The Aesthete goes another round

The Aesthete's Fleet
My long spell of enforced idleness is coming to an end as I return to teach in a sadly depleted design course although there are, as Ian Dury said, reasons to be cheerful. The lyrics to that great number include:
18-wheeler Scammels, Domenecker camels
All other mammals plus equal votes
Seeing Piccadilly, Fanny Smith and Willy
Being rather silly, and porridge oats.
Surely no more obscure motoring reference than that exists in the popular songbook.

1978 Lincoln Grandeur Royale Coupe. Viewers of a sensitive disposition should cover their eyes now. Incredibly, a number of buyers were willing to pay twice the new price of a standard Lincoln Versailles to the Grandeur Motorcar Corporation of Pompona, Florida to have them remove the rear seats and stretch the front with steel girders. The side-mount spares were fakes to disguise the elongated front wings so the car has three of these in total including the one on the boot lid. The company applied for a patent to prevent others copying this ingenious act but it is hard to imagine anyone wanting to do it.

For: Marvin Gaye owned one which is the most shocking news I have received all year.
Against: People will laugh so hard they will probably pass out.
Investment potential: On the right day at the right auction?

1963 Mercedes Benz 220 SE Cabriolet. The first time I saw this listed the vendor was bellowing about wanting 160K for it unrestored and that he would start fixing it himself if no-one produced the spondulicks. He has since climbed down from this lofty station and sensible bids are now being offered for what is certainly a rare and desirable car.  All other claims should be investigated with care.

For: In the right colours and immaculate, these cars a worth a lot of money.
Against: A case for due diligence.
Investment potential: We shall not know until the bids are all in.

1974 Triumph Stag. The Triumph engineers at Canley played a risky hand when they bluffed that the Rover V8 would not fit their new sports tourer, so inflicting customers with their own underdeveloped and cobbled together V8. It turns out there is room even for the bored out Australian version which would allow for a vigorous buffeting of your thinning thatch, should you dare to punch the throttle.

For: The Stag was a car begging for more power and here it is.
Against: The wheels and bonnet bulge could go.
Investment potential: 3/10. A full four seater convertible that is a lot cheaper than a 220SE.

1959 Studebaker Silver Hawk. Even with the front and rear ends heavily bedizened, the later Hawk coupes still looked sharp, suggesting that the investment in Raymond Loewy's studio skills had paid off for Studebaker.  Long ignored by enthusiasts, Studebakers are starting to sell well in their native country, suggesting that a New Zealand new car like this may be a wise buy.

For: The most beautiful American car is drawing a bit of a long bow but it is definitely handsome.
Against: Nothing I can see from here.
Investment potential: Should hold up well until the end of fracking anyway.

1965 Bond Equipe GT4S. Strong colours and presentation make all the difference on these attractive little coupes so the ill fitting panels and drab hue of this Equipe do it no favours. The curvaceous fibreglass superstructure was an awkward fit onto the Herald base in any case but you can do much better than this with a stout bit of wood to lever those doors back into their holes.  And that retroussé Kamm effect rear end is very endearing.

For: If this was an Ogle SX1000 it would be ten times the price.
Against: Well, it's not is it?
Investment potential: 6/10. Small is good, remember.


This week's mystery and it is not Italian this time...

1949 Georges Irat Labourdette cabriolet. As so elegantly phrased below, this little roadster was a prototype for a new small French car by the restlessly inventive Georges Irat. Bodied by the proud coach builder Labourdette along similar lines to the open Panhards to which I am unnaturally attracted, it remained the solitary example. It has just sold for 57,216 € so if you wanted it, you are out of luck. You will have to buy the Peugeot 204 Cabriolet from last week.

For: C'est incroyable!
Against: Laid comme un pou.
Investment potential: Well, there is no competition in the marketplace for post-war Georges Irat.