The Aesthete mingles with the aristocracy

The Aesthete's Fleet
Of Canterbury that is. He spent the weekend being squired around the place by a series of obliging old car fanciers and dropping in unexpectedly and uninvited at various locations. He received a thorough education on the sociology of the classic car hobby as well as a thrilling ride over the Port Hills in Tom Bruynel's Guilia 1600, enough of a car to take every uphill corner flat out at 5000 RPM. Sunday was spent with a DS owner and admirer of modernist buildings. I may as well have died and gone straight to heaven. Christchurch is certainly blessed with its variety of fine old cars, as well as their generous and tolerant owners.

Whoops. I almost forgot the song for the week. This little wonder induced me to by a Roland bass sequencer and attempt to programme it likewise.

1954 Morris J-Type Commercial. Yes, it is a terrible wreck but who would not want of these to potter around on the weekend and pick up a fresh tray of seedlings for the Alfred Buxton designed garden of their arts and crafts farmstead, after which it would be parked in the wool shed converted into an eight bay motor house?  Pardon me but I am still trying to recover from my weekend away.

For: Charm in spades.
Against: Noisy and slow but it is all relative.
Investment potential: 4/10 as long as the frame has survived.

1971 Lotus Europa S2. Given the high prices set by French sports cars of similar provenance, Europas are good value and have equal claim to competition heritage. The high winged S1 and 2 body looks like it was designed to go around Le Mans all night and the easy to keep Renault 16 motor provides reliable and flexible performance. The S2 even gives you winding side windows. What more do you want, you miserable complainers?

For: Fragile but fixable.
Against: Let's hope you have kept your dancer's hips.
Investment potential: 4/10.

1968 Volvo 122S. Like fondu, saunas and teak sideboards, 1960's Volvos are an acquired taste but they make excellent sense as a tough and well built enthusiast's car. This may describe the likely owner profile as well as the car so one had best cultivate an aura of Swedish modern functionalism in order to make the most of the cultural associations.

For: As bracing as a Swedish massage.
Against: I am starting to sound like Tom of Finland – look him up.
Investment potential: 5/10. Given the rally heritage, rather cheap.

1948 Packard Clipper Eight. Oh come on please, one of you. Step up and buy this magnificent Packard, the equal of a Bentley and so woefully undervalued that everyone seems to think it is just another big dumb American car. Apart from the petrol bills I could imagine fewer more elegant ways of getting around although you will need a big workshop and some welding skills.

For: Glorious patrician transport from the peak of 1940s style.
Against: What? Am I not praising it enough?
Investment potential: 2/10 due to its heroic scale.

1975 Rover 3500 P6B. The zenith of a dire era in British manufacturing, Rover's sporting saloon generally attracted mature buyers so could not prove its worth as a serious road car. With the suspension tightened up to control the generous roll and a tickled V8 you could enjoy its undoubted performance potential. You are half way there with the SDI wheels so why stop?

For: Start with a good one and not a wreck and it could be very affordable.
Against: Forget the retired harbour board manager buyer profile and look anew.
Investment potential: 3/10 but fun must surely be had.

On some faraway beach...

1969 Bedford CA Dormobile Camper. Alright. It is time to put the recent Kombi hysteria aside and drink in the sheer beauty of this Martin Walther built camper. See the grey formica and the elegant side flash and think of the great age of British jet travel on board a VC10. Enjoy your dinner of New Zealand lamb and a nice French claret served by an elegantly suited hostess. Not a Comet though. They used to break up in the air and kill everyone on board...

For: Think what a split window camper costs and do the maths.
Against: Following motorists will hate you, that is still a fact.
Investment potential: Oh, I don't know. 22/10.