Five for road ahead

Cars, girls' names, cocktails and songs

Going off the road with Lucinda, Kentucky bourbon and coke in hand...

1973 BMW 2002 Clean, original 2002s are still out there at reasonable prices. Their arch rivals in period – Alfa Romeo Berlinas and Triumph Dolomite Sprints – are conspicuous by their absence. In fact I have listed neither in almost a year of blogs so this may be your best chance of landing a '70s saloon that can keep pace with most moderns and demonstrate that you are an individual of real taste. For: That is quite enough for 10K. Against: Tired 2002s are no fun.

1958 Daimler 104 I normally avoid restoration projects but there is something of a bargain here for those attracted to this noble family of English saloons. This example is from the tail end of production and eschews the old Wilson preselect gearbox for an orthodox automatic. It looks like a repaint and a tidy up of the expansive leather interior would make a big difference. For: The same price people are asking for total wrecks. Against: Do you have a walnut forest with a herd of cows wandering through it?

1977 Matra Bagheera Matra were French aircraft and arms makers who diversified into racing cars, designing clever stressed skin monocoque frames that kept Lotus on its toes. Not doing things the conventional way led to the three-seat Bagheera, built from ABS plastic panels bonded to a steel punt. Unfortunately their inventiveness did not embrace rust protection so almost all have vanished. For: No one else will have one. Against: Parlez-vous français?

1987 Bentley Mulsanne There was loud groaning and gnashing from the well known aesthete last week when this appeared on the market. I feel his pain. The plutocrats must be sweating a bit as well when a one-owner Bentley with full service history can be had for this sort of money. For: Do you need to ask? Against: Do you want to look like a finance company director on his way to pokey?

1993 Alfa 164 QV Yes, I know it is a middle aged Alfa saloon and we know they are worthless and all on the way to the crusher but... The 164 QV was the Alfa flagship and were made for low level flying on the autostrada as well as the winding route to the Amalfi coast. Well serviced examples under 100,000KMs are becoming rare and they are much nicer to own than an old Mercedes or BMW. For: 4K – 245KPH. You do the maths.

Beware the Ides of March!

Cars, cocktails, girls' names and songs. 

Jonathan Richman's meditation on why Pablo Picasso never got called a rude name in New York.

Ford GT40P ERA Not for popping down to the shops in but if you want to replicate Chris Amon's winning Le Mans drive in 1966, here is your chance. ERA make a decent replica shell around a stainless steel tub. It will not pass for an original but they are all accounted for anyway. A starter kit minus engine and gearbox is 59K US so I wonder where the extra 70K has gone? For: Park it next to that white Galaxie 500 I keep telling you to buy. Against: A lot of money for an occasional track day spin.

1966 Jaguar 3.8 S-type This must be close to the ideal spec for a 1960s Jaguar saloon so picture what a low milage 3.8 Mk II in the same shade of red might set you back. Use the savings to buy yourself a nice set of wire wheels and new carpets. You will soon feel like holding up a Royal Mail train at gun point, I assure you. For: Ideal for a quick getaway. Against: That red looks a little bright.

1970 Lancia Fulvia 1.3 Lots of cheerful banter from the vendor but little information regarding this Fulvia coupe, probably a 1.3 L model. Timaru was the home of an avid Lancia collector and this may be one of his old cars so it will not have run for a while or been well stored. Still, a little over 2K is a good starting price for one of these highly rewarding cars. For: Much loved by architects of a certain age. Against: Not a cheap, easy or quick fix.

1970 Triumph 2.5 PI Well, what do we have here if not one of the very few surviving fuel injected Mk I Triumph saloons wearing its highly characterful Giovanni Micholetti styling. This bit of a treat represents good value at 6K with even the Mk II PIs becoming a rare sight today. The Italianate interior with clever instrument pod was rationalised away in later models so enjoy its special ambience. For: Coventry sportivo! Against: It needs explaining.

