The Aesthete becomes erratic

The Aesthete's Fleet
The latest news on the GTV's driveshaft is that it needs various engineering jigs made up to centre its rotating masses in a satisfactory manner. I am beginning to think I should leave it as it is and try unbalancing the rest of the matter in the universe. It would be faster and probably cheaper. String theory suggests it is at least possible as time does not exist under its rules.

1970 Fiat Abarth 695. The vendor skirts issues of authenticity so it is doubtful that this Abarth is the real thing but who cares with ordinary Fiat 500 prices being what they are today? With new model Abarth prices knocking on 60K classic replicas offer the looks and fun, if not the sphincter clenching performance. The extra power is always welcome in these small and entertaining cars as the following listing takes to quite extreme lengths.

For: Abarth or not Abarth. That is the question.
Against: 9K starting price. What might the reserve be?
Investment potential: 3/10 if it is as good as it appears.

1966 Fiat 500 EA81 Subaru. At least there is no doubt that this is what it claims to be. It just depends if you are willing to flirt with the terrible forces at play in this repowered 500 that conservatively delivers five times the power of the original.  As drivers found in the similarly scaled Lancia Stratos, corners may not always be exited in the same direction of travel due to the short wheelbase.

For: No-one will laugh at your funny little car now.
Against: Make sure there are no immovable objects in your way. Newtonian physics still apply here.
Investment potential: 4/10 for sheer audacity.

1953 Citroen 2CV Fourgonnette. The pictures do it no favours but you are basically buying a build-it-yourself 2CV kit, the ideal winter project if you missed out on that Isetta last week. The van variant features a corrugated steel implement shed to which the ingenious owner would fit a sliding drawer long enough so he or she could sleep in the rear. It would then be the coolest camper ever.

For: Fourgonnette. I do not know what it means but is sounds rude.
Against: You should not be in a hurry to reach your destination. You may need a nap just climbing a modest hill.
Investment potential: 8/10. Oui.

1961 Morris Oxford Mk V Traveller. The vendor has a convoluted story about how this low milage and two-owner Traveller got into this state but the car itself appears to offer a sound case for sympathetic refurbishment and return to regular use. Some anonymous fellow with the metal snips at BMC got it right with the Traveller where the extra cabin length suggests that it will not trip over its front wheels like the saloon.

For: Low milage so it should feel like a new one after some work.
Against: Even new they were far from ideal.
Investment potential: 3/4 if it stays cheap.

Mini Marcos Mk IV. No-one can say that Jem Marcos was bothered with appearance but he did shorten the original Mini Dart that he took over from Dizzy Addicott in the mid-1960s. The Mini Marcos was supplied as a fibreglass shell of arresting ugliness into which was fitted Mini subframes. They were and remain great track day cars where you can recall the Le Mans race of 1966 when one of these ugly bugs was the only UK entrant to get over the line.

For: You can't see it if you are driving it.
Against: Functionalism taken to great lengths.
Investment potential: 3/10 depending on how much you can do.

On some far away shore.

1970 Alfa Romeo 1600 Zagato. Tipped for big things for many years, it is still possible to buy a Zagato for the price of an excellent Bertone GTV. There is no sense to this as the Zagato is one of the most striking shapes on the road and bristled with insights. Some like the perspex nose or the electrically raised rear lid did not take off but others assuredly did. The alloy shell took considerable weight off the parent car so the driving experience is exquisite. Buy this one from Italy and stand back.

For: Rare and brilliant.
Against: A bit exotic for every day.
Investment potential: 9/10.