The Aesthete climbs back into the ring

The Aesthete's Fleet

The Alfetta has been loaned to a friend with a late model BMW suffering from what I imagine is a computer related starting issue. Wonder boy suggested the age old remedy of tapping the starter with a stick but a lengthy search under the various covers revealed nothing like the familiar foot long Lucas part with the recalcitrant solenoid atop. Tapping on the power steering pump did no good whatsoever so it will be towed to the shop at dawn. There are limits to my powers after all.

This weeks number is a piece of joyous savagery from that great eccentric of the post-punk era, Julian Cope. Altogether now;

 "I got a space hopper baby but it's strictly one seater,

You got to hold on baby to my special features"

1960 Lincoln Continental MKV Hardtop Breezeway. What is this behemoth that looks like two Ford Uglybirds welded together in the middle?  Well, it is the ultimate kicking up of heels from the Ford studio before they swung the other way towards the cool Kennedy era Continentals of the early 1960s. Consequently you get the shaped wings from that year's Thunderbird with the wind down reverse slope rear breezeway window that no-one knew they wanted. This promiscuous mixture of Ford genes produced an imposing sight but one that should be shielded from sensitive eyes.

For: I wonder if you could lower the rear window and place your Scotch outside on the rear deck to avoid prosecution?
Against: There has to be a better reason to buy it than that.
Investment potential: 2/10 but rarity and sheer dreadfulness make a tempting combination.

1981 Mercedes 500 SL. This rare right hand drive SL with the big Mercedes V8 is attracting desultory bids on Trademe and looks like it deserves better. R107s may never match the values of the earlier pagoda roofed cars and can seem saloon-like and uninteresting. This is unfair as open motoring rarely comes with quality construction like this. Combine body strength with unburstable mechanicals and you have a car for life.

For: Tidy it up and reap the benefits.
Against: A bit more history would be useful.
Investment potential: 6/10 if it stays close to the present price.

Austin Seven Ashley Special. Sharp eyed friend Simon spotted this listed amongst assorted car parts and sent me the link so here it is. The vendor suggests that it is a Tiki, based on an English  kit made by Ashley Laminates. This firm's complex history saw its founder Peter Pallendine set up manufacture in New Zealand making Falcon body shells before relocating to Australia and building steam cars. Whatever it is, Pallendine's designs were always pretty so this is worth investigating.

For: Something from the great age of automotive DIY.
Against: What? You don't want to build your own sports car from a pile of rusty bits?
Investment potential: 7/10. At the buy now price  you can't really lose.

1939 Citroen Light Fifteen Cabriolet. Citroen bores will know there is no such thing but the vendor does not seek to convince us otherwise. It is up to you to work out whether 55K is too steep for a reproduction. It is no small matter to convert a saloon in this way as all the panels are different from the scuttle back and there are numerous small castings such as the charming little step on the rear wing allowing access to the rumble seat.

For: Well, its gorgeous of course.
Against: But she is ze fake, no?
Investment potential: Hmmm. This requires more thought than I can give it.

1958 Packard. The Aesthete's love of Packards and tragic underdogs combine to draw him hopelessly to this last ditch chance for the patrician maker to save itself by using Studebaker body shells. How could it be bad? Let me count the ways. The lovely Hawk body styles by Raymond Loewy was given a duck bill nose and yet another set of fins welded to the fins already welded to the original slender tail. A crude dash was arranged internally and glitzy trim with pull cords on the seats added to the industrial painted steel Studebaker decor. It is so awful and yet so desirable. What is wrong with me?

For: It is only 7K!
Against: Transgressively terrible.
Investment potential: Dreadful then. Now? Your risk.

On some faraway beach...

1939 Daimler DB18 Drophead Coupe. In his youth the Aesthete would go out and buy Daimler Centuries in the tragic belief they would turn into one of these with a wave of the welding torch and a bash with a planishing hammer. No such luck of course but the pre-war Daimler Dolphin with its sideways facing rear seat was alway a bit of a fetish object. Here, look. You can have Winston Churchill's old one. And that lovely DB18 saloon is still for sale up in Northland.

For: Few Daimlers are drop dead beautiful.
Against: Not as fast as it looks.
Investment potential: You could knock 100K off the price without the famous ex-owner.