The Aesthete ponders the old car hobby

It is odd when the most reliable car in the fleet is a 40 year old Alfa Romeo so what does that tell us about the state of contemporary design? Owning a modern car is most often justified by statements like 'Well, you just get in it and it goes', yet this is equally true of the GTVs. Admittedly it is not as cheap to run as the Mazda 2 that I drove furiously around Auckland for three days and used $14 worth of fuel. Am I tempted? You will have to do better than that, sorry.

1964 Ford Thunderbird. Most of the Thunderbirds on the local market are coupes which is a pity as they were meant to be open in order to show off their fabulous interiors. This example has come from a pampered life in Pompano Beach, Fla. owned no doubt by a retired undertaker and only driven to Shabbat service on Saturday. Powder blue is second only to primrose in the Aesthete's colour palette for 60s Americana so this is approaching his ideal.

For: You or someone you know will need to look good in a bikini.
Against: I am guessing you do not look good in a bikini.
Investment potential: 2/10 but only because the times are against you.

1965 MG 1100. From the sublime to... the sublime actually. Just how different the global industry was in the 1960s can be seen in how the desire for something a bit special was sated in the UK and the USA. Plumper seats. a whisp of walnut veneer and a tinsel grill told the neighbours that you were alright Jack while wire wheel hub caps and 300 horsepower served the same purpose across the Atlantic. One suspects that Alec Issigonis would have approved of the T'bird as being honest and looked down his nose at the MG. Oh well.

For: You need red seats with BRG but apart from that...
Against: More formal dress standard apply here.
Investment potential: 6/10. Cheap to run and chic to boot.

1980 Lancia Gamma Coupe. There were many things wrong with the Lancia Gamma including a dash that looked like some Farfisa organ controls had been placed there by a child and seats covered in fabric that would make you wince in a bus.  Gossip has it that Fiat engineers sabotaged its detail development to make way for their 130 Coupe but even so, the doomed Gamma was a dream to drive long distances where the lack of acceleration did not matter. Like having a relationship with someone gorgeous but completely mad.

For: Anyone would think I don't like these cars. Quite the opposite.
Against: Don't start.
Investment potential: 14/10 but only in magical Gammaland where no natural laws apply.

1984 Peugeot 505 GTI. I cannot recall the last time I saw a Peugeot 505 much less the desirable manual GTI version so it is difficult to discern the level of interest there may be in this example. It is virtually unused and Peugeots are renowned for their life expectancy so it may be the only car you ever need to own. This makes the asking price seem quite reasonable. Handsome Pininfarina looks come at no extra cost.

For:  Well, when did you last see one?
Against: The dash again...
Investment potential: 2/10 because you will drive it into the earth.

1970 Fiat 125. Although meant for a shorter spell on earth, Fiat's 125 occupied a similar niche. Like the 128 last week, School of Turin Perpendicular applies here as well where Italian designers delighted in a lightly decorated minimalism that was architectural and supremely tasteful. The vendor agrees, taking three shots of its almost featureless rump to show what I am saying.

For: You could not pay enough for a really good one.
Against: The C word. That is corrosion, you base individual.
Investment: 29/10 and climbing by the hour.


On some faraway beach...

1937 Panhard Dynamic. I recall the playground conversation going badly when as a child I expressed my desire to own a Panhard Dynamic, one being illustrated in my favourite car book. I feel the same today when I think about the joy of bucking common sense and investing in a complete orphan. Sleeve valve engines, swooping aerodynamic coachwork and an interior that a French movie star could luxuriate in still rank ahead of most other criteria.

For: Start your car museum with this. I would pay $20 to get in.
Against: The cloud of oil smoke lets the image down.
Investment potential: Ummm...