The Aesthete returns from Hell

The Aesthete's Fleet

 Hell of course being that steaming sink of vice with the broken transportation system and property market directed from an alien planet. This entry is being written as I wait for the flight that will return me to the bedizened vale of Dunedin, where only good true folk choose to live. Sadly, the only citizen of my chosen town that can balance an Alfetta driveshaft is having a holiday so the GTV remains with a void between engine and gearbox. The combined Fiat and Alfa track day at Timaru looms close. Who can think of cricket at a time like this?

1969 Lotus Elan +2.  Even small drivers look like they have made off in some sobbing child's plastic pedal car, such is the tiny scale of the original Elan. The +2 was a grown up version with a cabin able to accommodate a friendly regular sized couple although exactly what would make up the +2 part of the complement is moot. Anyone who can supply evidence that passengers have ever been carried in the back of one of these needs to provide photographic evidence.

For: From the fertile mind of Ronald Hickman, inventor of the Black and Decker Workmate.
Against: The Lotus owner is never short of handyman tasks, as Ron must have known.
Investment potential. 4/10.You do not get much of an Alfa GTV for 10K now and that must be the benchmark.

1967 Bentley T. There was a time when owning a Bentley signalled that you were on the wrong side of the class divide and that you would be followed by a howling mob of bottle throwing Marxists. That day is happily past now that you can own one for the price of a Toyota Tercel. This very early New Zealand new T series is the Aesthete's pick of smirking 1960s status symbols and ideal for those that think a Mercedes 600 is simply too grosser.

For: Find that old Reginald Maudling for Prime Minister bumper sticker now.
Against: Poor people and Green voters may still shout something rude at you.
Investment potential: 8/10 and a sure entry to any garden party you like.

1964 Chrysler Imperial Coupe. Of course the American plutocrat new better than to buy something from the upper end of General Motors, always on the louche side even when sent to the de-blinging chamber for a restyle. An Imperial Coupe was what to be seen wafting about in, as outlined in that infallible guide to 1960s decorum, Playboy magazine. As Fred Schneider put it in the B52s Love Shack "Hop in my Chrysler, it's as big as a whale and it's about to set sail!"

For: Look for videos of Barbi Benton doing the twist at the Playboy Club. You will understand.
Against: Ruby red is a bit much, admittedly but look at that interior!
Investment potential: 1/10 and descending.

1947 Studebaker Starlight. Or you could be channelling Jack Kerouac and Neal Cassady.in this Studebaker, the ultimate beat poet's ride of choice. I imagine it being driven northwards across the Auckland harbour bridge at night in the rain with a couple of party frocked passengers in the back on the way to the best party ever.

For: I know the Aesthete is a terrible romantic fool but just picture it.
Against: You would need to be drunk to drive it properly and that is not allowed these days.
Investment potential: 4/10. 18K does not seem a lot for something of this character.

1979 Chrysler Alpine GLS. The Chrysler empire swept up some interesting dishes in their tours of Europe in the 1960s. French maker Simca was scoffed down like a freshly baked croissant although its product range was similar to the Rootes Group which also disappeared down its voracious hatch. Naturally then, the French designed Simca would be badged as an Alpine and sometimes a Talbot – or a Chrysler, or all at once.

For: The first application of a one piece moulded ABS plastic bumper on a car, if that helps guide your purchasing decision.
Against: What is this doing on the list, I hear you ask. I have no explanation.
Investment potential: 3/10.  RETRO shouts the vendor, rather desperately..

On some faraway beach

1950 Simca 8 Sports. For those that associate Simca with the somewhat grim picture sketched out above, there was a time when it was the maker of bespoke coupes like this, delivered on lightly modified Fiat 1100 chassis. So like a French Cisitalia then. Styled by Pininfarina and built by Jean Daninos of later Facel Vega fame, the little 8 was ideal for nipping down to the summer villa with a basket of treats for the weekend. La dolce vita indeed.

For: Oh come on. Look at it.
Against: Not quite the real thing.
Investment potential: 3/10 if the small engined classic is the way of the future.