Upper Middle Petrol Head:

No prizes for guessing exactly what year and model this magnificent Ford Falcon coupe is!  Not sure if this image works or not.  It was either a horizontal car or a horizontal horizon, with the former winning out. The twin exhaust pipes suggest it's a V8 but UMPH isn't sure if Aussie-made versions were ever equipped with anything other than a straight-six. It might be that it's an import from the USA, like the lovely blue version featured in Random # 15: Falcon Convertible  ( https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7165367970551834236#editor/target=post;postID=6267208270993806494;onPublishedMenu=posts;onClosedMenu=posts;postNum=4;src=postname ),  but reconfigured to right-hand drive. Please excuse the UMPH iPhone reflection! There's also a fair chance that the V8, if that's actually what's under the bonnet, was retro-fitted. In the end, the only thing that really matters is that it's a great looking car! U M P H....

Is this circa-1992 Ford Capri a classic car?  UMPH is going to jump right in with a resounding yes!   Why?  Arguments about the wisdom of having recycled one of Ford's greatest ever British-made car's names aside, this Mazda 323 / Ford Laser-based rag-top is now more than twenty years old.   A Barchetta version with an optional detachable hard-top and after-market wheels. Their age alone therefore goes some way to establishing Aussie-built Capris' classic status.  However, that's not all there is to these occasionally maligned convertibles ; despite suffering in comparison to Mazda's MX5, they were in fact a very nicely styled package making use of a well-sorted mechanical platform.  Other than the wheels, this particular car was all original and in excellent condition. It's a pity that the reputation of some of the earlier examples - prone to roof leaks, in particular - carried on to later versions, even though those problems were...

Please enjoy a few of UMPH's photos from the Longley stage of Targa Tasmania's 25th anniversary event.   An Alfa Giulietta A big Mercedes coupe. An early Porsche. A Cortina GT. An XR or XT GT Falcon. An HR Holden overtakes Greg Crick in his Honda NSX. A 911. An early Porsche. One of two identical Corolla coupes from the Japanese team. The Japanese team's 3rd car - a Mitsubishi Lancer coupe. Aussie muscle:  an HT Monaro. Another 911. An MGB. A Lotus Elan. An early Citroen. An Alfa Spyder. An early Volvo. A Ford Galaxy. A local legend:  A Fiat 850 Abarth replica.  One of (or  the ?) oldest entrants, this 1938 Dodge Speedster won its class. A Triumph TR3. A Devilish 911. Another classic 911. A beautiful Alfa 105. A lovely Renault Alpine. Ideas as to what this is, anyone? A Datsun P510. Possibly a Nissan Sylvia. ...