Upper Middle Petrol Head:

This Sunbeam  Alpine  was spotted outside one of Hobart's better Italian eateries, Maldini, in Hobart's historic Salamanca Place.  It appears to be an earlier version - possibly a Series I, II or III - although UMPH isn't sure.   The main clue would seem to be around the car's rear which, in this case, is a lot more angular than the later Series IV - the version on which Sunbeam's V8-powered Tiger appears to have been based (IIIs and IVs were both produced during 1964, which is when the Tiger was introduced).  The stylistic treatment seen with this vehicle's rear and around the tail lights is more reminiscent of tail fins, whereas the later Alpines and  Tigers featured a squarer look.   The late cricket legend and Channel 9 commentator Richie Benaud owned and drove a 1963 Alpine but unfortunately crashed and seriously damaged it in 2013 .   Secret agent James Bond, played by Sean Connery in the 1962 movie Dr No , also dro...

This AH 3000 Mk II exhibits all the hallmarks of classic sports car design. Some things are almost givens in sports car design ;   long bonnets, rakish windscreens, flowing lines and low-slung two-door bodies with bobbed tails have defined the look from the time manufacturers first recognised there was a market for such vehicles.  Extra vents and scoops and over-sized wheels and exhausts aid performance whilst adding extra appeal. It's all there:  a long bonnet, rakish windscreen, low-slung body and big wheels.  What's evolved is a 'classic' sports car style.  Whether it's a Sprite or a Midget, an MGB, a  Spitfire or  TR series Triumph, a Fiat or Alfa Spider, a Mazda MX5, or a BMW Z3 - to name but a few - the basic formula has remained the same. One only has to consider  the 'Big Healeys' of the early 1950s and 1960s and compare them to some current designs to see how that classic look has endured.  Take the...

It appears that the owner of this uber-cool  Kombi ute, pickup, flat-tray or whatever you might like to call it subscribes to the distressed look.  It could just be that it's a working vehicle and its owner isn't too hung up on aesthetics, but the decals that decorate the rear window and tailgate suggest that there's a tiny degree of disdain for the more mainstream classic car set.   That's not to say that the car's not well-maintained, though ; it's doesn't look like there's anything but some light surface rust, the body's straight and even the tyres are new.  UMPH's best bet is that this is a what you see is what you get kinda vehicle and that the patina is genuine.  Tell it like it is! Plastic ain't that fantastic! Either way, it's another great example of a classic car making Hobart's streets more interesting.  And that's what it's all about, isn't it? U M P H ( uppermiddlepetrolhea...

There is no Classics by the Beach post for May.  A camping expedition, a thunder-storm and a very soggy mattress put paid to UMPH's blogging plans for this weekend.  However, he does offer the following random instead: This mighty Valiant Regal hardtop was spotted in the heart of Hobart's industrial centre of Derwent Park.  From the windscreen forward, it's pretty much standard 1970s Valiant, sharing the nose, guards and bonnet of its Ranger and Pacer variant siblings in sedan, wagon, ute, van and Charger coupe guises.  With a 360 cubic inch (5.9 litre) V8, this one's likely to be a pretty hairy beast to drive!  It also features a floor-change manual 'box, which could only add to the fun, but the extra length and weight out the rear would probably make it a little less forgiving than the shorter, sportier Charger. Elegant and unique bodywork from the doors rearward. Unlike the Charger, the Regal hardtop used the same tail-lights as foun...

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. ...