The Aesthete resumes his duties

 The Aesthete's Fleet.

Forget the ABs. The greatest conflict of 2015 has been brought to a draw with only a slight buzz from the driveshaft left behind after weeks of work by Dennis.  The GTV is a different car now and considerably more relaxing to drive. I have been busy trying to seal it against the rain now that it has to park outside while the wreck occupies its space in the shed. Parts are being slowly recovered from it and carried away to another shed. And so we spend our lives like dung beetles, rolling piles of the stuff from one hole to another.

1961 Hillman Minx Estate. Despite a slightly raddled appearance and piebald paintwork, this Minx looks solid and usable.  I have always fancied a load carrier of this vintage although there would need to be a load to carry, other than the iPhone and mac laptop that are the Aesthete's current tools of trade. Perhaps when I take up an honest career...

For: Becoming quite rare now, I imagine.
Against: That may not turn into instant reward for the purchaser.
Investment potential: 3/10. Freshen up the paint and you never know your luck.

1957 Hudson Hornet V8 Hollywood Custom. Surely the name badge is worth 6K alone but I feel that the hapless vendor has come a cropper on Hudson's last hurrah and is trying to recover the shipping costs. There is the conundrum as the market for Hudson Hornet Hollywood Customs is probably not humming even in their country of origin. That being so, you get a Packard V8, tri-tone colour scheme and the interior is a riot.

For: Oh come on. We like an oddball.
Against: There is an immaculate example for less than 20K on Hemmings.
Investment potential: -12/10. Chinese commercial property is a better bet.

1955 Peugeot 203. More agreeable than any Light 15 you could have for the same price and the driving experience is better in my view. The 1940s streamlined looks put me in mind of Paris in the springtime and Rue des Francs-Bourgeois where the French version of hipsters dwell in roof top garrets to this day.

For: Is there a more chic way to spend 3K?
Against: I imagine you have thought of some.
Investment potential: 4/10 if there is not much to do.

1956 Jaguar Mk VII M. Big 1950s Jaguars offer value, particularly older restorations like this one where the vendor has not calculated the selling price by dredging through a huge pile of current receipts. The price of rechroming, trim and a respray would easily overtake 22K and you still have to find a decent car to buy in the first place. The automatic suits the genteel side of the Mk VII although you may find yourself wishing for a power steering conversion as well.

For: Bespoke motoring on a budget.
Against: At that price, not much.
Investment potential: 4/10

1935 Daimler 15 hp Martin Walters Wingham All-weather Cabriolet. Daimler's small six for straightened times was a gamble as the brand was associated with state limousines while Lanchester dealt with the suburban trade. They came in numerous versions thanks to the efforts of coach builders such as Martin Walters who later made the Dormobile campers to which I am unnaturally attracted. Will the vendor achieve 40K for his pile of bits? Not in a thousand years but it is jolly nice in a King's Speech sort of way.

For: Good for a toddle around the old estate during the annual grouse shoot, should you own one.
Against: 40K? Holy mother of God.
Investment potential: Bwahahahaha. Not even it belonged to King George himself.

On some faraway beach.

I looked. There is nothing apart from the Hudson and that would be repeating myself.