every day.
Investment potential: 9/10.

The Aesthete prowls the backstreets of Trademe

Like Iggy Pop driving through the city's ripped backsides in The Passenger, he explores the dark back passages of the nation's favourite trading site in the hope that someone will post an interesting car and break the current drought. That GTV6 lasted about nine minutes last week so there are others out there looking as well, ready to pounce on a bargain and carry it off into the night. 

In case you were wondering, there is nothing to report on the fleet this week. Ab-sol-ute-ly nothing... 

1981 Fiat 131 Supermirafiori 1600TC. Most of these were absorbed back into the earth within a few years so a two-owner Central Otago example offers an interesting form of time travel back to the Muldoonian epoch when the choice was either a new Mk V Cortina or a Hillman Hunter in tan or mustard yellow only. It took a brave soul to pay the punitive import duty and stick his hand up for the Fiat 131 Supermirafiori 1600TC so bravo, that man. Probably some sort of communist.

For: A rare survivor and quite the ironic hipster idea of a cool car.
Against: It looks like it has been driven into a few solid objects.
Investment potential: 3/10 as you will see few others now.

1951 Pontiac Chieftain Coupe. Why is the Aesthete casting his covetous eye this early 1950s Pontiac, in all measurable ways a pointless sort of car? There is something elegant about the ample rump of this one that helps us to forget it is just a bedizzened Chevrolet and the pale green enamelled engine block is something to behold. I see from the Sunday supplement that jade nail polish is in so ladies, open toed driving shoes please.

For: Mitzi Gaynor rather than Marilyn Monroe.
Against: I am sure we could all think of smarter ways of spending 45K.
Investment potential: 1/10. We are closer to electric cars than we think.

1965 Hillman Imp. Just how much do we imagine we might have to spend in order to obtain a really good Imp and is this the sensible classic choice for the peak oil pundits? Common sense tells us that they cannot frack the whole planet apart in order that people can continue to drive Pontiac Chieftains so if you want to look as if you care about such issues, here is the ideal vehicle.

For: The kids will not want to drive it. Or be seen in it.
Against: Not a lot between you and the accident.
Investment potential: 3/10 and rising.

1968 Mercedes Benz 280 SE Coupe. Patrician and essentially hand built by Aryan supermen, these big Mercedes coupes were the choice of people who had hospital ward blocks and public rose gardens named after them. Given that they were more expensive than an office building on The Terrace, 45K seems quite a reasonable price to pay for one now. Ideal for wafting off to Queenstown to enjoy the new 10K per night roof top suite at Eichardt's.

For: This or a used Lexus. You know what the right answer is.
Against: Be careful that you don't get carried away by the hospitality of the house and hit something. A new front bumper is about 8 hours of suite time.
Investment potential: 3/10. The vendor is right to say that this is reasonable value relative to overseas markets although there is currently one for 9K US on Bring A Trailer.

1970 GBS5000. It would be interesting to know who built this professional looking racer and whether it has any competition history. It appears to be fibreglass around a riveted alloy tub so it was not knocked up in a DB fuelled weekend in the shed. It also does not appear to be kit based. Hie thee then off to Huntly quickly and report back.

For: Could be fun.
Against: Could be awful.
Investment potential: 3/10. It may not have a history now but there is still time.

On some faraway beach...

1967 BMW Glas 3000GT. BMW inherited these big Frua styled coupes in their fire sale takeover of German maker Glas in the mid-1960s. The V8 engine was made by cleverly lashing two of their OHC four cylinders to a common crank but it was smooth and powerful with the 3000 capable of 200KPH. The underpinnings came from the much smaller Glas 1500 saloon in case you are wondering why the rear wheels appear to be in the centre of the car.

For: You will have your work cut out here but we like a challenge. Don't we?
Against: With only a few hundred made, don't think you can pop down to Repco for parts.
Investment potential: -7/10 but that is not why we do it.

