The Aesthete languishes

I have spent the weekend thrashing sweatily around in bed with art critic Francis Pound, or at least his fine book on New Zealand painting and nationalism. This rich diet of intellectual stimulation, instant coffee and chocolate should be enough to see off the autumn head cold that has laid me low. In the meantime, here is a list compiled while in a state of delirium. Oh, and Wonderboy tells me that last week's DS was indeed a Pallas model, as they all were with the magic hydraulically assisted gearbox. 

1968 Isuzu Bellet. These charming Italianate saloons are an uncommon sight these days and could be seen as an alternative if you wanted something less ubiquitous than a Hillman Minx on which its mechanics were based.  They are lighter and livelier that the English car, proving quite useful on the track. The coupes are particularly attractive but almost unseen now.

For: Fun, cheap and strangely stylish.
Against: For .5K, nothing.
Investment potential: 3/10. Find yourself some Rootes tuning bits and get busy.

1965 Fiat 850 Coupe. I lifted myself off my sickbed to go and see this and was pleased I did as it could not quite live up to the vendor's cheery description. It has been on its roof at some point by the look of the odd filler patches here and there but the interior is intact and it is only missing its tail lights. They are probably now gracing a million dollar Ferrari somewhere. Spirited bidding has broken out already.

For: Crying out to be an Abarth replica.
Against: Drag out the MIG and clear the shed. This will take some time.
Investment potential. 1/10 Already heading for a lofty price for a wreck. Let's see if it is claimed.

Porsche 914. Oh all right. I know its a wreck and only fit for landfill but there is something about a 1K Porsche that rouses a perverse desire in the Aesthete. What kind of race car could it be with its anemic VW engine you might ask? Oh, you have a 911 engine taking up room under the house? Now we are talking.

For: Not a thing.
Against: All the common sense in the world would advise against it.
Investment potential. Bwahahahaha.

1971 BMW 2002. This carb 2002 has been loitering around on our treasured national auction site for a while now and that surprises me. Originality is key with these cars as they never seem to go as well having been rebuilt unless it is with a marque specialist on the job at the thick end of 50K. The asking price should be achievable for a tidy car. Quickly now one of you. Hie thee off to Fielding and look at it.

For: Everyone should have owned one of these.
Against: Perhaps not this one?
Investment potential: 3/10 if it does not need a lot of body work.

1996 Alfa Romeo 155 2L. So completely overshadowed was it by the replacement 156 that Alfa's mid-90s saloon has followed most of its wedgy kin to the scrapper. It was the 155 that had the track history however and this one looks the brutal business on its thick black alloys. Bidding has already raced to the dizzy heights of $365 so look out.

For: Cheap, quick and fun.
Against: Dated but not yet fashionable. Just you wait though.
Investment potential: 5/10 if you get it for less than 1K.

There. What did I tell you?

1970 Porsche 914/6 rep. Here is what 38.5US$ will buy you in the way of a six cylinder 914 track car. Now do the arithmetic on that other heap and let me know if it is worth 1K.

For: How these cars should be used.
Against: Not for pottering around in.
Investment potential: 0/10. Build your own.

  

The Aesthete stirs himself

The Aesthete's Fleet

Yes, I have finally exhumed the GTV out of the lockup where it has languished since last October. I went down there full of trepidation with a freshly charged battery and a can of engine start but a few prods on the throttle and it burst into noisy Alfa life. I do not know where these stories of unreliability come from unless from jealous MGB owners who probably feel mild disappointment whenever their cars start as it means they will have to drive them again.

I celebrated by attending to a few jobs I have been putting off including a nasty looking scab forming under the rear side window. Terry motored over from Mosgeil in his charming white 1300 Junior to bear witness to the Aesthete's new found resolve. There is a lot of delicate stainless trim on these cars and careless handling can distort it beyond repair. There may be a secret to straightening the stuff after it is bent but I have never discovered it. Rubber mallets and vice grips are therefore banned from proceedings so one must use whatever strength that resides in your sinewy forearms, much as the poor devils must have done when assembling them in Milano all those years ago. 

1971 Mercedes Benz 300 SEL 3.5. It could not be any more desirable unless it was one of the rare 6.3 autobahn rockets but otherwise this long wheelbase 300 saloon has quality written all over it. A proper refurbishment of the leather interior would chew up most of the asking price and the complex air suspension has been retained, giving these cars a ride of unmatched composure. The vendor sounds like he knows his way around the marque and has done all the hard work so 18.5K seems more than fair.

For: Trans-Europe express.
Against: Not a lot that is apparent from here.
Investment potential: 5/10. Look after it and it will outlast most of you.

1966 Plymouth Barracuda. Two Barracudas and a saloon for parts is tempting but only if you have the garage space and the willpower to construct a decent car from the bits offered. These fastback coupes with their vast rear screens were a hasty response from Chrysler to the market stolen by the Mustang and Camaro but they ended up with a different sort of car. More gentlemanly and less jejune perhaps.

