The Aesthete's special selection

The Aesthete's Fleet.

Human ingenuity knows no bounds. This is particularly so when specials are concerned. Here is where the most unpromising and inflexible materials are fiddled with and rearranged into objects of wonder, well to the Aesthete's eye anyway. Others would simply see a waste of a perfectly good car or three. This list was based on a Farham-bodied Mk III Zodiac Estate with the rare Executive trim set and a floor change. Needless to say, it was gone in few hours. 

Bi-Spyderman sent me some lovely pictures of his Ford Victoria Coupe to lend some class to the blog so I am pleased to oblige. I will set up a special category for reader's cars if anyone cares to send me some more.

1955 Ford 10 Special. What to do if you could not afford a mid-engined Kieft or a Cooper? Why, get busy in the shed and make one. Rarely did this sort of enterprise turn out anything as easy on the eye as this, crudely hammered single curvature bodywork being the usual rule. An aircraft fuel tank might be involved here, along with a pile of 1950s tuning bits. I bet it sounds fantastic although the height of the engine suggests an interesting attitude on sharp bends.

For: You could buy it just for looking at.
Against: Not run for a while but no computers to worry about.
Investment potential: 3/10 Genuine 1950s race cars should fetch more than this.

1970 Bond Equipe. What is it with all the Bonds on Trademe? This convertible Equipe is more of a looker than the Coupe featured last week although, like many boutique production cars of the period,  a bit amateurish inside. Careful attention to the hood and tidying the dash details works wonders with these cars and assists them to live up to Trevor Fiore's wonderful styling proposal. However you approach it, this is a cheap and beguiling car.

For: You could make the special even more special.
Against: The vendor alerts us to some rust in the frame. Not uncommon with Vitesses either so easily fixed.
Investment potential: I will go out on a limb here and say 5/10.

1934 Austin Seven Special: It may seem as though I am repeating myself but I cannot help it if everyone is trying to sell their Bonds and Austin Seven specials at the some time. This one packs a small capacity Coventry Climax overhead cam engine similar to that found in the back of an Imp. It should be a screamer with the engine designed to power a fire pump so 7000 rpm not out of the question.

For: Thrills guaranteed.
Against: Your passengers may not be so thrilled.
Investment potential: 2/10 seeing as there is a glut.

1973 Jensen Interceptor MkIII. Alright, I know a Jensen is not a special in the strict sense of the term. They were built in respectable numbers and part of a long tradition of hefty hand built British cars propelled by large American engines. The fabulous form by Italian carroserie Touring was the equal of their earlier Aston Martin DB4 so why are they so cheap? Eye watering fuel consumption and rust doomed most of them so a nice one for 40K makes odd sense.

For: What else does all that for the money?
Against: Would you look ridiculous in a body shirt and a mustard yellow leather jacket? Not for you then.
Investment potential: 3/10 At half the price of an indifferent E-Type, I predict a rising market.

1967 Porsche 912. Rarely does the Aesthete see a listing on Trademe that produces a Tourettes-like outburst. Well I roared like an American sitcom laugh track when I read this one. Not only a dizzying price for a 911 that goes like a Volkswagen 411, but he wants to charge you $100 just to look at it! There must be a name for this peculiar behaviour but for now I suggest you just look from a distance until the vendor has calmed down.

For: Words fail me.
Against: Don't let him get between you and the door.
Investment potential: -6/10 unless you can wait another fifteen years for the market to catch up.

Not so far from here...

1967 Alfa Romeo 2600 Sprint GT. There is nothing remotely 'sprint' about this sad looking big Alfa with its faded paint, seized engine and rusty doors. Even so, restorable cars of this character for 6K must be running out, particular ones sitting in the open under trees.