The Petrolhead Aesthete resumes normal service

The Aesthete's Fleet 

Yes, and he humbly apologises for the late post and offers the excuse that no one has put anything on Trademe that he or you would be even remotely interested in. The drought finally broke today so please enjoy the following selection that returns to the normal ridiculous range.
The little bird in the GTV engine was tracked down and finally put to death. It was housed in the inlet manifold gaskets, a location suggested by fellow owner Chris who had one in his engine as well. As he is fastidious in all regards, I followed his advice. The other GTV remains unbalanced as the poor fellow that does the work grapples with the complexity of a swiftly rotating mass containing three rubber joints, two shafts, a bearing in a rubber mount and a rear clutch in its very own detachable housing.  I should suggest that Dennis mount the car on his roof for advertising purposes.

1987 Alfa Romeo GTV6. If this GTV6  is as good as it appears, I predict it will not stay listed for long. I doubt if 3.5K could be used to buy a better car if chiselled Italian looks, superb chassis dynamics and symphonic engine noise rate significantly n the selection process. Fix the electric windows, change the gearbox oil, light the touch paper and stand well clear.

For: Young people will say it is sick. That is good apparently.
Against: Nothing immediately presents itself.
Investment potential: 6/10. Purchase of the month.

1953 Armstrong Siddeley Whitley. Fired up by wartime aircraft technology and with manufacturing capacity to burn, Armstrong Siddeley started out well with a range of modern saloons, drop heads and even a coupe utility for the colonies. The Whitley four-light sports saloon was a development of these post-war cars with a larger 2.3 litre engine but the danger signs were already out as the new 2.4 Jaguar was about to remove most of its market.

For: Nice old car if that is enough to motivate you.
Against: Much coveted by retired chairmen of harbour boards.
Investment potential: 4/10 with the asking price much lower than usual.

1964 Jaguar S Type. Okay, it needs a paint but you can see that already. Anyone appraising a project should try and ensure it is good in two out of three areas and allow a decent margin for putting right the third. The interior looks pleasing and the vendor vouches that it is mechanically strong so this S Type represents an ideal winter refurbishment. Just don't take ten years over it.

For: What kind of Mk II would you get for that sort of sum?
Against: Don't expect to turn a profit.
Investment potential: 2/10 based on the standard Jaguar reverse restoration multiplier effect.

1952 Kaiser Deluxe. Like whiskers on kittens and warm woollen mittens, Kaisers are amongst the Aesthete's favourite things. It is all in the cabin where the glass cuts daring shapes into the roofline and generates a  compelling space age effect, aided by the single instrument pod and wild interior decor. The importer has clearly taken fright at the body condition so you must ask whether throwing money at a Kaiser is altogether wise.

For: Oh, the looks most definitely.
Against: The price will have to come down if the shell is shot.
Investment potential: Quite low unless the local Kaiser market is stronger than I assume.

1958 BMW Isetta. If your idea of a restoration is something you can mend over your knee while watching TV, perhaps this original and low milage Isetta might be the answer. This is the English built four wheeler and therefore not so lethal as the original Italian design. I wonder if anyone has electrified one of these? It could be the ultimate sustainable personal transportation capsule.

For: Just look at its cute little face.
Against: If you want to do 300 KPH best buy another type of Italian car.
Investment potential: If it only needs a repaint and mild refurbishment, 21K is perhaps not to much.

On some faraway beach...

1957 Facel Vega FV Sports. Not that far away actually as it is in Australia. The last stand of the coach built grand routier, Facel Vega carried the tradition of Delage and Delahaye into the post-war era. Way too flash for anyone thinking about a Bentley or Jensen, it was the choice of pop stars and wrestlers. Ringo had one but was barely able to control it and the four door Excellense was known for squirting its passengers out on roundabouts as the doors flew open.

For: One for the brave. They will stand and applaud in Queenstown when you pull up in this.
Against: It needs a new front screen and body repairs.
Investment potential: All instruments indicate catastrophe.

