The Aesthete's holy day of observation

The Aesthete's Fleet

I took the Lancia up to Cromwell to watch the Highland Park Festival of Speed on Saturday with the Aesthetette for company.  What are the odds then of parking next to the owner of what is evidently the only functioning Lancia 2000 saloon in the country? It lives with its chaming owners at the restored Pitche's Store at Ophir so I now have another reason to visit the countryside.

Highland Park itself is a odd thing.  There was a great array of cars including old favorites like the Lycoming Special but the drivers did not seem to be trying very hard and problems with the sound system and timing meant that no-one knew who was winning. There was a wonderful Maserati 3500 GT parked on the paddock so I took a picture. It was the highlight of the day.

1972 Bristol 411. You do not see too many Bristols on the Aesthete's list and that is not a joke for any of you secret Barbara Windsor fans. Admittedly, this 411 is a wreck but the exquisite shut lines on the doors suggest that the bespoke bodywork is in a reasonable state. The long and narrow 411 has a pedigree going back to the aerodynamic BMW based cars of the 1940s but the Chrysler V8 moves things along at a fair clip. The vendor does not mention the interior but be prepared to spend a lot of money if it is past saving.

For: A 140MPH gentleman's club.
Against: You could find a better one in the UK. They are inexplicably cheap for what they are.
Investment potential: 2/10 if you own a tannery and a herd of barn raised cattle.

1953 Chevrolet Belair Sport Coupe. The phenomenal success of the 1955 Chevrolet range with its light weight V8 has put earlier six cylinder cars somewhat in the shade. This well specified Belair coupe may have sufficient charm to overcome its dynamic shortcomings. The interior looks a pleasant place to be and I imagine the Billy Eckstine Orchestra rather than Little Richard flowing from the push-button AM radio.

For: Oddly chic. No, really.
Against: Not a driver's car, more of a passenger's one.
Investment potential: 1/10. I am still waiting for the US iron price meltdown. It must come soon.

1985 BMW M635 CSi. This is an exquisite thing not to be confused with the baggy old 635 coupes that proliferate for around 5K on Trademe and never seem to sell. The M635 was the master of the autobahn in the 1980s and, as the European versions were not governed, would run out to 250KPH. This one has a rebuilt motor which would cost about the asking price so you get the rest of the car for nothing. What are you waiting for? Schnell!

For: There is still little faster or more capable, particularly for that sort of money.
Against: The vendor has a few little things to explain to the buyer. Why does he not just fix them?
Investment potential: 2/10, dependent on the little things above staying little.

1972 BMW 3.0 CSi. Whether the looks and cachet of the earlier model warrants paying three times the price is of course up to the whim of the purchaser. This example is extensively modified and loaded with period bling that does little to enhance the elegant form. The fortuitous mash up of Giorgetto Guigiaro's early 1960s  rear section and an extended nose by Karmann is one of the best looking coupes ever made but another German once famously said "Less is more" and he was right.

For: It will be quick.
Against: Possibly the ugliest BMW E9 coupe available.
Investment potential: 3/10 but only if you undo everything the current owner has done.

1972 Lotus Elan +2S. Not every car could carry off a daffodil yellow bottom section and a silver roof. In fact the only one the Aesthete can imagine is an Elan +2S. This speaks volumes for the essential rightness of the shape that falls into the ugly/beautiful end of the automotive aesthetics range. It looks particularly gawky with the lights up, a fact that does not bother the vendor. I like his attitude and suggest one of you buy his car.

For: The Aesthete never tires of looking at these cars.
Against: But then he has never owned one.
Investment potential: 3/10 but possibly not as a daily driver

The Aesthete's Euro ugly bug of the week

1969 DAF 55 Coupe. I suspect the Dutch are celebrated for their automotive industry in much the same way as Italians are for their beautiful tulips. DAF was not deterred and trod an idiosyncratic path of its own producing clever small cars with constantly variable transmissions. Limitations on the amount of power that could be transmitted using rubber belts meant that none were particularly fast but this coupe has undeniable charm and I like the cheap Alfa-esque interior. I bet they trembled in Milan when they saw this.

For: A gear for every occasion.
Against: Could not pull a sailor off your sister.
Investment potential: 1/10. Put your money in cinnamon biscuits.