A catholic selection

This week's title seemed appropriate somehow on the day the new Pope was named and when attention turns towards Italy for reasons other than Silvio Berlusconi. I cling to the belief that Italy makes fine cars although experience continues to shake my faith. I still find grim pleasure in the enterprise though and have spent the week buzzing up and down the information superhighway, as it was quaintly called, looking for a rare special gearbox bearing needed to complete the work on the Flavia.  I was at the point of allowing a fearsome bodge to be performed when the news came from Cavalitto S.A.S in Torino that the bearing was in stock. Bravo Enrico Barlaam and I look forward to seeing the Pope in a Lancia and not a Mercedes. What were they thinking?

1960 Skoda Felicia. I imagine the gay days there must have been in 1960s Prague when I see this gorgeous slipper shaped convertible made in the era before Skoda became a joke brand. It was a proud marque and some of their clever engineering was carried here with the backbone chassis and independent suspension making its way into the local Trekka. The twin carbs are a bit optimistic on the puny 1200 cc engine but it has real Iron Curtain style.

For: You will probably not own a Tatra so what about this?

Against: They are not laughing at you, they are laughing with you.

Investment potential: Anything under 10K would be fine for a 6/10

1954 Riley Pathfinder. There are probably not ten Pathfinders running in the whole of England but it seems you can take your pick on Trade Me. This early car has the broad chested Riley twin cam four with a strange gearshift positioned on the right of the bench front seat. That quirk to one side it is pure 1950s Gerald Palmer and therefore like a British Lancia Aurelia but one tenth the price. And I love the picture of it outside its bungalow home. It could be 1955. 

For: Much more interesting than a Jaguar.

Against: Wayward handling on the limit led to the name Hedgefinder.

Investment potential: 2/10 but not to worry if you really want one because they are cheap.

1968 Daimler Sovereign. With possibly the worst photo ever used to pitch a car on the history of Trade Me comes this rather special Daimler with the big 4.2 litre motor, independent rear end, manual gearbox and wire wheels. This was the peak of the complex MkII line and would still give you a thrill today. The  modest start price and the need for a repaint would have me poking around the lower extremities with a screwdriver and a torch but what a brute.

For: There are lots of nice Daimlers but few exciting ones.
Against: Let's hope it is not totally rotten.
Investment potential: Dependent on the above. Nil if you have to pay for all that it might need.

1955 De Soto Firedome. I am a bit partial to hefty American wagons, seeing them as an antidote to the tedious array of Bel Air coupes that makes up a big section of the market. 60K is a bit rich however and I imagine the seller will have to wait for the right deep pocketed buyer. I would be looking on Bring A Trailer if I wanted something like this but it is a handsome thing.

For: It will get admiring looks and you can sleep in it.
Against: V8, drum brakes, 4000lbs. Approach damp roads with care.
Investment potential: 1/10. Probably cheaper than restoring one but I would want to try.

1948 Rolls Royce Silver Wraith. If you ever wanted to know what the result of a midnight tryst in the Royal Motor House would look like, behold! Possibly the most awful thing ever done to a Rolls Royce Silver Wraith or a Daimler Regency and with an interesting back-story as well if you care to read the comments.

For: Has parts from two nice cars, just not put together with any sense of the aesthetic outcome.
Against: Can you feel pity for a car? It wants you to save it.
Investment potential: Bwahahahaha!

And from Milano via Coventry...

1964 Sunbeam Venezia. Management at the Rootes Group headquarters must have been drinking heavily when it was agreed that a bespoke Touring-bodied Humber Scepter was what they needed to spice up the range. Built like an Aston Martin with a tubular frame holding up delicate hand formed panels, the Venezia cost more than an E-Type and they were a hard sell with only seven going to English customers. Needless to say, I want one and this would be the ideal example to buy.

For: Cheap and simple mechanicals. Just don't hit anything.
Against: Awkward but I like that in a car.
Investment potential: 1/10 at that price although if you had a Tiger you might want this to keep it company.