The Aesthete revisits a forgotten decade

The 1940s are a lost era in automotive design although there is much of interest in the various ways that car makers adapted to a changed world. The Aesthete abjures from fins and space age details for a world of shapely wings and pointed tail sections, rear hinged doors and central headlamps.

1948 Alvis TA14. One of the first new cars available in Britain after the war, Alvis' offering suggested that buyers were still happy with solid front axles and rod brakes even though those features were becoming retrograde even by the end of the 1930s. Quality of assembly and a certain snobbish cachet convinced some to choose this over a Rover 60 which was its native competition in those austerity years.

For: Pleasant and well mannered.
Against: Just like a mock Tudor bungalow.
Investment potential: 2/10 unless the 1940s suddenly becomes the next decade to take off.

1949 Humber Super Snipe ambulance. If you are attracted by the era, however, you may as well have something no-one else has. That coach built Daimler Consort shooting brake languished unsold for months which suggests that the economics of full restoration have to be considered carefully. This atmospheric Snipe appears to need little further work and I would quite fancy riding in the back of it in a morphine haze while a pretty nurse mops my brow.

For: Downton Abbey on wheels.
Against: Not much good for nipping down to the shops.
Investment potential: 1/10 unless there is a film crew in town that needs one.

1951 Rover 75. Nothing less than a hotrod Cyclops, this first generation P4 has been upgraded with Rover 90 engine and brakes which provide a useful performance boost. The early square dials make a change from the familiar decor of the later cars and you could entertain yourself by unrestoring the interior, returning it to its late 1940s ambience.

For: Post-war Solihull Studebaker.
Against: Originality should not matter at the price.
Investment potential: 4/10

1950 Jaguar Mk V DHC. Generally known as a spiv's car, Jaguar's Mk V offered Bentley looks at a substantial discount, made possible by William Lyon's ruthless screwing of his suppliers. Even so, the Jaguar does a great job of hiding its rude bits under sweeping pre-war coachwork with only faired in headlights to indicate we are in a new era. The effect is more Mayfair the men's magazine than Mayfair the locality but its charms  outweigh lack of breeding.

For: Owned by people who did well in black market sausage casings.
Against: Yes, I know. I am a snob.
Investment potential: 6/10. These cars fetch a lot more in the UK.

1950 Triumph Mayflower. The strange internal world of Trademe is revealed in this vendor's touching belief that anything old and black has to be worth loads of money. That the Mayflower was a comedy in 1950 is overlooked, as is the fact that this example has only one door.

For: Words fail me.
Against: ...
Investment potential: Only Einstein could know for certain.

On some faraway beach...

1940 Lincoln Zephyr Coupe. If none of this polite British reserve turns your crank, perhaps a Lincoln Zephyr might be what you need? John Tjaarda's streamlined shell draped a side valve V12 and a solid front axle so addressed the modern world from both ends of the engineering spectrum. Later models lost the pointed prow so this is the optimum year for aesthetics.

For: Thanks to Ford logic, surprisingly usable.
Against: A lot of material to house two passengers.
Investment potential: 3/10.  Only resistance to extruded slug like forms holds them back.

The Aesthete finds a Fiat for every occasion.

The Aesthete's Fleet

The Aesthete began his affair with Italian cars with a Fiat Crusader that combined spirited performance with a permanent smell of damp carpet. Water sealing was not a strong point and the survival rate of older Fiats is much dependent on dry garaging and periodic attacks with wire brushes  and rust inhibitors. The product range extends from the most basic of transport to stately coupes so there is indeed a Fiat for every age and stage in life.

1966 Fiat 500. This mid-period 500F followed on from the D model with its rear hung doors but retained the crash gearbox that took some skill to drive smoothly. The body has received some remedial attention but amateur mechanical reassembly has resulted in some random effects that one of you should be able to sort out. Given that restored 500s are selling for twice the starting price there may be a modest profit to be had.

For: Some useful work has been done already.
Against: Of what quality, one wonders?
Investment potential: 7/10 if a bit of weekend tinkering is all that is required.

1973 Fiat 850 Spider. Rarely encountered outside Europe and America, Bertone's Spider was left hand drive only. Marcelo Gandini's sharp modernist lines are perhaps not as immediately charming as those of the fastback coupe but the easily worked top and winding windows make it a practical  prospect. Keep it dry however, as rust has rendered most of its fellows to scrap.

