The Aesthete casts his net

The Aesthete's Fleet

Most would agree that a thousand chimpanzees working at typewriters could not produce a Shakespearean play. That is because they were all busy at the Alfa Romeo plant at Arese designing the body pressings for the tipo 116 Alfetta GTV.  Never has a car been devised with so many rust traps. I found another one hidden underneath the gutter;  a separate pressing with a negative detail allowing water to sit behind unless the channel is cleaned out regularly. I have taken to it with a dental probe and filled the defect with rust primer.

1990 Bentley Turbo R. The first Mulsanne Turbos had boulevardier suspension settings so the R model [for roadholding, naturally] was developed to ensure Rolls Royce lost no important customers to bridge abutments or similar immovable hazards.  They continue their fall towards worthlessness and I expect to see one in a drift race soon where their abundant power and modest tread could produce an impressive cloud of burnt rubber.

For: Your poor parents will think you have finally made something of yourself.
Against: The service bills, mainly.
Investment potential: 0/10 sorry.

1972 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia. Let this be a lesson to us all that when we acquire another project we have somewhere dry to store it while the requisite eight years elapse until we finally get on with it.  There is no mentions of floors so it probably does not have any. The bids have reached $24 now and it serves the neglectful vendor right.

For: Wonderboy has an early 911 motor salted away under the stairs, I hear.
Against: Unless you are handy with a welder, best let this one past.
Investment potential: It will probably go past the current silly bid but who knows?

1965 Hillman Super Minx Convertible. Another chic convertible from the diverse Rootes range from whence you could have this or a Sunbeam Rapier. It would be naughty but if you could find a rusty Humber Sceptre you could extract the dash, seats and nose panel off it and whip up yet another variation on a theme. Painted gunmetal grey on wire wheels... grwwlll.

For: A superior kind of Minx.
Against: Little that I can see.
Investment potential: 17K might be a bit optimistic but not many full four seater open classics available for that sort of money

1990 Honda NSX. You might consider 50K a lot or a little for this Honda, dependant on your thoughts about twenty five year old electronics and similar issues relating to state of the art technology from the last century. The NSX was the height of the Japanese industry while it was in its pomp and there has been nothing like it since.  Silver and black is a good combination and flatters the slightly gawky lines.

For: A highly capable car built to a very high standard.
Against: Would you not rather have a Ferrari?
Investment potential: 1/10. Difficult to see what is keeping the prices this high.

1987 Citroen CX GTI Turbo. The Aesthete rather likes a car that tells the driver it has a turbocharger through very large raised type in the middle of the steering wheel. This is necessary in a CX because you will never know how fast you are going due to the splendidly cosseting ride and power assisted everything. I wish we had the German attitude to autobahn speed so you could try out the 220 KPH upper limit.

For: It even looks good in white.
Against: Starting to look a bit baggy inside.
Investment potential: 2/10. They go from this price to nothing if neglected so keep on top of it.

Back in Blighty

Old friend Buck sent me a link to a Lancia 2000 saloon on EbayUK but underneath was something more interesting, a Pininfarina bodied Lancia Appia Coupe. This elegant little number with its miniature Ferrari 250 looks would make a fine companion for the Flavia and has attracted desultory bids. Nine days to go, however.