The Aesthete tries to join the parade

The Aesthete's Fleet 

The Ranfurly Art Deco Festival parade to be precise but nobody was game to drive the Lancia for me as I was the compere and could not be in two places at once. It is hard to get fellow Italian car fanciers to put their cars into parades as trickling along at walking speed is not what they are best at. There was a fine red  Fiat 1500 Crusader in the group, however, and it ran superbly. My old friend Bob explained how they would race these cars into Dunedin after having them unloaded brand new from the boat. The most favored customer got the first car back to the yard. 

1969 Fiat 500 Bambina. This is Wonderboy's pick for this week and I would have to agree that a red 500 with a white stripe already has the Aesthete's bidding finger itching. It needs some welding but the owner has already found the correct pressings which are all available from Italy where there is a thriving restoration market. There is a whisper of a set of Cromadora wheels with which to construct an Abarth replica but I suspect they will remain in a safe place.

For: Key words: red, Fiat, Weber.
Against: The 'r' word.
Investment potential: 4/10. Good Fiat 500s will always find a home.

1956 Mercedes Benz 220S. This early model ponton Mercedes has been carefully preserved from new so the highish price should be balanced against the ruinous cost of trying to bring back a basket case. 130,000 miles over almost 60 years is hardly anything at all and well maintained examples will outlive most of us. You had better ask the children what they think of it now seeing as they will be driving it in twenty years.

For: The original long life car.
Against: You may wish something to wear out so you can replace it but it never will.
Investment potential: 2/10 but you may not find a better one.

1977 Lancia Beta Coupe. Well, I would not be keen to try driving this in the parade but if you want to go quickly on the track in some style, here is your car. The Beta Coupe was less common sight that the practical HPE wagon but they make a better race car so the vendor has started out in the right place. The list of improvements is comprehensive and the preparation looks fastidious so nothing much to do other than start having fun.

For: A great looking well prepared Italian race car with a start bid of 3.5K.
Against: Umm, what more do you want exactly?
Investment potential: 4/10 but let's see how the bids turn out.

1997 Peugeot 406 Coupe. Occasionally the Aesthete has to go towards the inner circle of Hell to find something to put on the list. This is where you find desperate souls trying to sell cars that were worth real money only a few short years before but are now reduced to the value of a plastic swizzle stick. Best value is this company is Peugeot's beautiful 406 Coupe, here in fetching Giallo Fly. Buy now or be damned!

For: Oh come on. Look at it.
Against: Heavy and complicated.
Investment potential: 3/10. It may drop by half but that is 3K.

1992 Ferrari 348 TB. The 348 is the Ferrari that people love to hate and that perversely makes the Aesthete want one. They are cheaper than said swizzle stick but at the same time refreshingly 'old school' as the young folk say. No power steering, no computerised stability controls and no flappy paddle nonsense. Yes, you actually have to drive it with the pedals, wheels and levers provided.

For: The smaller proportions save it from Testarossa awkwardness.
Against: People will rightly call you a knob for even thinking about it.
Investment potential: 2/10 but who cares?


Way down south in Arkansas

1934 Airflow Desoto Coupe. It is generally thought that all Airflows are ill proportioned but this rubric only applies to the big Chrysler saloons with their waterfall grills and elongated cabins. The smaller Desoto coupe with its rounded tail and short chassis is something else again. The vendor tells us there are only ten left in existence which is a tragedy for a twentieth century design classic.

For: A classic American streamliner.
Against: There is a lot left to do, I grant you.
Investment potential: 3/10 and you may be able to sell it to a museum as it is quite significant.