The Aesthete enjoys the fruits of his labours

The Aesthete's Fleet

The GTV had its first major outing with the Alfa club and a run down the coast to the Catlins. Nothing was shaken loose although the wayward driveshaft made its presence felt with a variety of rumbles, chunterings and low frequency thrumming. It shuts up with the clutch depressed but that tells you little as the whole drive train can convey vibration from anywhere and amplify it through the car's structure. I distracted myself by polishing the Tiger 100s engine cases. There. That will fix it.

1967 Ford Thunderbird. Ford's sporty little bird had metamorphosed into a fat boulevardier by the mid-1960s when the marketing types thought that extra doors would get buyers back into the showrooms. The concept was rediscovered by Mazda which makes the four door Thunderbird quite prophetic and the Aesthete has always relished the drama of reverse opening doors. Arrive in Queenstown at night, throw open the rear and watch the flashes go off, if indeed that is your thing.

For: I could see Elizabeth Taylor in one of these.
Against: I mean the 1950s Elizabeth, not the 1980s one.
Investment potential: 2/10 but their day may yet come.

Ford Mk IV Zodiac. Consider for a moment how there was enough demand to justify the hundreds of hours necessary to turn a Mk IV Zodiac saloon into  a wagon. This transformation took place at Messrs  E.D. Abbott Ltd of Farnham where partly finished cars had an extended vinyl roof and rear door added, amongst other laborious changes.  The saloon rear lights and intrusive suspension strut housings meant that you could only carry a set of skis or a fishing rod but you would be churlish to say it is not handsome.

For: Brash and stylish in a Essex sort of way.
Against: A Cortina wagon had more room.
Investment potential: 3/10. Transcends other Mk IVs.

1949 Lanchester LD10. Similarly, Britain's most expensive post-war small car was offered in s choice of aluminium or steel with the early cars carrying two quite different sets of bodywork. Neither could be called sporting in any sense but the jewel like enamelled engines were a pleasure to behold, if not a great thrill to drive. The vendor has done a bit of internet research and has got all excited about his great prize but who am I to spoil love's young dream?

For: Quaint in a foxgloves and hedge row sort of way.
Against: But its buggered, as my old Dad would say.
Investment potential: Bwahahahah.

1999 Fiat Marea Weekend. The five cylinder Marea is a proper hoot with an offbeat engine note and enough power to get you into situations difficult to explain to the authorities. Generally despised along with the rest of the large Fiat clan, this attitude will be dispelled after a drive which should take place at dawn on a slightly damp winding road. I should warn potential buyers that fitting a tow bar will cost the price of the car so if you need a workhorse, I would look elsewhere.

For: Like many big Fiats, much better then you might think.
Against: Make sure the servicing is up to date. Belts are a nightmare.
Investment potential: I paid 14 but sold mine for 2K some years back so you could say values are holding...

1998 Alfa Romeo 156. You might notice some formal similarities with Alfa's sublime 156 and think your measly 2K might be better invested there. If it was to purchase this V6 manual version, I would put up no fight at all and they are becoming attractively cheap, even in well specified form. Going fast in great style for paltry sums of money in an Alfa saloon never really tires, does it?

For: I know it is front wheel drive but it is an Alfa with that engine alone.
Against: Annoying computer issues but at least it lets you pick the gears manually.
Investment potential: 0/10, sadly.

On some faraway beach

1964 Willys Interlagos Conversível. A what's that now?, I hear you ask. Just another strange side trail in the complex history of the French Alpine sports cars that led to Brazil and the remains of the Willys-Overland empire. This very attractive convertible version of the plastic rally rocket ship was almost identical to the Alpine A108 Cabriolet Sport of 1960 and is more of a touring car although the interior is strongly suggestive of sporting pretensions.

For: Polish up your Portuguese and get bidding.
Against: You may get tired of explaining why you have bought a Willys Interlagos Conversível. instead of an Alpine A108 Cabriolet Sport.
Investment potential: You do the currency conversion. I can't do everything.