Five more ways to fill the shed

The Aesthete's Fleet

I wish I could report that the Lancia is back on the road but, alas, I have to take second place to the Rally of Otago. Veteran Lancia driver Miki Biasion has his Porsche 911 being prepared in the very place that the Flavia occupied over winter and my gearbox has been swept into a corner. I could say I am upset but I am actually honoured to be associated in any way with someone who won the WRC twice in a Lancia! Bravissimo!

1964 Rover 3 Litre Coupe. The vendor's photographs do not appear auspicious but it may be better than it looks. We are not quite going mad for 'barn finds' here yet. We prefer to call them shocking old wrecks but there are worse winter projects than cleaning up a Rover Coupe with a pleasantly worn appearance like this one has. With luck you will find yourself in a car with the presence of something much more expensive.

For: Rover 3 Litre Coupe or Lancia Flaminia? The Aesthete is conflicted on this issue.
Against: It better not be rusty.
Investment potential. It is already overpriced so I will say 0/10 until the vendor starts his meds again.

1963 Mercedes Benz 220 SEC. By something much more expensive I am of course referring to this glamorous Mercedes coupe. Unlike the Rover, it shares no panels with its finny saloon sister car and would look perfectly at home outside the casino at Monte Carlo with Grace Kelly at the wheel. This sort of prestige does not come cheap, however, but the 220 is the model to have if you want to use it. The bigger 300 version with fuel injection and airbag suspension will bankrupt you.

For: The Grace Kelly of German automobiles.
Against: Like Grace, you will need to be Prince Rainier to keep her.
Investment potential: 5/10. The asking price is on the low side so questions should be asked.

1949 Cadillac Coupe. If we are going for coupes this week, we might pause to consider this impressive Cadillac. I like the austere brown leather interior and general lack of flash which shows up the beautiful streamlined form. A Bentley Continental would be the next stop but they are five times the price and for inveterate snobs only. Park this outside the club instead.

For: The looks of course. And those tail lights.
Against: I know. Its a behemoth.
Investment potential: 3/10. One for the Caddy cognoscenti.

1963 Ford Thunderbird. Swing-away steering wheel, great lashings of plastic wood veneer, space-age woven synthetic textile seat coverings and a padded vinyl roof with fake hood irons! What more could you ask from a car than that? Brakes and steering? Are you some sort of communist?

For: Swing-away steering wheel. etc. etc.
Against: Sitting in it is safe enough but you will have to drive it sometime.
Investment potential: 2/10. There are a lot on the market but this one actually has bids!

1966 Chrysler 300. The vendor's description is written in a particularly dense petrolhead patois that your Aesthete can barely translate but I believe he is saying that his Chrysler 300 goes very fast indeed and has a manual gearbox. He goes on to describe the many modifications that have been made so that the car will stay on the road rather than killing you at the first corner.

For: Every drive will be an adventure.
Against: You should not need to ask.
Investment potential: 3/10. You could not build one for the asking price.

And awaiting you in the US...

1967 Imperial Crown Hardtop. Just to prove that local vendors are a bit optimistic on their pricing, how about a nut and bolt fully documented restoration of the top line Chrysler product of the era for US11K? I have said enough.

For: A plutocrat's sort of ride.
Against: Nothing. My sort of American.
Investment potential: 5/10. 22K landed and vinned?