Downhill all the way

Cars, girls' names, cocktails and songs

People forget that Nico had a career before the Velvet Underground and here she is like a German Judy Durham accompanied by the happy strumming of a young and impressionable Jimmy Page. No cars or drinking here but a jolly old romp regardless.

1951 Renault 4CV. Alright, I know some may consider 20K overpriced but where would you go to get a better example? Moreover, this is an English assembled car so you get leather seats on beautiful chromed steel frames and a nice set of round instruments instead of the Gallic poverty pack that came with the LHD versions. For: French mid-century modernism. Against: Zut alors! Rien!

1973 Citroen SM. From the same vendor as the sweet 4CV comes this magnificent SM. Black can keep no guilty secrets and the single image suggests all is well with the body. The fragile Maserati V6 is what you need to worry about as any old school Citroen mechanic can sort out the hydraulics for you. For: A driving experience that will make you wonder if the past forty years were necessary. Against: If it all goes wrong, look upon it as an education.

1956 Vauxhall Velox Stationette. The desire for comfortable workaday vehicles is nothing new and I imagine this Australian coach-built Velox would induce fits in UK buyers if it was advertised there. There are still enough nice saloons in New Zealand for me not to get too excited when they appear on Trade Me but I must say this is something out of the ordinary. For: Like the mullet haircut, business at the front, party at the back. Against: I can't see a lot.  

1962 Dodge Polara. From producing some of the most beautiful shapes of the 1950s, the Chrysler stylists became carried away by a passing romance with the Italian Ghia studio. Where there had been simple lines and grace there was now Baroque curlicues and mad postures. I love it of course and they did not get much uglier or madder than this Dodge. For: What can one say? Against: Hideous.

1989 TVR Tasmin. Oliver Winterbottom's wedge TVRs will have their day once again when us jaded aesthetic types can look upon them and not experience an involuntary tightening of the fundamental orifice. Until then they are merely cheap entertainment and a bit mad. For: Blue velour! Walnut! Stick on graphics! Against: Unghhhrr.