The wonderful Tom Petty used up pretty much all he had in one song, consequently it is a good one. Join the nameless one up on the balcony with a pina colada and hear the cars go rolling by.
I am sorry for those of you in the upper South Island who have not had a summer to speak of but even our freakish season in Dunedin is drawing to a close. A man's mind turns away from flapping side screens and canvas hoods at this time but it is also when unwanted convertibles are monetised so we will start this week with...
1961 Morgan Plus Four. Now that people are getting big prices for those effete MG TFs, you might consider the alternatives. The Morgan gives you real performance from the 2 litre Triumph motor and you get an extra pair of seats for emergencies or room for an overnight bag, depending on your needs. The narrow bodied shape on steel wheels looks great and no-one will doubt your commitment to masochistic motoring in one of these. For: Simple, fast and fun. Against: Your spine is a structural part of the chassis.
1964 Ford Thunderbird. Now, something for the sybarite. Not so vast as to be a hazard to other road users and well able to get out of its own way with a 390 cubic inch motor, the mid-60s Thunderbirds offer great luxury with lots of lazy thrust. Electric blue is my favorite trim colour and I can only look upon the back seat with a frisson of guilty pleasure. For: Like Frank Sinatra but a car. Against: Think of all those oily sea birds.
1964 MGB. It was one of the stated rules of the Petrolhead Aesthete that I would not write about MGBs, there being nothing new or interesting to say about them. The recent articles marking the car's fiftieth anniversary proved this again as I learnt nothing that I did not know. Even so, this looks like a nice car and has the early flip type door handle which is apparently like a flat foot well in an E-Type. This is why normal individuals get a glazed look when people start talking cars. For: The best example of an average car... is what exactly? Against: What I just said.
1969 Mercedes 280 seb Coupe. Not a convertible I know but they are quickly leaving the realm where we mortals dwell and are being restored at huge expense as concours queens. This example was ordered new in New Zealand and must have been owned by some plutocrat as they were pushing Rolls Royce money when new. For: Unique colour scheme, better than the the usual silver. Against: Don't knock it against anything. The front bumper alone would buy you a nice Mercedes.
1972 Chevrolet Corvette. I sidled past all the other Corvettes with the letters and numbers attached to get to this example. They are a bit like Harleys really. People buy them thinking the bigger the engine the better and then the slightly mad dynamics are revealed on the first damp road. Much better a small block manual without all the bulges, flares and outside exhausts which are all signs of desperation to impress. For: White and red, the best of all colour combinations. Against: Some will always say they are gross.
When I lived in London there was a very original 69 (I think - snub fins) 280 coupe around the corner from me with a 3.5 V8 and 4 speed manual on the floor. How I coveted that beast! I have owned a 350se and the sound it made was awesome.
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