For: That rear window. Grwwlll.
Against: Three heaps for 8K? I suspect you could get the lot for less than 2K in the US.
Investment potential: 1/10 and that is if you do all the work yourself.

1982 Porsche 911 SC Anniversary. This SC carries something of a premium over its more common 911 brethren due to it being one of only two right hand drive models produced to mark Dr. Ferdinand Porsche's demise. It is Wonderboy's pick of the week and if the milage is correct it is near enough unused, bearing out the vendor's account. The burgundy dash would take some getting used to but it goes with gold jewellery and chest hair.

For: A rare 911 for putting away somewhere.
Against: Surely that is missing the point?
Investment potential: 3/10. Surely some cashed up lout in the drive on the left side world would want this?

1974 Citroen DS23. Another Wonderboy recommendation. Not a Pallas model but a DS equipped with the Citroen hydraulic assisted gearshift which just requires a touch on the lever to locate the next gear. This is the final iteration of the Voiture de Grand Diffusion that had a development history predating the Second World War. It completely reinvented the modern car but was a production vehicle that could be purchased and reliably used.  No manufacturer has done more since.

For: A technological marvel.
Against: If you buy it, use it. They do not suffer sitting around.
Investment potential: 4/10 as long as there are no mechanical catastrophes.

1957 Ford Special. This is certainly a cut above the average fibreglass bodied special as the vendor claims  a competition history with speed records, McLaren connections and a Ferris Dejoux styled shell, all of which should enhance its value somewhat. It certainly looks the part and could be road registered again. This is the sort of thing the Aesthete would like for the drive to work on sunny days.

For: Looks and history.
Against: If it all stacks up, why has it not sold? Perhaps Auckland reader Grant knows.
Investment potential: 4/10 if the history is verifiable


Unnggghhhragh!

1939 Lancia Aprilia Eagle. I have not had an uncontrollable urge for a while now, the onerous burden of writing this blog every week having quite dampened my car buying ardor.  But now this! An elegant coach built Lancia Aprilia by the obscure firm of Newns from Thames Ditton and once owned by Peter Ustinov for a titch over 19K UK£. The short nose and long chassis is the reverse of usual 1930s fashion and the clever V4 so superior to the usual limp cast iron side valves found in more mundane vehicles.

For: The ultimate small 1930s tourer for the price of a nice Morris Eight Sports.
Against. It needs work. Not too much, hopefully.
Investment potential: 7/10 and I will fight any one who says otherwise.

Beware the rides of March

A bit of lame Shakespearian street humour to kick off the list. It can only get better I suppose... Wonder Boy is looking for a good Fiat 124 Spyder if anyone knows of one needing a good home. Please, no freshly painted show boats but a tidy driver needing work would fit the bill nicely.  

1952 Austin Devon van. What is this tragic old thing, I hear you ask. Once a fairly common sight on the  highways and byways, old British commercials have practically vanished. Utility, van and wagon versions of everyday saloons have a particular charm and make good projects as long as rare body panels and unique trim details are present and correct. This looks to be the case with this charming Devon van. You could have both it and the equally excellent utility that has been for sale ever since I have been writing the list.

For: Polish up your Sunderland accent and find that flat cap.
Against: A bit of work to do yet.
Investment potential: 4/10. The vendor seems a sound fellow and he is not asking 6K for it.

1967 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow Mulliner Park Ward two door fixed head coupé. For that is what it is, prior to the handier Corniche name being applied from 1971 onward. The coupes were styled by John Blatchley and so possess the good taste and dignity of the early saloons before awful things like spoilers and spotlights were added. The interior says it all really.

For: The best looking version of the self-proclaimed best car in the world.
Against: I would advise a handling upgrade if it has not been done.
Investment potential: 2/10 with four door cars continuing to slide.

1967 Volvo P 1800. With restored Karmann Ghias going now through the roof, surely anyone in the market for a swoopy 1960s coupe with rugged mechanicals would rather have one of these? Not particularly fast but with fabulous looks and a dash you will never tire of looking at, the Volvo P 1800 is the rational choice if you are thinking about driving and using your purchase.

For: Maximum looks for minimum worry.
Against: A bit pedestrian to drive.
Investment potential: 3/10. Not cheap but I can see a rosy future for these cars.

BMW 2002. The only things that put me off racing are lack of any noticeable driving talent and the absence of huge reserves of cash. 20K seems like a modest enough sum, however, and I am sure you would learn some useful tricks while circulating in the middle of the pack. Probably no worse than commuting on the Pakuranga Highway although I expect you would be going a bit faster on the track.

