The Aesthete surveys the ruins

I must have been asleep and missed the terrible flood that swept through Trademe and washed away all the interesting cars so this week's selection is made up from the bedraggled survivors. It would have to be bad to reach us up here on the hill overlooking Port Chalmers but I can hear them calling out down on the flat "Oh no. Its got the Nissan". Good.

1966 Oldmobile Toronado. You do not have to pay very much to get a decent example of the most daringly engineered American car of the 1960s, also one of the most dramatic coupes ever to command the road. The styling in watered down form was passed on to the first series Holden Monaro. Try getting one of those for 10K now.  I imagine these cars as they were illustrated in period, in the rain at night with a smudgy eyed companion in a little black dress pulling away from the best party that has ever been thrown.

For: The Aesthete's dream car.
Against: Could easily be a nightmare.
Investment potential: 3/10 Tread carefully though when they are still so cheap in their home country.

1971 Sunbeam Rapier. Here of course is the English version of the same dream, although the magic is wrought from humble Hillman Hunter parts rather than Cadillac ones. The Aesthete can normally resist the charms of these cars but the deep bottle green paint, vinyl roof and stainless steel sills sets this Rapier above the more humdrum Alpine version. Now, picture yourself pulling away from an Accrington semi after a night on the Double Diamond, Deidre with her head out the window.

For: Oddly attractive, like an old copy of Men Only.
Against: Semidetached suburban Mr James, as Manfred Mann once had it.
Investment potential: 3/10. The price is about right for once.

1967 Austin A110 Westminster Mk II. BMC's old war horse was looking rather tired by the late 1960s and was about to be replaced by the peculiar Austin 3 Litre so the marketing office threw all the nice parts into the so called Super Deluxe model. Separate leather seats, picnic tables, twin carbs and lots of cheap  veneer wrapped in handsome Pininfarina lines is an attractive combination but anyone with any sense would have bought anything else, surely?

For: Reverse snobbery makes it better than a Wolseley.
Against: Show it a corner in the rain and find out.
Investment potential: 3/10. Rare enough to be interesting.

1960 Auto Union 1000. These ugly bugs sold for more than the price of the aforementioned Westminster so it is a surprise to find them in New Zealand at all. They tended to be owned by fanatics who appreciated the smooth three cylinder engine that felt more like a six due to its unearthly ability to fire on each stroke. The charming interior with white plastic steering wheel and painted metal dash has a Bauhaus feel about it that pleases the Aesthete's perverse sensibilities.

For: The odd source from which all modern Audis sprang.
Against: The reeking cloud of hydrocarbons that will follow you everywhere you go.
Investment potential: 2/10. Only loved by an aging band of sympathisers.

1957 Lotus Super Seven S1. The Aesthete has long yearned for an alloy bodied special in which to streak in and out of the city on fine days. This replica Seven is just the thing although the fragile Coventry Climax motor is possibly taking authenticity a step too far for everyday use. Anyone who thinks that Lotus Sevens are ugly are surely thinking of the fat later versions. The tall, narrow hipped cycle winged S1 is utterly sublime.

For: Wind in the teeth and up many other parts of the body.
Against: Nothing. Roll it inside for the winter and use it for a coffee table.
Investment potential: 4/10. 20K seems quite cheap for what it is.

One for the real Italianophile.

1950 Siata Amica. I hope my Queenstown based Toppolino driving friends are reading this as the Siata Amica is indeed a special bodied Fiat 500. With a performance upgrade to 20 horsepower you are not going to frighten any Maseratis but it has all the charm in the world and would be just the thing to take down to town for a pizza from Bella Cucina. I think they would give you one for free just for the boost you would give their business.

For: Oh come on. Look at it.
Against: 100 KPH flat out may not be enough.
Investment potential: 1/10. Once you have got it here, nulla, sadly.