Five with a bit of class

Cars, girls' names, cocktails and songs


A dose of Mike Nesmith's Texan gentleman's tenor off his great Magnetic South album, followed by a warming bourbon under the rug with Joanne.

1937 Austin 14/6 I am always happy to point out an alternative to the greatly overrated Citroen Light 15 and something about the rational lines of this big Austin appeals to me. It was one of Ricardo Burzi's better jobs, having been poached from Lancia in 1929.  A side valve six pulled the Austin along at decent highway speeds but it was no rocket sled in period or today. For: Nicely fitted out with a sunroof for gentle touring. Against: One for the gerontocrats.

1957 Lincoln Premier Coupe This has been listed on Trade Me before but no one has yet succumbed to its very considerable charms. It is the best looking of all the Ford products in the second half of the 1950s, an attitude shared by the American Industrial Designers Institute who recognised it as the peak of a pretty compelling decade. A better, cheaper alternative to a 1957 Bel Air would be hard to find. For: A good big American. Against: Unorthodox but all the better for it.

1958 Jaguar 3.4 Litre Saloon A sensibly modified 3.4 would mark you out as a person of real taste. This example has the wider Mk II axle in favour of the compromised original setup which allowed the fitting of full wheel spats to the detriment of high speed stability. The intimate interior with its central instruments has great charm and it will remind you of how extraordinary 120 mph performance was in the 1950s. For: One of the great cars. Against: With no power assist I would get rid of the sporty wheel.

1964 Peugeot 404 Familiale There are still hundreds of these banging across rutted stream beds in North Africa and they are amongst the hardiest vehicles ever made. This early model Familiale has a clever row of extra seats in the load area and these were popular in smart Catholic households in the 1960s. For: Good Pininfarina looks on an unbreakable platform. Against: What's not to like?

1965 Jaguar S Type 3.8 I normally avoid the Mk II variants, more due to the awkward looks than any deficiency in the dynamics but this must be close to the ideal spec for an S Type and therefore well worth considering. The independent rear suspension greatly improved the Mk II's marginal handling and the manual gearbox makes the most of the 3.8 engine's considerable thrust. White and red suits these cars and it could only be improved with wire wheels. For: A considerable discount on an average Mk II. Against: Make sure the rear brakes have been seen to. It's an awful job.