For: You get the trailer and all the parts too.
Against: Don't crash it on the first day out. The "I told you so" looks would be unbearable.
Investment potential: 4/10. It seems like a tidy little package.

2004 Fiat Punto HGT Abarth. I was ambling across the campus earlier in the week as a Punto Abarth was being parked in its spot by the Interim Sciences Building (constructed in 1964...). The exhaust rumble suggested more than the usual level of performance from Fiat's excellent super-mini and so it turns out as they pack 1750ccs more or less and will take you places as quickly as any sane individual would want to go. This one-owner New Zealand new example is the way.

For: Most small Fiats are fun. More so here.
Against: Might be tiring on a long trip. God, what am I saying...
Investment potential: 2/10. Not a lot brought in to NZ and there is a market for them.


The Aesthete's Dream Car

1967 Nissan 2000 deluxe-Six. These Pininfarina designed saloons are handsome in a "Is that a Lancia?" kind of way but years out in the weather and a heavy coating of moss and lichens does not bode well for what you cannot see. I can smell the rank odour of decaying carpet from Port Chalmers although that would not stop me from going to look at it if I was passing through Christchurch.

For: Attractive Italianate details with decent Japanese engineering.
Against: You will need more than Wet & Forget.
Investment potential: -2/10 at that price.

On some faraway shore...

1953 Borgward Hansa. Well, come on. If you actually want a right hand drive Borgward Hansa 1800 saloon, where else do you go but Phuket to get it? Heaven only knows how it got there but this post-war German streamliner is a rare thing and the Aesthete's heart thrills to the Iron Curtain era details including the metal dash and the Bauhaus hood ornament. I can hear the great Toni Fisher's West of the Wall coming from the radio.

For: Miss Toni Fisher and Borgwards are personal fetishes I do not expect anyone else to share.
Against: How much is 1,200,000 baht anyway?
Investment potential: Not easily established.

The Aesthete goes poking around Trade Me again

The Aesthete's Fleet

Somewhat forlornly this week as the supply of interesting cars has dwindled again on our favorite auction site. I wonder if it is a seasonal variation produced by climate change? The Other Well Known Aesthete has reported in from Wellington and tells me that the des. res. he has been looking at has a Lancia Fulvia Coupe in the garage. I think he may be toying with me but watch this space.

1994 Alfa Romeo 155 V6 Cloverleaf. The 155 was an unlikely star of the touring car racing circuit in the early 1990s and Alfa Romeo was not letting the public forget it. No longer rear wheel driven, the V6 powered cars lost the classic Alfa chassis dynamics but the square edged body was surprisingly aerodynamic and they can be made to go very quickly indeed. 4.5K is a bit of a snip for something with serious track day potential so I advise you to set aside any prejudices against Fiat engineering.

For: Fun, fast and cheap.
Against: Ugly I grant you, but when had Alfa made a good looking saloon anyway?
Investment potential: 4/10. Diminishing numbers of good ones and the nineties revival is almost upon us.

1956 Riley Pathfinder. Like warm woollen mittens and whiskers on kittens, Rileys are amongst the Aesthete's favorite things. Fifties saloons come no better looking than Gerald Palmer's Lancia homage and you get a thumping great twin cam motor to heave the thing along at a decent speed. Greatly superior to anything that later used the same badge although the penultimate Riley 2.6 has the most desirable instrument panel of any British mass produced car.

For: Characterful, fast and cheap.
Against: Nothing whatsoever.
Investment potential: 2/10 until they shake the associations with related marques.

1936 Hudson Custom 8. Few American mass produced cars of the 1930s are very interesting. Hudsons were a bit special, however, and this was recognised by some influential types in Britain including Reid Railton who built fast sports and touring cars that were essentially rebodied straight eight Hudsons like this one. Hudson fanciers are already circling ominously overhead, emitting strange high pitched cries.

For: Much work to do but possibly worth it. Check out the fencers' mask grill.
Against: Let's hope nothing major is missing.
Investment potential: 2/10. Sadly, not a Charlesworth bodied car or it would be worth a fortune.

1973 Fiat 130 Coupe. The charms of these big Fiats were lost outside Italy where the idea of an expensive touring car with the same badge as a poverty line 126 made little sense. Today, however, you could consider it a better proportioned Ferrari 400i that is possible to run on a reasonable budget. Which is why they are worth more and are a smarter buy than said Ferrari.

For: Oh come on. Look at that interior.
Against: Nothing. If it was good enough for Gianni Agnelli, its good enough for you.
Investment potential: 4/10 if you can keep it as nice as it is now.

1961 Chevrolet Corvair FC Rampside. The Aesthete's weakness for Corvairs even extends to their weird commercial brethren so I will draw your attention to this example. If you really want a four speed left hand drive rear engined air cooled flat six side loading pick up in red and white your choices are fairly limited so here is perhaps your only chance.

