The Aesthete is running late

... for meetings, projects and blog writing as the end of the year closes in and time runs out. Apart from harrying the GTV in and out of Dunedin daily, there has been little action on the fleet. One brief moment of relief came when the world's most honest exhaust repairers reported that there was nothing wrong with the car and that is was just naturally noisy.

1939 Nash Lafayette. Comfortable and well built, the Nash range appealed to buyers who wanted to cut a dash in the 1930s. Purchased by a pair of peripatetic spinsters who used it for touring, it has enjoyed an easy life,  confirmed by the preservation of its cloth interior. Original down to its six volt electrics, this Nash is ready to take you to the Centennial Exhibition.

For: Buy it for the smell.
Against: A bit somnambulant.
Investment potential: 3/10 but less if you wear it out.

1965 Ford Zodiac MkIII. Pietro Frua's prototype for the MkIII Zephyr range appeared in Dagenham  in 1961 although the British management alloyed their admiration for it and proceeded to tone things down. Frua's striking angled headlights in Lincoln style were dropped for a more conservative treatment but the rest of the car was reproduced faithfully, becoming the sharpest dressed European Ford until the Sierra. Few have seen the prototype so I include it here fyi.

For: The roof, taller screens and extra side windows make all the difference.
Against: No sports car.
Investment potential: 4/10 and rising.

1966 Vanden Plas 4 Litre R. I have often said that the much misunderstood Vanden Plas 4 Litre R is one of the underrated performance saloons of the era. Yes, you read correctly as the 175 horsepower Rolls Royce engine in a Westminster shell wrought an inevitable effect on the dynamics, ably handled by a heavy duty transmission and decent brakes. Find a set of fifteen inch rims and tighten up the handing and you will have what they used to call a Q ship.

For: Stately looks and potentially decadent performance.
Against: Much loved by retired harbour board chairmen .
Investment potential: 8/10

1980 Alfasud Sprint. Guigiaro's wedge looked even better on a smaller car and the details were shaper and better resolved than on the larger GTV. They were put together with even less care, however, and generally horrified their first owners by spontaneously dissolving in front of them. Survivors are notable for their extreme rarity and owning a drivable one is a pleasing prospect.

For: Drive one and find out what the fuss was about.
Against: Keep it dry and under a good quality cover.
Investment potential: 7/10 as the last examples vanish.

1967 Triumph GT6. The vendor points out that sightings of Triumph's six cylinder coupe are rare these days, rust and accidents having cut through the ranks. Doubling the Herald's weedy output and leaving its wayward suspension alone pleased the cost accountants at Canley although customers rued their cheapness as they exited sideways from the roundabouts that were a feature of the new dual carriageways.

For: 7/8 scale E-Type
Against: The directional stability of a garage creeper.
Investment potential: 5/10. Give it a repaint but leave it alone.

On some faraway beach...

1964 Lancia Flavia Zagato Prototipo. Ercole Spada's design for the original Flavia Zagato Coupe was visually challenging and some it its salient features were omitted in their second attempt. Built as a competition prototype and developed by Lancia factory driver Claudio Magioli, this is the ultimate Flavia and would be a sensation at any Italian track day. For sale with no price on Hemmings...

For: We like a heroic failure.
Against: Don't we?
Investment potential: Unknowable.