Five ways to break your New Year's resolution

Cars, girl's names, cocktails and songs

Supplied this week by that master of brevity, the Rt Hon Laird of Exelsior.
Singing this.  Sipping cointreau on ice with a gossiping Charlotte and Renee in the back.

I don't know about you but I always start the year looking at my many unfinished projects wishing I did not have to work for a living and might thereby find the time to complete some of them. I vow and declare that I will not buy another car until the Lancia is finished but will continue to use Trade Me vicariously and in the service of my loyal readers. So if you have resolved similarly, see if any of these are enough to drag you from the path of virtue.

1957 Chrysler Imperial Coupe Once Packard threw in the towel, the market for big luxury coupes was fought out between Chrysler, Lincoln and Cadillac. Each had their own attractions but Chrysler led the way with stylist Virgil Exner's elegant and relatively simple forms. The Imperial Coupes featured an imitation landau roof and spare wheel cover pressed into the boot panel which may have irritated the purists then but now looks fully redolent of the era. For: Six way swiveling electric seats, for God's sake. Against: Sheer bulk.

1969 Daimler 250 Daimler's V8 was designed by Edward Turner, architect of the Triumph twin. Consequently it was properly laid out and fastidiously engineered using the best grade alloys. Jaguar realised this and kept the engine in production after taking over the ailing firm. This is an irregular example, being left hand drive and the later slimline bumper version with a simpler interior. One owner, however, and clearly well kept. For: I imagine it drives as it looks. Against: Wheel on the wrong side for many of us.

1970 Alfa Romeo 1750 GTV Mk2 It has been a late summer for Alfas on Trade Me and this is the first GTV to be offered for some time. It looks very respectable and the vendor has an impressive list of bills for work carried out. The 1750 is the pick of the series with a sweet and flexible engine and delightful '60s interior. Nothing better for the run to Queenstown in my view and an asking price of 20K is on the mark for a good example. For: The ideal modern classic. Against: Buy wisely and enjoy. To do otherwise will cost you.

1971 Datsun 240Z  Regular readers may have noted the lack of Japanese cars on the list. This is not due to any particular antipathy but simply a lack of suitable material. Anyone who wants a Nissan Skyline or a WRX does not need any advice from me and anything remotely interesting earlier than the 1980s is in tight supply. Here is an original and unmodified Datsun 240Z which looks well worth its asking price of 20K. Modeled on English sports cars but properly engineered and built, the 240Z was great looking, fast and involving to drive. For: Buy now because these are becoming rare. Against: Very little really.

1978 Citroen CX Pallas  Some physicists assert that all matter in the universe is tied together with invisible strings. If you find this implausible, how else do you explain the presence of two white CXs on Trade Me in the same week? This is the attractive Pallas version with a tan leather interior and one lady owner in sunny Nelson. It is important to buy the best and at 10K this should be close to it. For: Still nothing else like it. Against: Idiosyncratic if you are not fond of them.