The Aesthete gets truculent

He reached this state at the newly opened Bill Richardson Transport World in Invercargill which was the objective of the Alfa  club run on Sunday. Who knew there were so many ways to arrange a big diesel engine between a pair of girders and then dress the outcome with a radiator surround? The Aesthete was of course drawn to a Scammell Scarab, a cross between a truck and a tractor with an ingenious mid-engined layout and self coupling trailer.

 

1969 Mercedes Benz 280 SL. With early 911s hauling away strongly towards the upper 100K price bracket, equivalent SLs almost appear as bargains. The smaller engined cars are more sporting in character although this is a relative concept as the robust body shell is set up for touring rather than the track. Just the thing then for a weekend away with room for more than a toilet bag and those midget hairdryers of which the distaff side are fond.

For: The ultimate polite sports car.

Against: Do we want a polite sports car?

Investment potential: 4/10

BMW 635 CSi. Another adult's car that is only now emerging from the shadow of its shapely older sister is the BMW 6 series. Here with all the Highline bling options ticked on the list and with an automatic gearbox for relaxed motoring, you can join the automotive elite of the greedy nineties for the price of a Kia people mover. In the grand Bavarian dance hall, these cars will always wait for a turn on the floor but the rewards are surely there.

For: Square jawed but light on its feet.

Against: The East German discus thrower of sporting coupes. 

Investment potential: 4/10 and rising.

1970 Porsche 911T. Continuing with the Germanic theme of this week's list is this handsome early 911 in preferred dark hue and relatively correct specification. Locating a set of the characteristically flat low backed seats with pull up headrests will provide a fillip of authenticity.  Wonder Boy has read the entrails of this one and the local architectural profession is already atremble with powerful acquisitive urges.

For: The Aesthete would let this darken his shed door.
Against: Let that be a warning to you.
Investment potential: Who knows where it will end? In fifty years, one Porsche 911 may equal the entire GNP.

1975 Lotus Elite. The irascible vendor of that white Daimler SP250 continues his destocking with this Rover V8 engined Elite, surely a track day contender if it can be persuaded to select its gears in the right order. Your reward will be a re-engineered GT relieved of its most troublesome bits, largely restricted to the engine bay.  Remember to ask him a question but stand back from the screen when he answers.

For: What is better than Elite I wonder?
Against: Excellence is already taken.
Investment potential: Can you risk 4.5K? I think so.

1966 Vanden Plas Princess 4.0 Litre. Who knows what form of cosmic alignment allows three of these rare cars to be advertised on Trademe in the same week? Taking the roly poly A110 Westminster as a starting point and making a Mercedes 300 rival out of it was a tall order but it almost came off, narrowly missing out on being a small Bentley with the wonderful code name of Burma. This captures the retired Colonel ethos of the car which probably stopped its adherents from ever, God forbid,  driving a Datsun.

For: Self levelling suspension and 120MPH performance.
Against: People will think you are a terrible old Tory.
Investment potential: 8/10. A strong future is likely for these old war horses.

On some faraway beach

1970 Fiat 850 Racer Berlinetta: Who but the Italians would make a coupe version of their convertible version of their coupe model of their Tipo 100 saloon range? Well they did and the result was a pretty hardtop version of Marcello Gandini's Spider. This example was painted in that eye watering acid green that was also splashed over Gandini's Muira to memorable effect.

For: Inexpensive and practical mini-exotic.
Against: Do you feel lucky?
Investment potential: Complete the set and then we will see.