1972 Buick Riviera GS The boat-tail Riviera was the last example of the marque that could be safely looked upon without clawing out your eyeballs. Enthralling from the aggressive front lean to the tip of its pointy tail, this was the high point of 1970s Americana and considerably more cool than an Eldorado. For: Oh, come on. You know you want to. Against: If the accusation of living off immoral earnings upsets you, look away now.

Five more choices from Trade Me

Cars, girls' names, cocktails and songs.

Is it okay to use a song that has been used in a VW ad? Sip a pink gin with Gabrielle (see below) and enjoy little brother Nick Drake's finest moment.

1935 Austin Seven Special. Not as beautiful as the polished alloy bodied one I featured early on the list but handsome and correct in any case. It comes with a variety of engines including an Imp if you want a bit of added hair ruffling. I still picture myself in something like this on the Port Chalmers road on the way to work. Every day would be a treat. For: Sheer fun. Against: You will have to be handy with a spanner and a grease gun.

1961 Ford Zodiac Convertible Most of these cars have been subject to garish restoration or worse so it is good to see one in sober colours and looking as it should. Two doors and a power hood was as glamourous as it got in Blighty in 1961 and the Zodiac was the top of the Ford range. For: More wieldy than a big American. Against: You may look like a bit of a hoon.

1962 Oldsmobile Dynamic 88 Okay, its another big, slightly bland American car but it has had one owner for forty years and a certified 29 thousand miles on the clock. The driving experience of a genuine low milage car cannot be recreated in a rebuild so if you value that particular quality, the Oldsmobile will have it. Look at those door shuts. For: The real thing. Against: The less exciting end of Americana. 

1972 Fiat 125 Fiat's perpendicular saloon had the heart of a sports car, as opposed to say the Morris Marina that hid a Minor 1000. Therein lies the key difference between Italy and England during the 1970s. Engine designer Aurelio Lampredi was also responsible for Ferrari's first V12 so the pedigree could not be much better. This is a virtually one owner car that has clearly been looked after and the asking price of 4.5K is on the cheap side in my opinion. For: Practical, quick and entertaining. Against: Don't buy it unless you have a nice dry garage.

1969 Scorpion For those of us who were secretly in love with Gabrielle Drake in the TV series UFO (purple hair, you must remember), this VW-based Scorpion would be just the thing. Now. if I could just find one of those fibreglass pod buildings they had at the Commonwealth Games in Christchurch. For: Wild, baby. Against: Depends how it was put together.

Five items of interest to the discerning motorist

Cars, girls' names, cocktails and songs

Brevity rules [Who is Brevity, I hear you ask?] Never mind, just listen to the great Bentley Rhythm Ace while you browse this week's selection.

1948 Riley RMB I have written about these cars in previous lists, the main emphasis on looking past the 1930s looks to the excellent dynamics and high performance. There is very little else in the class of the big Riley if you want to go long distances and keep up with your sister-in-law in the Camry. The vendor's pitch is just right and I would trust him to describe the car truthfully. For: Buy with confidence: Against I cannot see much.

1957 Jaguar Mk8 3.4 Saloon Opportunities to acquire unrestored two-owner 1950s Jaguars do not arise frequently so this made me sit up and take notice. These cars cost a fortune to put right if neglected in the body or trim areas. Mechanicals are a different matter. A spot of re-commissioning and you would really have something special to show off at the Jag club. For: Just the way you would want to see one presented. Against: Auto and no sunroof but that is how it came. 

1962 Jaguar E-type Coupe 'Chrome wire wheels' the vendor says, possibly the least informative pitch in Trade Me Motors history. This early E has all the right features including a fabric sunroof for those hot days that now only occur in the lower South Island. 72K is still a lot of money but low for a well restored 3.8 litre car. I would like to have more history but this is intriguing. For: The best colour and trim combination on one of the best looking cars in the world. Against: I love a good mystery, but...

