The Aesthete's big day

The Aesthete's Fleet
The Aesthetette said 'What do you want to do on your birthday?' to which I chirped 'Go to the Mosgeil Aerodrome to look at old cars.' And so we did. The Vero International Festival of Historic Motoring brought over six hundred ancient cars and their equally grizzled owners to the city. There was unexpected variety including the only Beardmore Super Sport left in the world, a car I had only previously seen in the Hocken pictures collection. There was also a Riley 2.6, the last of Gerald Palmer's dreadnaught saloons for BMC, and a brace of 1930s Kestrels and Falcons to boot. A handful of delightful Fiat 501s and a Bugatti but no Alfas and one lone Lancia Beta saloon in a startling shade of moss green. Clearly, we must do more to show the Italian flag at these events.

1970 Alfa Romeo GT Junior. A long time Giulia fan is parting with his step nose GT Junior which I regard as similar to selling one of your own kidneys but will he listen to the Aesthete's cavilling? Not likely with the bidding running away already.  It is a great little car that we accompanied on the Latins rally in 2013 where it romped up the steep side of the Haast Pass. There is little to be gained from the larger engined cars and whoever is lucky enough to buy this one will have a lot of fun with it.

For: A most attractive combination of features.
Against: Nulla! Magnifico!
Investment potential: 8/10 and rising.

1974 Porsche 914. The only real problem with the 914 was the anaemic Volkswagen engine Porsche was required to fit in order to sell the cars in North America in the dark days of smog mitigation. This is neatly got around by the use of a modern Subaru power plant, a transformation now much applied in the US where nothing is spared the hot rodder's stick. Originality is one thing but would you rather not go fast?

For: A useful rally contender.
Against: Not for the purist then.
Investment potential: 3/10. Could you build one for the asking price?

1939 Willys Overland. The streamlined Willys was an effort to get Americans into a European scale four door car. There were remarkably clever and quite scientific so were of course doomed to market failure. They were also assembled in Australia with pressings supplied by Holden so they were occasionally seen on our local roads where the contrast with an equivalent British saloon of the period was profound.

For: The sort of thing once seen airbrushed on the cover of Popular Mechanics.
Against: What is going on with that paint?
Investment potential: 2/10. Most want their '30s with more glamour.

1975 Lotus Elite. The terse description suggests that this forlorn Lotus is now in someone's way so if you find yourself wanting a project, here is a suitably challenging one. It is New Zealand new and low milage so has a number of useful things going for it. Young people find the wedge styling to be very old school which is a good thing apparently.

For: Colin Chapman over reaches himself yet again.
Against: See above.
Investment potential: It is attracting bids already so may not be a great bargain.

1985 Alfa Romeo Giulietta 2.0. There is no link to Trademe here as the Aesthete is selling this one himself.  This Giulietta was dear friend Amanda's pride and joy, kept undercover in dry Temuka for much of its life and consequently rust free. Its low milage of 112,000KMs means it performs brilliantly. The shell is rattle free and everything works including the windows and central locking. Clear coat damage on the roof and boot lid are the only obvious flaws. Offers invited above 2K.

For: It is great fun. I took it to Middlemarch today and it took to the hills like an Alfa should.
Against: Its looks are starting to grow on me. You too, hopefully.
Investment potential. At that price, are you worried?

On some faraway beach...

1959 Abarth 2200 Coupe. Mark Stockdale takes the Aesthete's Mystery Italian competition this week by identifying this Abarth coupe based on the six cylinder Fiat 2100. The engine size discrepancy suggests that Abarth were not afraid of boring and otherwise modifying their Fiat engines with this one wearing an impressive array of Webers and attractively expensive looking manifolds. Fiat soon had their own coupe on the market, leaving the Abarth an orphan.

For: How much for an Allemano bodied Ferrari 250 GT these days?
Against. Yes, I know its not a Ferrari.
Investment potential: 3/10 as it is already looking a bit pricey.