The Aesthete gets on with the job

The Aesthete's Fleet

As far as old cars go, the axiom about getting off the pot if one does not intend to use it applies under most circumstances. The Aesthete has been busy in the shed preparing the new GTV for its paint job and for once, the advice of a specialist was sought and a whole paint system purchased.  The Aesthete's previous practice has been to formulate something using dregs from unlabelled rusty cans. The first coats went on well apart from a few areas where the previous owner had touched in defects with a broom dipped in something green. It was pleasing to discover that the very first Alfetta GTV shown to the world was painted Verde Oliva Metallizzato coda AR 213, suggestive that the car was styled with this hue in mind. The simple tapered shape is defined by crisp folded lines and a metallic finish in a mid tone sets it off well. It is a well known fact that AR 213 appeals to the fairer sex so I expect to be the recipient of more smouldering looks at the Port Chalmers supermarket car park.

1954 Alvis Grey Lady. The matronly looks of this Alvis belie its true nature. The Grey Lady variant was gauranteed to reach 100mph which placed it in the top league of post-war saloons and they appealed to owners for whom a Jaguar was well beyond the pale. Consequently, very few were built with most purchasers deciding on the faster, cheaper and more modern competition from Coventry.

For: Decently quick with a touch of leafy Wimbledon lanes about it.
Against: Like the mock-Tudor house, the wood framed body requires care.
Investment potential: 2/10. 45K is reasonable if it is as good as the vendor suggests.

1964 Rover 3 Litre Coupe. These fine cars tend to languish in the shade of the later V8 variants but the smooth six gives little away on the road. You also get a manual gearbox to play with rather than the automatic that dulled the driving experience. It should be understood that Rovers are for wafting about the place and were created before the appearance of roundabouts on every 600 metres of British roadway. This is what the Aesthete would drive to Queenstown, if he was in any way attracted to that Sodom of the South Island.

For: The most elegant British car of the era, regardless of cost.
Against: Someone should market a decent handling kit. You would drive it every day then.
Investment potential: 3/10. Who would pay 25K for a Ford Zodiac when this is available?

1973 Fiat 124C Sport: Priced to sell the vendor tells us and who would not want this 124 in its distinctive shade of French blue? These used to level peg with Alfa Romeos but you would not get much of a GTV for the start price now, unless you fancy an utter basket case.  The simple lines of these coupes betray any shabbiness in the bodywork and this one looks like a crisply pressed Italian suit.

For: It has Campagnolo wheels. Buy it.
Against: Shiny paint is not always good sign with these cars. Check carefully.
Investment potential: 5/10 if it stays under 10K

1958 DeSoto Fireflite Station Wagon. We have not had a finned behemoth on the list for a while, the Aesthete's palette having become a jaded under the Trademe onslaught of regretted purchases from state-side. This is a different proposition, however. A Canadian built right hand drive DeSoto was the dream of every flush Waikato farmer in the 1950s and being NZ new, has not had the attention of a chop shop before being shipped this way.

For: It has a tow bar for those that intend to put it to work.
Against: The side valve six will not allow any traffic light nonsense.
Investment potential: 1/10 but difficult to value

1967 Toyota 2000 GT. If you have a spare 1.26 million sloshing around, you might wish to join the psychotic whirlwind that surrounds these otherwise rather pleasant cars. This type of  speculation creates its own special market conditions and it has little to do with the properties of the actual vehicle. What is it like to drive? Who on earth cares? At this price it will never be driven again by anyone.  And if the vendor is remotely serious, why not get a photographer and have some decent pictures taken?

For: The 2014 equivalent of tulip bulbs in seventeenth century Holland.
Against: A single tulip bulb was worth ten times the salary of a skilled Dutch tradesman. You do the sums.
Investment potential. Off the scale but sadly in the wrong direction.


On some faraway shore...

1964 Apollo 5000GT. Perhaps a comparison with this bespoke American/Italian GT is timely. With fewer built than Toyota could manage, it has rarity on its side. It is just as good looking and about as quick. And one tenth the price.

For: Am I not making myself clear?
Against: You would buy it because you like it, not to make a fortune on it.
Investment potential: 2/10 given that is needs a freshen up.