1973 Citroen DS23 Possibly the best way ever invented of traveling over the Earth's surface apart from the Vulcan Railcar. Once again, all Citroen caveats apply. A bad example will only break your heart and the bank, in that order. This carb version may not have the liveliness of the injected models but who wants do do more than waft about in one of these? For: Science wedded to art. Against: Regular use is required, lest high pressure hydraulics become no pressure hydraulics.

1976 Bentley T-Series Taciturn vendors seem to be the rule this week with the owner of this rather nice Bentley only offering 'Rego on hold'. I wondered if Reg was in the boot but no, the tool kit is displayed and there is no sign of a body. 12K is reasonable if the car can be vinned with little trouble but a bad one must be avoided. For: Never mind the quality, feel the width. Against: A bit more money would buy a good one so inspect carefully.

Special edition

Something for sir for the weekend?

I was at the Port Chalmers petrol station filling up when a long dark shape hove into view. No, not the Queen Elizabeth II but a Vanden Plas Princess DS2 Saloon, an extremely rare version of the limousine much loved by the mayors of minor English towns. Three owners, original paint and leather, burr walnut in good order and striking in every way. He would like a very reasonable 15K for it. I have never seen one in the metal before and I was most impressed with the quality and details.  Call Billy Brown on (03) 472 8323 or call at his very excellent backpackers lodge at 423 Aramoana Road, Hamilton Bay, Port Chalmers.

Five for the leap year

Cars, girls' names, cocktails and songs.

Another effort to cover all bases this week with a favorite Disney toon. Animator Freddie Moore had a sideline in mildly erotic girlie drawings which were quietly traded out of sight of the studio. Some of this spiciness crept in to their post-war 'adult' oriented productions like Make Mine Music (1946) from where this delightful clip comes. No cocktails of course, just sodas.

1951 Chevrolet Coupe  While I realise the 1955-7 Chevrolets were style leaders, familiarity has reduced their impact. Throw a stick into Trade Me and you will hit twenty Bel Airs with some prices rising past 100K. Earlier models have their charms, particularly the pillarless coupes. The elegant lines and restrained brightwork on this makes me think early Farina and that is the way to my heart. For: Looks. Against: Tedious dynamics.

1975 Auburn Speedster Ready yourself for the Gatsby revival in this Auburn replica, professionally built in 1975 around Ford mechanicals. Some of the details convey this strongly including the modern instruments and wheel but the proportions are good and the whole ensemble probably better on the road than the original. It is attracting strong bids so who knows what the vendor thinks it's worth. For: A fitting garage companion to the Zimmer of a few weeks ago. Against: As my French conservator friend Francois once said about something else, "She is a fake, no?"

1978 Volkswagen Scirocco. Young people today would say this is a cool retro car and they are right. The first part of Giorgetto Guigiaro's prescription for the ailing Volkswagen combine was a sporty coupe based on Golf mechanicals. The Scirocco was launched ahead of the saloon in 1974 and created a genuine sensation. Very few have survived the rust that afflicted almost all European cars of this era and they are a rare site anywhere. For: Great looks and dynamics. Against: Parts are no picnic.

1973 MGB V8 Once again, I am breaking my own rules and writing about MGBs but this one is doubtless entertaining to drive. The light weight alloy Rover V8 was a gift to many small manufacturers and some large ones as well. After the failure of the six cylinder C, MG looked to the V8 conversion that Ken Costello was making and copied it, producing a 125mph B that was visually indistinguishable from the lesser models. What marketing brilliance! For: Quick and good value. Against: Only my unreasonable prejudice stops me wanting it.

1980 Alfa Sud Sprint Another miraculous survivor spared a rusty grave. The most fun that could be had in a small coupe was to be had in a Sud. Lighter than a paper bag and with the bigger 1500cc flat four, they were like a better, faster, prettier Mini Cooper but nothing like the same cost now. 6K is all you need. For: What, you need more than that? Against: Like a paper bag, will not last long outdoors.