The Aesthete reverts to type

 The Aesthete's Fleet. 

Long weekends are for tinkering and so tinker I did, replacing leaky engine gaskets in the GTV. The Aesthete is not one to be shamed by an oily engine bay although I could see fellow Alfa club members wincing at the combination of cat prints and bird ordure on the car as we joined the recent run to Oamaru. I also found out that you can repair small tears in leather with Superglue. The repair is almost invisible and the wonder substance is the self same thing they would use on you if you were maimed in a bar fight. 

1974 Fiat 128 Coupe. Fiat really did have a coupe for every occasion in the 1970s. The 128 was intended to take the place of the 850 but it could not duplicate the charm of the earlier car even though it was better in virtually every way. The small numbers sold in New Zealand and the optimistic build quality means they are a rare sight today but this one seems to have enjoyed the sheltered life that is key to their survival.

For: This could be your last chance.
Against: Best catch the rust before it becomes serious.
Investment potential: 2/10. Even the most dedicated Italianophile is a bit indifferent to these.

1967 Lotus Elan S2. Colin Chapman really only got it right once with his road cars. The dainty Elan was a revelation compared to the overbuilt steel tubs full of heavy old saloon bits that the mainstream makers passed off as sports cars. They are miniscule so if you are a normal sized adult you may feel like you are riding in a plastic pool toy but there is nothing else remotely like it. And by that I mean an MX5, fine car that it is.

For: A purist's choice without a trace of doubt.
Against: Your weekends will be permanently lost to niggling repairs.
Investment potential: 4/10.  Look at those tail lights. Grwwllll.

1974 Porsche 911 Targa. I usually defer to Wonderboy on these matters but this 2.7 Targa could even break down my long held resistance to the species. With the earlier pre-safety bumper models heading into serious 'investment' territory, the canny buyer looks for opportunity elsewhere in the range. The hot orange paint and stainless steel roof hoop are perfectly in tune and it is not a Sportmatic which would perhaps be a step too far.

For: No whale tail or flares to be seen.
Against. Nothing. They are growing on me, I tell you.
Investment potential. 5/10 if it stays low and sells. Bidders are getting excited though.

1973 Mercedes 350SLC. That missing C in the vendor's listing unfortunately means everything with these cars. The lengthened SL in fixed coupe form was a glamorous thing in the 1970s and often owned by the indulged wives of plutocrats and Matamata bloodstock types. This one is NZ new and the milage is a mere bagatelle if it has been serviced properly.

For: Roughly one fifth the price of a good convertible.
Against. It does not look particularly baggy but a drive would reveal all.
Investment potential: 1/10 but who is worried at that price?

1984 Alfa Sud Ti. The last of the much admired Alfa Sud saloons could gamely keep up with the new crop of performance hatchbacks, particularly when driven by someone for whom life was cheap. Small cars are still Alfa Romeo's strong suit and it is not a coincidence that the modern range is named Guilietta and not 177 or similar bland numerical nonsense.

For: Bravissimo!
Against. Oh damn. It looks like the glass will have to come out.
Investment potential: 4/10 as people realise they are disappearing by the day.

On some faraway beach... well Swindon actually

1958 Lancia Appia Promiscuo. Oh yes, it looks like it has had many lovers alright but would you not want to drive something called a Promiscuo? Well I would.