The Aesthete picks five more

Trademe continues to surprise by turning up the sort of selection the Aesthete wishes for every week. The sweet spot is provided by the Maserati Merak, a particular favorite that was drawn at all sorts of difficult angles in my biology exercise book while I should have been paying attention to mitochondria or some nonsense like that. It was far more useful to master drawing the various ovoids necessary to get a front wheel in correct relationship to the wheel arch.

He who shall be called Bi-spiderman sent me this fabulous speedster with a V8 airship engine spotted by his favorite daughter in Melbourne. Just the thing for the dash into Dunedin from Port Chalmers. If you are wondering how it sounds, watch this...

1963 Bond Equipe GT4S. Bond was a maker of microcars that looked a bit like invalid carriages until the inventive Lawrie Bond had the bright idea to glue a fibreglass fastback body onto a Herald frame and make an instant small GT car. The Equipe therefore has all the flaws and advantages of its underpinnings including the wayward rear swing axle arrangement that made early Spitfires a bit of a handful. 1147 ccs will not allow you to get into too much trouble, however.

For: Great looking front. And it is New Zealand new.
Against: Side profile, not so much.
Investment potential: 3/10 and cheap to keep going.

1968 Lotus Elan +2. Elan aficionados might say wait for a later 2 litre car but ultimate performance in a Lotus is not really the issue. You would choose this one for the same reason you would by an early 1960s Alfa Romeo Guilia GTV because it is a car best expressed in its pure and uncorrupted original form. And that yellow is perfect.

For: Barring the Italians of course, this is as good as a small GT got in the 1960s.
Against: Like all Lotii, needs an indulgent owner prepared to spend money from time to time.
Investment potential: 3/10.

1956 Berkeley SE328. The vendor's gripes about the previous owner's low character suggests that this is not all that it seems and the effort of sorting it all out has become too much for the poor fellow. Peevishness aside, we gain the impression that the big Excelsior triple might be a bit too much engine for the fly weight Berkeley and that the original cars were strengthened and modified at the factory to cope.  Still, the Aesthete maintains that scaring yourself is what Berkeley ownership is all about. And here is a little treat. The magnificent Ian Hunter singing his mum's favorite song A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square.

For: 30 HP, 820 lbs, 85 mph.
Against: It depends if you value human life, yours or anyone else in the way when you open up the three Amals.
Investment potential: 1/10. Possibly worth more in original specification although not as much fun.

1975 Masearti Merak. A four seat Bora with the smaller Maserati V6 and hydraulics from the Citroen SM, the Merak was a worthy Dino competitor but now worth only one tenth the money. And rare too with only 700-odd of this type. It all looks entirely like what a 22K classic Maserati should with the awful combination of shiny paint and fist sized holes that speak of a quick blow over for sale at some point not too long ago. Oh, and the fragile motor is seized.

For: The sensible would say absolutely nothing.
Against: Well, when did we listen to them?
Investment potential: A nice one is probably edging to 100K so there is plenty of leeway if you can do some of the work yourself.

1981 Alfa Romeo Guilietta. A sound 1981 Alfa Romeo Guilietta  would have required some kind of papal indulgence as rust is the original sin that all Alfas were born to carry.  Despite looking like it was assembled from old PC cases, these cars provided great fun with a sparkling twin cam motor and exuberant decor that will make you smile like a fool every time you get in.

For: Young people will give you the eyebrow flick and say it is cool.
Against: Nothing really. A good one is an absolute delight.
Investment potential: 4/10 if our shared pursuit can just last the next ten years.

On some faraway beach...

1958 Simca Oceane: The Aesthete's weakness for coachbuilt oddballs swings between the Italian and the French distaff side where Bonnets, Matras and Simca Oceane's roam. The swanky lines of this mini-Facel Vega suggest more abundant performance than was ever likely from the Flash Spécial engine but, like a Karmann Ghia, 100 KPH is just fine in one of these.

For: Sunny day, top down, gruyere cheese and ham, French loaf, Edith Piaf on the radio...
Against: There are probably no Simca Arondes around any more for parts.
Investment potential: 2/10 A bit of finishing off required but cheap for the great looks.