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.