Five more four-wheeled follies

The Aesthete's Fleet

Cruel fate snatched away the best Trade Me listings this week including the lovely 1938 Riley Kestral saloon I was gloating over so we have a peculiar selection indeed. I will leave it to your imagination to guess what induced heavy breathing in the Aesthete but I can tell you it is not made of plastic or Italian. 

The rust repairs are complete on the GTV so I will now return to the Flavia that has run out of instrumentation with the speedo joining the rev counter on strike and emitting a mournful low howling. I met my old friend the Alfa and Ducatti maestro Eric Swinburn for a drive on Friday and it started as soon as he got in. Puttana! 

1961 Dodge Phoenix Coupe. Big Dodges of this basic profile were part of my childhood automotive landscape. They always looked lumbering and impressive although most were powered by hopeless flathead sixes. This is the glamour version and the coupe cabin renders it even more lugubrious.

For: An unusual alternative to an Impala.
Against: Why would you want an unusual alternative to an Impala?
Investment potential: 0/10. The vendor is somewhat optimistic.

Quantum.  One crummy picture, no date of manufacture, no history and no mention that it is diesel powered. Oh well, that it was the internet is made for I suppose. Quantum cars were built from Ford Fiesta stock and so are a bit like an updated Marcos. They were well regarded with production carrying on in various enthusiast's hands until recently. This example somehow washed up in New Zealand and was converted to diesel power. Why? You will just have to ask Marcel Marceau.

For: Who knows?
Against: Again, who knows?
Investment potential: 1/10 and that is being generous.

2005 Maserati Quattroporte. Believe it or not, you could have an eight year old, New Zealand new Maserati Quattroporte with virtually no kms on it for 50K. This makes little sense to the Aesthete when a new one costs five times that but, however the economics work, we are all coming closer to the dream. Live your Paris Hilton fantasy today!

For: They will get even cheaper!
Against: That is not good news if you already own one.
Investment potential: Something less than 0/10, obviously. Somewhere on the Kelvin scale.

1959 Porsche 356A. I only show you this to draw your attention to what 40K buys you in the Porsche 356 stakes nowadays. There is a ready market for good ones and they are a straightforward restoration prospect due to the steady supply of reproduction parts. Choose carefully, however, as the market values originality.

For: No-one can say they are under rated.
Against: A bit cultish for me.
Investment potential: 2/10 as long as you can do the work.

1970 Oldsmobile 4-4-2. Fittingly, the vendor's description is just a spray of numerals and random letters as well. I think what we are to understand from it is that this is an unusual form of American muscle car with a very large V8 engine which is highly effective as long as you point it straight and do not attempt to slow down or take a corner.

For: Not for the bashful.
Against: If your name is not Dwayne, possibly the wrong car for you.
Investment potential: 2/10. Lacks the cachet of a Buick Riviera and costs more.

Give me a ticket for an aeroplane...

1967 BMW CS2000 Coupe. The Aesthete's choice of 1960s German coupes is the shark-nosed 2000CS with its distinctive painted and belouvered nose. This American version lacks the gorgeous covered lights of the European models but that may be a good thing. If you broke one, you would be off the road a long time...

For: The front end and the interior.
Against: It looks like coyotes have been living in this one.
Investment potential: 2/10 but if it will make you happy....