For:  Style in a small package.
Against: The vendor may have high expectations.
Investment potential: Unknown until the reserve is revealed.

1972 Fiat 124 Spider. Unlike the 124 coupe that was periodically restyled and became less handsome over time, Tom Tjaarda's Spider design was left alone for its lengthy life. The dip in the boot lid and pert nose frame a tightly drawn profile that was more visually balanced than Alfa's 105 series Duetto, as characterful as that car was. This one has been trimmed of the small amount of bling that it started out with although the light European bumpers do not spoil the shape at all.

For: RHD conversion and upgraded interior.
Against: No, I would not rather have an MX5.
Investment potential: 3/10. These cars have languished and are now cheaper that the coupes. It makes no sense.

1990 Fiat Uno Turbo. Your reaction to this will depend on your view of after market body kits but no one could say this Uno lacks for presence. The mini-Testarossa side strakes are hilarious of course but the vendor has curated this fast super-mini with care and I vouch that it would be a lot of fun on the road.

For: Almost worth buying a Testarossa to have in the garage as well.
Against: Nothing much that I can see.
Investment potential: 5/10 in the face of greatly diminished numbers.

2000 Fiat Coupe 2000 Turbo. Chris Bangle's Coupe could appear incoherent or gorgeous depending on your attitude to wheel openings and other traditional measures of car styling. The angled slashes remain unique to this generation of sporting Fiats and the five cylinder turbo and modest weight give it spectacular performance even today.

For: A 15 year old car that still looks like a new production.
Against: Some servicing issues with that tight Punto based engine bay.
Investment potential: 3/10 but why won't the vendor get it vin'ed himself?

On some faraway beach.

1974 Fiat 130 Coupe. Fiat had fully acquired Lancia by the 1960s and promised to desist from building large luxury coupes in order for the market to be opened for the new Gamma. What does it proceed to do but to commission a stunning formal coupe from Pininfarina and hand assemble it with the finest materials while whanging a cheap plastic interior into the Lancia?  I suspect someone was trying to curry favour with Gianni Agnelli but you can enjoy the result of the product planner's confusion here.

For: 10% of the value of a BMW. It was not so at the time.
Against: If it does need work it will not be cheap or easy.
Investment potential: 8/10 when the world wakes up.

The Aesthete catches up on his reading

The Aesthete's Fleet
Neil Young's Waging Heavy Peace reveals his attitude to cars which is different to what I imagined a rock star's collection might entail. He tends to buy and keep for a long time and the cars are markers of his rich creative life as well as his tangled personal one. The image on the flysheet is a rear view of a Jensen 541 on a dirt road so the Aesthete was hooked before the first page. By chance on Sky at the same time was AC/DC's Brian Johnson taking to Brands Hatch in a Mini Cooper after some coaching by Paddy Hopkirk. He is a very capable driver and managed a surprisingly good finish after 45 laps of the circuit.

1971 Fiat 850 Coupe. What a sheer delight these Fiats are, a fact that many buyers now recognise so I predict that bidding will be spirited for this example. Designed in-house by Mario Felice and Gian Paolo Boano who had left their own studio to work at Fiat, the 850 is at least as pretty as any Ferrari 250 or Lancia Aurelia from the same pen. Like the perfect pop song, nothing can be added to or removed that would not spoil the balance although they do look great on the Cromodora alloy wheels that were a period fitting.

For: This may be your last chance to get one for under 20K.

Against: Nothing at all.

Investment potential: 14/10 and rising.

1949 Morris Minor MM. Low light Minors are a rare sight nowadays and the tourer more so. Most were consumed by rust when their tops gave way and were not thought to be worth fixing due to the rather inadequate side valve engines carried over from the old Series E. All of this can be remedied and I would like to see one in speedster form in battleship grey with a tuned A series on black painted wire wheels. Come on, one of you.  Step forward.

For: Charm and potential.

Against: At least think about it.

Investment potential: 4/10 

1960 Porsche 356B. As the knowing vendor points out, when did you last see one for sale? They have probably doubled in price in that time, giving cottages in Kingsland a good run for the investor's dollar but we should not bitterly turn away from their considerable charms. There are few cars from the 1950s that you might seriously consider driving the length of the country but you could in one of these.

