Five to welcome back daylight saving

Cars, girls' names, cocktails and songs

Reader Matt kindly sent me a compilation of car songs so I may never have to wander lost and hopeless though You Tube again. And lo, what should be the second track but the Velvet's Rock & Roll. Clearly the heavens are aligning for the Petrolhead Aesthete this week. Although there are no mentions of cars, girls' names or cocktails here, this was certainly the Groovies' finest 4:24.

I have been using my rudimentary Photoshop skills to visualise my next project which is to reconstruct a Daimler Conquest Century as if built by Pininfarina. Those who have known me a long while may recall a flirtation with pre-select gearbox Daimlers which could be bought in pairs for $120 back then. They are actually quite a decent car with the Century developing 100 hp and carrying one of the nicest dashboards of the era. I now seek one with reasonable mechanicals and scruffy body with which to make this Daimrelia... donations of Daimlers, wrecked Lancia Aurelias, wheeling machine or cash gratefully accepted.

1967 Daimler 250. We may as well start with a Daimler that exists rather than a phantasm produced by a surfeit of Mac's cider and Thai green curry. This is a very desirable configuration with Edward Turner's splendid alloy V8 driving through a manual gearbox and wire wheels. This and general condition justify the premium over lesser examples. For: Hard to imagine how it could be better. Against: I can see little.

1955 Hillman Minx Convertible. I like the idea of this 'Q-ship' Minx that could quite possible manage illegal speeds with a well tuned 1725 motor pushing things along. No mention of the other necessary work that would have to be done, however, and I grimly recall a Hillman Californian that snapped rear axles like they were made of whicker. For: Aunty Minx on HRT. Against: Motorways may not be a problem, stopping and taking bends on four wheels might be.

1955 DeSoto Firedome. Say it out loud to yourself. 'Firedome'. Has there ever been a better name for a car? I somehow doubt it. A rather handsome thing it is too with a restrained Italianate coupe body and at a considerable discount on a Chrysler letter series car. For: Forget '55 Chevs and try this. Against: A bit pricey against US-sourced cars.

1952 Fordson E83 Light Van. The well known aesthete challenged me to find him a Scamell Scarab last week (Look it up. It is what the internet is for...). I stop just short of miracles but here is a charming small commercial that might suit his jaded taste. Just the thing for fetching small shrubs for his picture perfect garden. For: Cute as a puppy. Against: A bit primitive.