Old Beach Car Show, 2019

It's probably poor form to begin an article with an apology. But I really do have to confess to utterly failing to capture the 2019 Old Beach car show as it deserves, so I'm sorry for that. If I may offer a plea in mitigation, it's simply that I had no idea just how good the event was going to be, having thought I might pop in, meet a few people and fire off a couple of dozen frames. An hour, tops? Wrong. Oh, so very wrong!

This chopped-top Morris Minor packs a mighty V8 and a host of other mods that might just make it one of Australia's - if not the world's - most extreme Morries. Not only was it tough as, the attention to detail shown during its amazing resto-mod was a credit to its creator.

I'd rather not think about them, actually!

There are a surprising number of these lovely ex-USA Falcon coupes in Tasmania, the majority being left-hookers. However, there's a lovely black one that been converted to right-hand drive. They're a great looking car and it's a pity they weren't offered domestically but, then again, I'd argue our home-grown XA - XC series Falcon hardtops are even better!

Geoff's GB Galant is fabulously straight and rust-free, featuring perfect chrome and a pristine interior. All the original paperwork came with the car, it's still on its original plates and has only had two previous owners. The ex-factory 1600 motor has been replaced by a 1750 and the auto 'box is about to be swapped for a five-speed manual. It's a work-in-progress, so watch this space!

It's been a while since I've seen Neill's show-stopping 1975 Galant hardtop. The car's now running a very nifty set of four Narva LED headlights, incorporating inbuilt daytime running lights and indicators, plus a blued exhaust tip and a very neatly fitted boot spoiler in addition to all its other fabulous mods.

And thinking of Japanese cars (you mightn't have been but I was!), Saturday the 2nd of March, this year, is the All Japanese day on the lawns of Parliament House, Hobart. There's a fair chance that three of these lovely Mitsubishis will be on simultaneous display and that, alone, is worth the price of admission! (I'll grant you that it's probably a free-event, maybe a gold coin donation, but what price perfection?)

Did you like this post? If so, please feel to have a look-see around the rest of the uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au site. There's a search facility in the top right corner of the page that allows you to find any of the hundreds of classic, sports and performance cars from Tasmania and mainland Australia, as well as many, many car shows and motor sports events. It's like a local on-line car mag but for free! Please share!!

U M P H

(uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.)

PS: Apologies, too, to JK for forgetting to include the Cressida. I didn't see it, became distracted and forgot to specifically find it.

EJ or EH Holden? (Up-dated December, 2022)

EJ or the later EH? Several years ago, I posed the question: Can somebody please explain the difference between an EJ and an EH Holden ute or van? The response at the time wasn't overwhelming, so I did a bit of Googling and ferreting through my photos and came up with my own rough guide to EJ and EH identification. Sedans and wagons are easy to tell apart ; the EH's vertical rectangular tail lights are a dead give-away. However, the workhorse versions of both models share the rear-end treatment of the earlier EJ, making it harder to identify one from the other. No super obvious hints here. Or here ... . It turns out that the main clues are in the placement of the front H O L D E N lettering and GMH lion emblems, the style of the radiator grille and the width of the vents in front of the windscreen, with all EJs - sedans, wagons, utes and vans - having one combination and the EH line-up having their own . So what exactly are those diffe

Vick Auto Prima Fiat X1/9 Brakes: An Owner’s Assessment

At the end of 2022, I fitted a set of Vick Autosport Prima front brakes to my mildly worked 1.5 litre Series 1 Fiat X1/9 . I was fortunate, having picked them up at a very, very reasonable price, brand new but surplus to the needs of a fellow X1/9 Australia member who had imported them from the US. The kit included: New single pot callipers , new vented rotors (standard X1/9 front rotors are smaller, non-vented items), DOT approved stainless steel brake hoses, and all the necessary mounting hardware. They are a value proposition, being particularly well priced compared to other manufacturers’ packages - even at RRP - with everyone I’ve spoken to saying they’re made to a high standard, too. Here's a link to a piece that I wrote about them at that time, including some costings: https://uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com/2022/11/the-x19-gets-prima-brake-upgrade.html . Initial Assessment: I was a little underwhelmed by the brakes' performance, finding that although they had a tiny

Random # 301: Nanna-Spec KE36 Corolla

Once upon a time - six or seven years ago, actually - there was a lovely pale yellow GC Galant station wagon getting around Hobart. It was totally nanna-spec; its paint was umarked, the chrome work and hubcaps were immaculate, and its very original interior was pristine. Then someone stuck feathers in its dashboard. Next, the windows were adorned with Tibetan prayer flags. And a hubcap went missing. And the the rear bumper was pushed in, mangling the bodywork behind it. And a mudguard got dented. And rust set in. I fear for this sweet, innocent KE36 Corolla. Somebody please save it before it's too late. Nanna needs you to do it. U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.) Photos by GlamRock.

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