For: It may not be suitable for that hand made lace doily business you were thinking about but we get the point.
Against: It will need the right sort of buyer when you come to sell it as well.
Investment potential: 3/10 with the above caveats kept in mind.

1973 Lamborghini Jarama. Under instructions to produce something in a hurry, Marcello Gandini took the sword to the graceful Espada and produced the Jarama that only found a few hundred buyers in all versions. The odd looks have now aged into a general 'anything Italian of this era is beautiful' acceptance but the prices are still very low for something of this pedigree.

For: It's in Australia so you could look at it before to hand over money.
Against: You could find a pretty Italian car to waste money on.
Investment potential: 3/10 and will stay low while Espada are also cheap.

The Aesthete's Dream Machine

The Aesthete preserves this spot in the list for automotive fantasies that seriously challenge the notion of reality so what can you say about a Mk IV Zodiac that has been shed bound for twenty years but which the vendor is prepared to let go for 20K? It was either this or a rusty Morris Oxford that the seller was threatening to wreck right now if we did not buy it for $800.

One aesthete farewells another

The other Well Known Aesthete leaves for Wellington today and has asked a few favors, one of the simpler of which to grant is to remind readers that his splendid Daimler Majestic is on the market. It was generally agreed that Wellington is not ideal for portly but dignified British motor cars with the prospect of hill starts and 12-point turns on roads that a goat could not change direction on. All of us will be faced with such terrible choices from time to time so we should think fondly of him as he sets off in his Mitsubishi I-car.

Laird of Excelsior sent me a link to a list of the worst cars ever made. In response I have added a new category to the Petrolhead Aesthete which I shall call The Aesthete's Dream Machines. Unfortunately it is the sort of dream where you are on the school bus without your lower garments on and your teeth are falling out. 

1973 Saab 96. Saab's 1950s streamliner had a long life with many improvements carried out to the basic design over the years. Even so, by the mid-1970s it was somewhat antique and Scandinavian purists may argue that Ford's clattery V4 was no match for the smooth and high revving two stroke that it replaced. Even so they have great charm and are as tough as a Norwegian fjord pony, with which it shares its dun colour and general rotundity.

For: Just the thing for a spot of ice racing.
Against: It should be cheaper than this.
Investment potential: 3/10 if it is not rusty.

1973 BMW 2002 Touring. While not everyone's favorite variant of the fine BMW 02 range, this three door hatch captures the 1970s enthusiasm for sporting estates. The extended roofline by Giovanni Micholetti retains the characteristic kink in the side glass but it is not the most elegant profile imaginable. You gain from the extra interior space and folding rear seats so you can be ready to cart that mid-century oak G-Plan sideboard away from the local charity shop.

For: 2002 saloons are rare enough for there to be interest in this.
Against: Don't let the odd looks deter you.
Investment potential: This is attracting reasonable bids already so let's say 4/10.

1980 Suzuki CX-G. No, the Aesthete has not suffered a sharp blow to the head and yes, this is on the list for all the the best possible reasons. They are as follows: Giorgetto Guigiaro designed the original Fronte coupe on which it is based. The late UK motoring writer LJK Setright owned one and adored it. They feel decently quick because they weigh almost nothing and have a one-litre OHC engine that revs its head off. They are cheap to run and huge fun. There. I have said it.

For: All the above.
Against: Don't leave it out in the rain.
Investment potential: 6/10

1980 Princess 2000 HL.  Poor Harris Mann has been living down the Princess for over thirty years but he started out with great intentions to "design a car that would instantly make the competition seem old fashioned." A pity then that the asthmatic old cast iron lump that had powered the Austin Devon was fitted under the wedge nose and the suspension went down but not always back up. This one has the later OHC engine and black is absolutely the right colour.

For: Young people will give you the eyebrow flick and tell you you have a cool car.
Against: Oh, many things I am sure.
Investment potential: 2/10 but its only 1.5K.

1972 Datsun 240Z. You would have to be more prejudiced than even the Aesthete in his worst moments not to experience a thrill at this early 240Z. The lime yellow paint is just right and there are original looking period accessories including plastic louvres, wheel trims and a chin spoiler although I would have them off in an instant. There is too much of a good thing you know.

For:  One owner for 36 years says something.
Against: I can see little from here.
Investment potential: 4/10. The start price of 20K seems reasonable.


The Aesthete's Dream Machine

1974 Datsun 240K GT. Oh dear, I hear you say, followed by "How the hell much?"10K is pushing hard for a car that was not greatly loved at the time although a similar body shell was used for some fearsome Japanese race cars under the Skyline brand. Oh, and its stripped out, de-registered and the engine block has no pistons in it. Just put it back together and drive off the vendor suggests helpfully...

For: Hope springs eternal, etc.
Against: Ten thousand reasons.
Investment potential: Unfathomable.