The Aesthete faces the inevitable

Which is of course the return to work after a very long summer break during which many jobs were started but none actually finished. And I did not even visit the Alfa GTV down in its lockup to fix its recurring clutch problem. Perhaps I need to follow my own advice and sell something. Watch this space...

1988 Alfa Romeo 75 3.0 My old friend the Small Business Software Guru is selling his superb Alfa 75. I knew the previous owner as well and it is a great car capable of a startling turn of speed, demonstrated on various Alfa Club outings. The SBSG is a fastidious owner who has looked after it carefully and there is very little with four doors that would approach it for the asking price.

For: A proper performance saloon.
Against: Nulla.
Investment potential: 4/10. As the vendor says, 12 left in NZ.

1981 Fiat X1/9 Fiat's clever mid-engined sports car was years ahead of the competition and they still feel modern and highly capable today. They are also able to be developed into fearsome track cars so this modified example falls between the two extremes, just where we would want a fast little road car to be. The giallo fly paint and de-bumpered bodywork seals the deal for the Aesthete.

For: Looks like great fun.
Against: Catch the rust before things get out of hand.
Investment potential: 4/10. Lots of money spent already.

1934 Willys 77 What is this odd thing doing on the list, I hear you ask? The Aesthete rather likes small American cars and Willys specialised in them. Lack of weight allowed the 2.2 litre sidevalve to achieve a 110 KPH maximum which was quite sprightly for the early 1930s and the sloping nose and faired in lights suggests cruising the highways was not a forlorn option. The vendor appears to be incapable of providing a decent picture so here is one I swiped from the web.

For: Not your usual big dumb lump of iron.
Against: You may get to 110 KPH but then what?
Investment potential: 2/10 Whither the Willys Owners Club? All cold in the ground.

1957 Goggomobil Dart Perhaps not what we first call to mind when picturing an Australian car but that is where the Dart was made and they sold a surprising number of them in the late 1950s. The fibreglass body was more lithe than the lumpy steel saloon so they scooted along on their 400cc two stroke twins. The Aesthete imagines tanned bodies in Speedos and Raybans heading beach-wards.

For: A design classic from the West Island.
Against: No doors so I can't quite see the purpose of the hood.
Investment potential: 3/10 Will microcar mania pick these up as well?

1967 Lotus Elan +2S Colin Chapman apparently had conniptions when he first laid eyes on the stretched Elan coupe but it is difficult to see now what might have upset him then. The shovel nose and Alfa GTV tail lights blend surprisingly well with the Consul Capri fishbowl front screen, suggesting that they were still able to pull miracles from the parts bin. This one looks fine but is unregistered. Buyers are not rushing forward.

For: Like an Alfa but without the rust.
Against: No electrical earths either.
Investment potential: 1/10 until the price drops.

Find some space in someone else's container for...
 

1960 NSU Sport Prinz. The Aesthete finds the combination of buzzing twin cylinder engines and Italian design irresistible so here is yet another combining a swoopy Bertone shell and sweet German engineering from motorcycle maker NSU. Yes, I know it sounds like something you should see the doctor about but look at that cute little tail. Grwwllll.

For: Perfect mini-exotic.
Against: Lets hope there is nothing major missing.
Investment potential: 3/10 if the price stays low.