The Aesthete explains himself, philosophically

The Aesthete's Fleet

With over 250 posts and a highly select audience, it was inevitable that offense had to be caused to someone eventually. In my defense, I only list cars that interest me in some way even if I may from time to time make derisive comments over price, condition, choice of upholstery material or the feverish tone of the vendor's sale pitch. My views are broadly similar to those of the philosopher Karl Popper (1902-1994) who claimed that human knowledge arises from a mixture of conjecture and refutation and that knowledge is in fact unjustified, untrue unbelief. 

1934 Continental Flyer. Continental made engines for a great number of small American manufacturers and thought that a car of its own may help the company through the great depression when many of its industrial customers were going to the wall. Typical of a low cost American car in many ways, these rarities came to New Zealand via the Canadian company Dominion Motors who also built Reo trucks. The handful of survivors left do not guarantee high prices but if you like the idea of people squinting at your grill badge in confusion, here is your car.

For: No-one else will have one, here or anywhere else.
Against: Spares may be an issue but not for the engine. Millions of those.
Investment potential: 2/10 Modest enough price but not greatly desired.

1976 Fiat 127. In the prelapsarian days of the early 1980s before Japanese imports, people would drive around in Fiats until the rust holes became large enough for a child to fall through. This 127 has been spared and the vendor tells us all about it in the breathless tone of an airport novel. Singapore and World War II are just the start of it.

For: The vendor's pitch has perils, plot and pace aplenty.
Against: Someone has to want a viable 127 but who are they and where?
Investment potential: 2/10. All I can say is you will be sorry when there are none left.

1976 MGB V8 GTS. I imagine it would go something like a big TVR with its tuned Rover V8 and it probably needs the wheels to keep it on the ground. The Aesthete usually maintains distance between himself and the MGB tribe due to his preference for the Latin bearers of the letters GT but this one will be let go past. There is certainly nothing on the Italian side that could keep up with it this week.

For: MG Bloody hell.
Against: An MGB is not the ideal car to do 150 mph in, it must be said.
Investment potential: 3/10. There will always be one.

1970 Alfa Romeo GT Junior. Alfa made its 105 coupe models go a long way so the the range of engine sizes, noses, dashboards and trim could delight sad types like the Aesthete. Here you get the combo of lovely twin pod instruments, swaddled gearbox and squashy seats with the shapely bumpers and upright nose cone of the old Guilia Sprint. The colour is great with the tobacco trim and one owner for 42 years must count for something. I will need to keep mine a bit longer to match that.

For: Bella!
Against. Nulla!
Investment potential: 6/10 if it is as good as it appears.

Skoda 110L Deluxe. The Aesthete does not make cheap jokes about Skoda, recalling their brilliance on the rally circuit in the 1970s. A 110 coupe would be more desirable than a saloon but what could be better to make those 911 owners feel the hot wind of socialist disapproval of their profligate ways?

For: Come on baby, eat the rich! as Motorhead once suggested.
Against: You want a car, not a political rant.
Investment potential: None of that, you running dog lackey of the capitalist West.



In the warm California sun...

Actually it is in damper New Hampshire but this rather sad Glas coupe shows what the sun can do. Built before the switch to BMW branding, this Glas 1700 GT appears to have been parked up and neglected for many years. Few cars can be called jewell-like but the little Frua coupes deserve to be far more expensive than they are. I have made comparisons to OSCAs and other such Italian mini-exotics before but when most viewers cannot tell one from the other, why pay 150K and be afraid of driving it?

For: Sophisticated and modern small German coupe with Italian looks. What is not to like?
Against: I know. It is a heap.
Investment potential: 0/10.