The Aesthete sifts through Trademe again

The Aesthete's Fleet
There is nothing much to report on the fleet at present. The Aesthetette was busy in the arena, seeing her expertly drilled pony club charges to a resounding victory in the local competitions, so we missed out on the Alfa club run to Queenstown. I slouched off to the Rally of Otago Mouton section instead which takes place around the wharf area. I swear the BDA Escorts were cornering on a single wheel and the organisers were letting them out two at a time so there were plenty of gasps from the crowd. 

1975 Austin Maxi. The five door Maxi was Alec Issigonis's last stand before he was forcibly retired by new management at BMC. It was what the 1100 should have been with its lively overhead cam motor and five speed gearbox, as well as the practicality of the rear door. It was all too late however as everyone was in the hatchback game by then and this was a car from another era. Anyway, this is probably the best example anywhere in the world and must be commended to anyone who wants one.

For: A good bad car for certain.
Against: Nothing really. No restoration costs either.
Investment potential: 3/10 as people realise there are none left anywhere.

1985 Porsche 944. Offered the choice between an Austin Maxi and a Porsche 944, the Aesthete would not have great difficulty in arriving at a decision. The forgotten pearl in the Porsche font engined range, a properly sorted 944 has performance and road manners superior to anything available for the modest asking price. A good good car then.

For: Not like a Porsche at all really.
Against: See above.
Investment potential: Pearls before swine.

1958 Borgward Isabella. The Borgward Isabella combined excellent dynamics in a modern mid-sized saloon. They only came as two door models but found a ready market in New Zealand where their performance and equipment level persuaded buyers to forget about the war and enjoy this product of the reconstruction.

For: Smooth, quick and refined.
Against: Dumpy but then compare it to a Morris Oxford.
Investment potential: 3/10

1933 Riley 9 Falcon. The Aesthete likes a good Riley, appreciating what a step up from the everyday these cars represent. The tiny four door Falcon features a twin cam 1100 cc engine so will show clean heels to most else in the 9HP sector of the market. The proof of this was the 1934 Le Mans endurance race where Rileys took 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th and 12th positions, only pipped for first by an Alfa 8C.

For: That is quite a heritage.
Against: Nothing really. One of the great small cars of the period.
Investment potential. We must wait and see where the bidding goes but I give it 8/10

1954 Alvis TC 21/100. The oddly named Grey Lady added some spice to the somewhat turgid 3 litre Alvis range and was guaranteed to reach the ton, quite a feat in an upright saloon on a heavy chassis in 1954. The launch of the Jaguar Mk VII in 1950 threw an almost impossible challenge to other sporting brands and Alvis abandoned the field in favour of the svelte Graber styled TC 108G coupe in 1955.

For: Not as staid as it looks.
Against:  Who bought these at the time? Answers please.
Investment potential: Modest start price so could be value. 3/10

On some faraway beach...

1964 Siata 1500 TS. Siata (Società Italiana Auto Trasformazioni Accessori) specialised in transforming Fiats into symbols of the Italian good life. This alert looking little coupe was designed by Giovanni Micholetti and is like a cross between a Ferrari 330 GT and a Lancia Flavia. One can only guess at the economics of production as they must have been hand built in tiny numbers.

For: The mechanicals are simple at least.
Against: No-one will have a clue what you have bought.
Investment potential: Values are rising for drivable Italian specials so 5/10