The Aesthete has it all ways.

The Aesthete's Fleet
Loud creaking and clunking from the rear of the Alfetta suggests that the drive shaft was only the start of it so a further order of suspension bushes has gone out to Chris Sweetapple at Highwood Alfa in deepest Wales. It is one of the mysteries of modern existence that he can get parts to Dunedin from Swansea faster than if I had ordered them from the north island but this has been proved many times over. He is taking an interest in these cars now but one wonders how many early Alfettas are left in England given that the winters there were more corrosive than even dank and gloomy Dunedin.

1964 Cheetah Sports. Early for a mid-engined racer, this well configured little special looks like a Lola or something similar which would now cost you the thick end of 100K. A little over 5K seems more than fair and the modest specification will hopefully prevent you being filleted and flambé´d on the crash barrier the first time you take it out.

For: Local history is worth less than UK history so enjoy the cash difference.
Against: You will probably not win anything with it but that is hardly the point.
Investment potential: 4/10 if it stays close to where it is.

 1965 Fiat 1500 Crusader. Just reminding you that it is still here. Come on, one of you, step forward and buy it now.

For: The best thing on Trademe all year. Honestly.
Against: Yes, I know. You have to change your own gears and wind your own windows. Quislings.
Investment potential: 8/10.

1986 Jaguar XJS. 25K for a virtually unused early XJS must represent value even in this rather unlovely car. The underpinnings were good enough for later Jaguars and Aston Martins to endlessly recycle and at least XJSs have worn better then early XKRs which now look tragic with their cheap hide and flimsy plastics. Be the first to invest in a good one and stand back while their replacements fall by the wayside.

For: Forget the looks and it is a great car.
Against: You can't forget the looks, can you?
Investment potential: 2/10 but only because it is not a perfect world.

Marcos Mantula. Delivered into the Britain of Harold Wilson's "white heat of technology", the original Marcos coupe designed by Dennis Adams bristled with innovative features. The plywood frame was long gone by the 1980s but even with the roof cut off and festooned with ugly wheel arch extensions and spoilers the car still manages to look like Wilson knew what he was talking about.

For: I have always liked cars that look like a talented child has drawn them.
Against: I know. You prefer something less jejune.
Investment potential: 2/10. A hard sell, possibly.

1951 Daimler Drophead Special Sports. Something like this Daimler perhaps where, in light of otherwise patchy post-war performance, everything turned out tickety-boo. The sweeping wing line was tricky on a mid sized body but the proportions work splendidly and it is one of the best looking tourers to come from the traditional side of the industry. 90HP was respectable and you would be able to drink a whisky sour in the sideways rear seat and not spill a drop..

For: The equivalent of a good address in Pimlico. Dolphin Square perhaps.
Against: You did not know the Aesthete was a closet Tory, did you?
Investment potential: 2/10. Like old Alvises, a little underestimated.

On some faraway beach...

1969 Matra 530 A. Only the French can make cars that look like this, however. It seems like it has been styled around a folded card model and the lines go everywhere but where they should. It is also fitted with a clattery engine from a Ford Transit but it makes you look twice and how often does that happen nowadays?

For: Go on. Tell me you hate it.
Against: I can't imagine
Investment potential: Un petit. We are not in Paris now.