The Aesthete says farewell

No, not to the blog but to the dear old friend I call the Other Well Known Aesthete who will soon be plying his trade elsewhere. He needs something appropriate to park outside his swanky apartment high up in the fashionable suburbs from where he will descend swift and deadly onto the national institution. They will not know what has hit them.

1962 Wolesley 1500. Swift and deadly? Perhaps not but reasonable light and quick for a small family car. Based on a Minor floor pan and therefore quite nimble, they are surprisingly modern to drive and were not disgraced on the track all those years ago. The slab of polished wood should appeal to his curatorial taste for fine English furniture.

For: Old school but with few drawbacks.
Against: A Riley is a bit more sharp.
Investment potential: 3/10. Keep it looking swish like it is and it should retain value.

1950 Buick 46D Sedanette. He would be the talk of the staff room in this tasteful man's rat rod. The Buick sedan coupe also has the most deliciously vulgar tail end of any of the post-war streamliners. It may have a little too much patina for the asking price but the vendor seems sincere about using it regularly. This is a pleasant change from all the parked up US imports we see far too often on our favorite trading site.

For: It just needs one of those door mounted spotlights.
Against: Not ideal for the tight switch-backs of Khandalla.
Investment potential: 1/10 when such things can still be had for far less in their place of origin.

1965 Ghia GT 1500. Not Carrozzeria Ghia's finest hour and it is a humble Fiat Crusader underneath so rarity is in the eye of the beholder. Even so, people will think it is very exotic and the slightly gawky looks are endearing in way that makes me think of Kirsten Dunst. I always feel sad when Spiderman is mean to her.

For: I think it would look better in the flesh.
Against: Getting close to Iso Rivolta money.
Investment potential: 2/10 on the basis that it would be cheap to run.

1937 Chrysler Wimbledon. A bar owning friend and I invented a drinking game where we invented cocktails and named them after London suburbs. We got as far as Croydon before passing out but imagine if we had got all the way to the Ws. These Chryslers were also made in London and were shipped out to the colonies in right hand drive. I am not that keen on the bottle green but the rest of it looks spiffy.

For: How could you not want a car called a Wimbledon?
Against: Some upper body strength required.
Investment potential: 1/10. Beware of anything sold as a museum piece.

1968 AMC AMX. Any serious man of mystery should drive a car named with a cryptic tangle of letters so what better than this? AMC products are woefully undervalued so the low start price for this two seater suggests the vendor's expectations would be reasonable. It has the power and the looks and I guarantee half of Guhznee Street will come running when you rumble to a halt and open the door.

For: Its orange.
Against: Improper pedigree. Nasty interior.
Investment potential: 3/10 if it stays under 20K

And finally...

1970 Ginetta G15. The Aesthete's ruinous urge to buy a Matra Djet could be assuaged more sensibly by one of these and it would be great fun for the other aesthete to tear around Wellington in. 998cc's of Imp Sport power is plenty in the light weight Ginetta frame and they are by far the best looking of the 1960s kit jobs, aside from the mismatched front and rear bumpers.

For: It is 100% British and I know that is important to him.
Against: Nothing, and they will freight it to your door.
Investment potential: 6/10. It should be less than 20K landed.