The Aesthete looks for a little bird in an engine

Said bird has been lurking inside the 1750 GTV for some time, emitting an irritating cheeping. It sounded like one of the rubber carburettor mounts leaking but they were intact. I then thought I had located it in the narrow rubber tube that runs from the inlet manifold to the tappet cover but that was also a red herring. At least eliminating these causes stopped me worrying about burning a valve. Next step will be to run the motor with the fan belt off. The bird will flushed from its cover one way or the other. The other GTV is still nailed to its perch on the workshop hoist like the dead parrot in the Monty Python sketch.

1964 Riley 4/72. One Pininfarina body shape did for Morris, Austin, Wolseley, MG and Riley, as well as  exotic variants such as the Blue Streak Six models from across the Tasman. The Riley 4/72 was an attractive car if you were able to live without the many engineering virtues of the models it replaced with their high performance twin cam engines and rack steering. If you were to upgrade with an MGB 1800 engine and wire wheels, you may approach what the 4/72 should have been.

For: Handsome, if a bit  compromised.
Against: A dull Riley so it is up to you to add some zest.
Investment potential: 3/10 if it is a good as it looks.

1967 Porsche 912. No Porsche apart from the unloved 914 was ever a bargain option and the four cylinder 912 was always pricier than the competition from Alfa or Lancia. This margin is maintained today but while the snake hipped early 911 has long since moved into the stratospheric realm of the 'collectors' car' a 912 should be no more expensive to run than a Beetle. They make good sense as a driver's classic, even at 45K.

For: Less than half the price of the other 912 currently on offer.
Against: May not follow their six cylinder siblings in their wild climb.
Investment potential: Watch out for restoration costs. You may wish you had hung out for a 911.

1969 Fiberfab Jamaican. A what's that now? I hear you ask. My World Cars Annual spotter's guide listed something called a Fiberfab Bonito that looked like a Ford GT40 nose grafted onto a Porsche 911 so we should be grateful for the well balanced Italianate looks of the Jamaican. The builder of this example has used a developed Triumph 2.5 power plant so the performance should ruffle your hair at least.

For: An alternative to a Marcos, if such an alternative was actually needed.
Against: Quality is dependent on the ingenuity of the builder.
Investment potential: 20K is perhaps a little steep for the lack of respectable pedigree.

1956 Lincoln Premier Coupe. Ford products from this period were hit repeatedly with the ugly stick before they got to the showroom, the Lincoln division being a serial offender against good taste. Their stylists went from this to reverse rake rear widows and other bizarre styling tropes, not recovering until the elegant Continentals of the early 1960s. Surprisingly then, this Premier is the best looking of all the mid-50s US Ford coupes, a quality pointedly ignored by consumers.

For: Sublime show car looks.
Against: 300 HP and electric seats. What is not to like?
Investment potential: 3/10. More if good looks were any measure of value

1993 Porsche 968 Club Sport.  If it is the same vendor who had this on the market in 2013 he is still stubbornly holding out and asking 48K for it, thereby obeying the rule that you pay more and get less Porsche. Think 356 Speedster if you want further proof of this odd conundrum. However you look at it though, a stripped out 968 is likely to provide more excitement than a 912 for the same outlay.

For: So what if a 968 was answering a question that no one had actually asked. It is still a grey car.
Against: You could have a 928 with double the cylinders for quarter of the price.
Investment potential: Need I say any more?

On some faraway shore...

1966 Oldsmobile Toronado. The vendor has written a book length pitch for this first series Toronado and I dare say it warrants it. The highest moment of the American industry in its full mid-century modernist pomp, the front wheel drive Toronado looked and drove like nothing else from the era. I suspect if I had pulled up in front of the Playboy Club in this, Barbi Benton would have hopped straight in.

For: Primrose yellow is the best colour for big Americans.
Against: If all the roads were long and straight...
Investment potential: No one else understands so minimal.