The Aesthete reports

The Lancia leads the way from the start.

The Latins on the Lakes 2013 rally was a fine event with all credit due to the organisers who wrangled forty Italian cars into order and gathered them all together in Greymouth. We drove up from Dunedin in good company, enthusiastically sent off by a local Lancia fancia who screeched to a halt in his Mondeo wagon to bestow his blessing on the unusual road train. As usual, the route north was beset by roadworks and poorly driven camper vans. The road west from Christchurch was much less occluded and we made good pace following the Follands in their cute white GT Junior.

Descending Arthurs Pass, hands steady on the wheel.

As I rarely leave the city and am technically lost if out of sight of an espresso machine, I have not previously driven over Arthurs Pass. It is quite spectacular, particularly the downhill section that features some terrifying engineering to stop the mountain falling onto the road. Large divots on the surface show that this is not always possible and I expected to see roadside shrines dug into the cliffs to mark lost motorists. The Flavia demonstrated its hill climbing ability, tested in the Aosta mountains in northern Italy. The gear spacing was ideal with third available up to 120KPH if you could bear the racket. I wore my borrowed tweed jacket and sunglasses and attended the rally dinner to cries of "Look, Enzo is here!"

Flavia and Fulvia. Bellissima.

Aside from the scenery and the robust meals, there was much to capture the Aesthete's attention.  There was an extraordinary 1930 Alfa Romeo 1750 and the original London Motor Show Iso Grifo was also driven around with gusto. Ferraris formed a dense red cluster everywhere one looked. We pursued a Lancia Fulvia 1600HF at speed to Lake Brunner and its driver paid compliments to the Flavia which he possibly thought was a bit matronly to be driven that way. We ate like Roman senators at the charming Nelson Creek Hotel where the Aesthete was persuaded to go on a bush walk to look at old mine workings. As it was only the second time in adult life that this has happened, a picture was taken. The Flavia performed very well although everything in its engine bay is now well lubricated due to a persistent leak from the oil cooler. Nothing essential seems to have fallen off during the 1200KM trip.

A right hand drive Iso Grifo on Borranni wires. Molto bellissima!

Get to the list, please.

Oh alright. Back to normal service with the five best buys from Trademe for this week, starting with...

1964 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Type 34. The vendor is right to point out that this is a rare edition. Volkswagen's efforts to update the original Ghia coupe received a mixed reception when new although the replacement car was dynamically superior. The futuristic cab-forward looks would have been great on a more exotic set of mechanicals but the gesture was lost on the market at the time.

For: Oh the looks, definitely.
Against: Unexciting performance.
Investment potential. 4/10 on the basis of quantity.

1966 Riley Kestrel. Apart from all the well known BMC pitfalls of howling transmissions and sagging suspensions, the Riley version offers many charms to compensate. You get decent seats and a twin carb engine for a start, and you can hang on to the bus size steering wheel when things get exciting. These small engined classics are a hedge against rising petrol prices. You can keep your bubble top Impalas.

For: Economical and fun to drive.
Against: You had better live close to someone who can fix the hydrolastic suspension.
Investment potential: 4/10.

1986 Lancia Beta Coupe Volumex. The vendor claims that this is the best Beta coupe in New Zealand which makes the price seem quite reasonable. Chastened by the rust scandal that beset the earlier cars, Fiat made more of an effort with the second series Beta and they are a fitting successor to the 124 Coupes that we all covet.

For: Clever and surprisingly modern to drive.
Against: If you buy it, please do not leave it outside.
Investment potential: 4/10. Good ones will hold their value as there are no bad ones left now.

1974 Alfa Romeo 2000 Berlina. I exhort all followers of this blog to help find this young man's stolen Alfa Romeo because if they are stealing these cars, none of us are safe. If someone sidles up to you and offers a cheap set of Webers you must report him to the authorities immediately.

2005 Citroen Hobster. Wonder Boy thought you should see this so I will now alert you. No, I do no not know what a hobster is either, perhaps a cross between a car and a kitchen appliance. The fertile mind of its inventor is not in dispute but the aesthetics certainly are. I bet it is a hoot to drive though.

For: Lawks-a-lawdy, what would the neighbors think?
Against: What would you do with it?
Investment potential: I think I will leave this one blank.

1994 Fiat Tipo Sedicivalvole. Look past the bland Tipo exterior and think of yourself being hurtled down the road behind what is basically a Lancia Delta EVO engine. These sixteen valve Fiats were very quick and a low milage example for 6K should be considered an essential purchase for any serious Italianophile.

For: You will laugh, I assure you.
Against: You will probably scream a bit as well.
Investment potential: 6/10 if it does not need any work.

And now for something completely different...

1964 Matra Djet. Those of you who have read the Petrolhead Aesthete for a while may recall my doomed efforts to buy a Deutche-Bonnet last year. Well here is its grown up sibling, designed by the Bonnet side of the firm when he left in a huff over something. Mid-engined and fearsomely quick in tuned form, it is yours for a fraction of the cost of a French Alpine.

For: One of the best French sports cars of the era, and there were some.
Against: The vendor seems a bit confused on the details.
Investment potential: 5/10. A great little track or hill climb car.