Five heavyweights

Cars, girls' names, cocktails and songs

A sweet little rumination on trouble making in a BMW from the great Gomez that could only be accompanied by a box of Bourbon RTDs and a girl called Siobáhn.

1953 Mercedes 300 I don't suppose I should be surprised that one of these magnificent things arrived in New Zealand new but here it is in all its Teutonic pomp. The so called Adenauer Mercedes, named after the post-war head of state who was often seen in one, showed the remarkable ability of the German company to resume where it had left off in the 1930s, producing fast and complex large saloon cars. The interiors were as impressive as the external coach work, being largely hand made using the best materials. For: You will look like you mean business in this. Against: Restoration costs will be colossal.

1959 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud I imagine if these two met in a head on, the Earth would pause briefly in its orbit while the energy was absorbed. The single headlight Clouds are the most elegant and who really needs the performance advantage of the V8 anyway? This model is set up for the owner-driver so no division but the interior is magnificent in green hide. For: Search out your inner Tory. Against: See German equivalent above.

1961 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible If you are going to have one of these, it might as well be metallic pink, or Fontana Rose as the vendor informs us. The fins had peaked a few years earlier and I like the quieter styling of the post-1960 models. This example has has expensive work done on the presentation side and comes with original sales literature for displaying on the back seat when to attend shows, which you know you will. For: The boudoir colour. Against: Just try not looking like you live off immoral earnings.

1966 Chevrolet Impala SS Coupe Almost every second Impala was an SS but this one has escaped the custom car painter's spray gun and is presented in my favorite shade of pale yellow. The black bucket seats and centre console make the big Chevrolet seem more sporty than it was but it has a high output 327 engine which would push things along in a decent fashion.  For: Almost elegant compared to other offerings. Against: Get a brake upgrade before you get carried away.

1976 Lincoln Continental Mk IV. It may look as if it was styled by Quentin Tarantino but it was the last good looking Lincoln before the marque went completely to pieces in the face of safety standards and fuel economy regulations. I blame Governor Gerry Brown and all those damn hippies in California for what happened next. For: If you need a disguise I believe you can buy quite convincing George W. Bush rubber masks on the web. Against: Well, look at it.