For: Looking cheap compared to a rotten doer upper in Grey Lynn.

Against: I should not give financial advice to anyone.

Investment potential. 8/10

Austin A40 Countryman. Pursuant to the Aesthete's current preoccupation with old English commercials is this charming A40 wagon that looks like it could be pulled back from the brink with a bit of effort. Whether you think it worthwhile depends on your willingness to lose money hand over fist by paying professionals to do the work. If hand painting cars was acceptable in the 1950s, I would like to know what has changed since?

For: Get out the Dulux and get started on your summer project.

Against: Yes, I know. Its got no engine. Complainers.

Investment potential: 0/10 but you would do it for higher reasons.

1990 Lancia Thema 8.32. Only cognoscenti will know that this Thema is powered by a Ferrari V8 instead of Lampredi's venerable twin cam four but the performance gain was illusory anyway. What it did have was a Wagner like soundtrack, a Poltrona Frau leather interior and a dash to rival the finest William and Mary sideboard.  The competition in the form of the Lotus Carlton has become seriously expensive so unless you can find one of those in Japan...

For: A moment of madness in Fiat central planning.
Against: I would not want to be paying the bill if something goes wrong.
Investment potential: 9/10. Only a Gandini Maserati Quattroporte V8 could be more fun.


On some faraway beach...

1966 Plymouth Barracuda. That rear window sends an acquisitive shudder through the Aesthete every time. In rare V8 manual form, the Barracuda was an uncommon sight and even more so here where Mustangs outnumber them 50 to 1. This refurbished low ownership car is languishing at less than US10K so represents a bit of a steal in my view.

For: Great rearwards aspect.
Against: Nothing really. Cheaper than a nice AP5 Valiant.
Investment potential: 2/10 but at least not in negative figures.

The Aesthete rests from his labours

The Aesthete's Fleet
We Drove Here is now open at the Hocken Library on Anzac Avenue and all readers of the blog are invited to drop in and look it over. The opening attracted a decent sized crowd and I got a chance to meet some major motoring enthusiasts including Sir Julian Smith, owner and proprietor of the Otago Daily Times, New Zealand's only independent urban daily. I was pictured gurning like a crazy person in his reputable organ the very next morning but he deigned not to know me. Oh well, fame is a fickle food, upon a shifting plate.

1975 BMW 2002. There is room to improve on this 2002 and it would be well worth someone's while to do so as they are a sure bet for the future. The vendor has obtained repair sections for the corroded parts and one hopes that the rot has not penetrated too far into the structure as BMWs were as susceptible as their Italian counterparts to falling apart on the driveway.

For: Manual and orange, two strong points in its favour.
Against: You could wait and buy a better one with the work already done.
Investment potential: Even with that caveat in mind, still 4/10.

1969 Chrysler Barracuda. I ventured down to the Kaitangata car show with Terry on Saturday and have to say I have not seen HQ Kingswoods and mullets in that variety since the halcyon days of the Thunderbird Valley Inn. This would have gone down a treat in either place as it looks like the offspring of a Valiant that has done the wild thing with a Dodge so has the right combination of the everyday and the exotic.

For: No one else will have one.
Against: Will anyone want one?
Investment potential: 2/10

1989 Citroen BX 16V. Citroen's plastique fantastique was quite something in the 1980s when this avant -garde combination of technology and exhilarating performance was offered to the same market that was being tempted by six cylinder Cortina Ghias. The high milage on this example if probably a good thing as it is disuse that is the bane of all Citroens.

For: Be in your own science fiction movie.
Against: Things will go wrong.
Investment potential: It depends exactly what does go wrong.

1950 Citroen Light 15. I have been known to be a bit churlish about these Citroens but this looks like an opportunity even to my prejudiced eye. Limited information on the condition of the car and two average photographs suggests that the vendor is not trying to impress anyone and may be open to a sensible offer.

For: Fix it and prove me wrong.
Against: I will hold my views to myself.
Investment potential: The start price is reasonable so 4/10

1957 Jaguar XK 150. I  suppose we must accept that we are in an international market place now and should not draw a sharp intake of breath when we see an XK being offered at this sort of money. It is a bit of a show pony with its louvres and bonnet straps but the sinister grey paint and black wire wheels add a desirable level of menace to the overall presentation.

