Classics by The Beach: September, 2025

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Circa 1980 RA42 Celicas are rare enough.  Lift-backs, like this one - photographed at a chilly and wet Classics by The Beach at Hobart's Sandy Bay - are even thinner on the ground.  


Making this one even a bit more spesh is the straight-six engine lurking beneath its bonnet.  I'm not sure what it is - a Toyota 1JZ or 2JZ, possibly - but it was a very tidy, properly engineered installation (it has the plaque to prove it), turning the car into a resto-mod equivalent of the original six-pot Celica XX / Supra, but gruntier.  



And while we're on the subject of modified Toyotas, this is Edward's extremely cool KE 30 (?) Corolla van.  In this case, the mods are a bit more old school:  a 1600 Celica donk with a Weber carbie and matched five-speed 'box, a set of tasty alloys, a slick paint job and a very tidy interior.  It even has an under-stated rear roof spoiler that someone's cleverly made of light gauge steel.






Stately Jags don't come much better than this imposing 1960 Mk IX saloon.  Terms like opulent, dignified and refined come to mind, even if the deep green* hue on its sides were a bugger to photograph.








The HX Holden Premier shown here was in impressive nick, looking very, very original.  It was ostensibly stock, other than its Hotwire wheels and Hella driving lights, both of which were era-correct.





Even this early- to mid-80s Holden Rodeo (Isuzu, really) was a bit of a gem.  It was clean and straight, and had a lovely set of wheels, plus a wooden tray bed that would've done justice to an upmarket patio. 






This groovy Honda K600 kei car has featured on UMPH before.  However, the bonnet was closed last time, limiting the photos that could be taken of its hyper-diminutive, air-cooled, two cylinder engine.  How could I resist?






Did you enjoy this post?  If so, why not browse the rest of the uppermiddlepetrolhead site?  There are loads and loads of classic, sports and performance vehicles featured, as well as stacks of car shows and motorsports events.  Even better, you can follow either the 'blog itself or do so via Upper Middle Petrol Head's Facebook page.  And please do like, comment and share!




U M P H

(uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.)

* They might've been blue. 

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