For: It's not red at least.
Against: Make sure you use it.
Investment potential: 2/10

On some faraway beach...

1962 Alfa Romeo 2600 Berlina. Something for the Alfa completist wanting to make a splash at the next Latins rally is this exceedingly rare saloon variation on the more familiar Sprint coupe. It says something for the desirability of Alfa's flagship that it was handily outsold by the two door car but its looks now seem chiseled and handsome in a way they clearly did not when new.

For: Hardly seen outside Italy and not often there either.
Against: Shipping things from South Africa can be problematic.
Investment potential: 2/10 but someone will want it.

The Aesthete's Fleet
The Triumph Tiger 100 has been getting some attention as it is to be a static exhibit in the exhibition I am currently working on for the Hocken Library. You are all invited to attend if you are in Dunedin or visiting over the next few months. There is plenty of time as the show will be up until February 13. Checking the Tiger against the parts book I have for the 1966 models shows a few departures from the norm so ordering parts is a bit of a lottery. The rear wheel spindle seems to have come from something else entirely so the requisite nut to hold the whole affair in place is still missing. I have no idea when or where it disappeared so finding a replacement may be entertaining. The new grey seat looks smart, however, and I am waiting on some bars and levers which will restore correct appearance if not action.

1960 MGA Coupe. The slipper bodied MGA looks even better in fixed head form although the cabin may be a little cramped if, like the Aesthete, years of indolence have added to your girth.  Were you still limber enough to fit inside, the windup windows, heater and carpets make for a civilised ride which your long suffering passenger may appreciate if you are one of those hardy types that goes out in all weathers.

For. What a pretty car.
Against: No bargain at 36K.
Investment potential: 3/10 with rarity on its side.

Mercedes Benz 190E 2.3 16V Cosworth. The values of hot 190s are apparently climbing steeply with EVO versions selling like Renoir water lilies so this may be worth your attention. The white paint is unfortunate but in keeping with the mid-1980s trends in these matters when a white car on white wheels with white painted plastic bumpers seemed somehow to be a good idea. The Cosworth developed engine requires some upkeep but the vendor claims the car comes with a service history. Inspect carefully.

For: Raucous, quick and well built.
Against: Really needs to be metallic black again.
Investment potential: 6/10 and a lot of fun to boot.

1969 AMC AMX. American Motors did not have much to put up against the Camustango dual assault on its sales figures but its lean and dramatically cut down AMX coupe was both great looking and a track success. Show your originality then and buy this alternative pony car from the wrong side of the tracks.

For: Unusual and oddly attractive.
Against. The Rambler pedigree suppresses interest in these cars.
Investment potential: 2/10

1970 Rover 3500 P5B. The light weight Buick V8 transformed this previously stodgy car that soon became the choice of Tory despots including Margaret Thatcher. The Aesthete is obliged to recommend this fine car despite the fact that it reminds him of landing in London in the middle of the great garbage strike when rotting household refuse was piled high in the streets, thus ushering in the Iron Lady herself.

For: Bentley quality at less than Cortina money.
Against: It has rust in the sills apparently.
Investment potential: 2/10. Check this carefully. They are a big complex structure.

1986 Chevrolet Corvette C4. I can normally flick past middle era Corvettes with little effort but this glossy black example with its right hand drive specification caught my attention, as did the rock bottom starting price. It is otherwise modestly equipped with a 350 cubic inch engine and automatic transmission but the C4 was the first of the technology driven models with clever tricks like plastic springs that could provide useful ripostes when people ask you why you bought it.

For: The high school jock of cars gets smart.
Against: Still like driving a Hudson, I expect.
Investment potential: 3/10 but it depends where the bidding heads.

On some faraway beach

1975 Monica. Wonderboy may know a little more about this beautiful French grand routier, having worked withe its creator Chris Lawrence when the designer/engineer was employed by Morgan. Quite how something this complete and sophisticated was stopped after only eight production cars is a mystery. The tooling and production facility was a major investment as the Monica was intended to follow Facel Vega as the ultimate French prestige car. The shots of the interior with this listing bear out this premise.

For: No one else will have one.
Against: Low production numbers mean no parts.
Investment potential: What is such a thing worth? You Francophiles out there might provide answers.