Upper Middle Petrol Head:

The fabulous Ford XT Fairmont sedan featured in the following photos is one model designation newer, and one specification level up from, the XR Falcon featured in  https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7165367970551834236#editor/target=post;postID=814036798442617427;onPublishedMenu=overview;onClosedMenu=overview;postNum=14;src=postname .  The differences were largely cosmetic, however, with minor changes to the newer version's tail lights and grille being the most obvious updates.  Although they might be considered spartan by today's standards, the Fairmont range had bucket seats, carpet, a faux wood-grain dash and a few other 'luxury' features above those of the humbler Falcon on which it was based.   Fairmonts were also fitted with front disc brakes.    This particular example, photographed outside a Hobart panel beater's workshop, was in excellent condition with a glossy, rich paint job, unblemished chrome and a very neat interior. ...

Another Volksie.  Another survivor.  This special interest registered Type 3 wagon was spotted just off the main North Hobart restaurant strip, a short way up from the uber fashionable - and very fine - Room for a Pony cafe / bar.  Like a lot of vehicles featured in UMPH posts, it's not exactly immaculate.  It is, however, straight and clean, with only minor rust and a broken indicator lens detracting from its overall condition.  Not bad at all for a car that looks like it does fairly regular duty as a general carry-all.  U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead./blogspot.com.au .) All iPhone images.

There are at least two cars to bear the Excel nameplate.  However, one of them - the cheap 'n' cheerful Hyundai Excel - is unlikely to ever be regarded as a classic car.  That leaves us the subject of today's post:  the Lotus Excel.  Found in one of UMPH's favourite hunting grounds, North Hobart's Elizabeth Street restaurant strip, this particular version looked great with its low slung body and 1980s wedge-profile. A bit of bug-spatter suggests the owner isn't scared to give his car a run in the countryside. The DN prefix rego suggests that the car has been in Tasmania for thirty-odd years or so but this is the first time that it's come to UMPH's attention.  That's not to say that it's not a Hobart-based car.  However, given our capital city's relatively small population, the likelihood is that it would be a more common sight in and around town if it were from the south. Unlike a lot of other Lotuses, which featur...

This ute from Mazda is from the time, long, long ago, before they teamed up with Ford.  It's hard top tell just how old it is, given that Transport Tasmania no longer provide handy rego labels carrying that sort of info.  However, a highly uneducated guess would be very late 70s to early 80s, although UMPH would be happy to be corrected. The E -reg suggests that this particular vehicle is new to the state.  The old-school sign writing on the passengers side door points to it being from Mildura in Victoria's North-West, on the banks of the Murray River, close to South Australia. The car is in excellent condition for its age, with only the slightest signs of paint damage and no evident of crash damage or rust.  The interior was very tidy, too. U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au .) All iPhone images.

There wasn't any badging on this large, imposing Chrysler to say what exactly it was.  The body is clearly 1970s Valiant and shared many panels with some of the other variants from that stable, such as the Ranger , Regal and Charger lines, as well as the Dodge vans and utes.   However, the front-end treatment differs from those perhaps more prosaic editions, in that it has a one-piece bumper that encapsulates the entire front grill  (please see https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7165367970551834236#editor/target=post;postID=1969780205997527625;onPublishedMenu=overview;onClosedMenu=overview;postNum=58;src=postname  or  https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7165367970551834236#editor/target=post;postID=8478791405898886794;onPublishedMenu=overview;onClosedMenu=overview;postNum=29;src=postname  for examples of the less elaborate version).  It also appears to have a more substantial C pillar and has a very unusual port hole built in...

There are at least two of these American made, circa 1970 SS Chevelles gracing the streets of Darwin, the capital city of Australia's tropical Northern Territory.  The other, a black one seen at a local car show, is featured in https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7165367970551834236#editor/target=post;postID=7418489317289811992;onPublishedMenu=overview;onClosedMenu=overview;postNum=123;src=postname .   The Territory, as Aussies call it, is a great place to own a big V8, with a highway speed limit of 130 kph (that's 81 miles per hour in the old money) and certain sections where no restrictions apply at all.  Just the place to open the throttles and satisfy your need for speed! U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au .) iPhone images.

UMPH could bang-on about the sheer beauty of this FJ Holden sedan, spotted in Moonah on Hobart's northern fringe.  Or he could suggest that you check out this nostalgic Aussie youtube video from Bob Hudson instead: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yXinPYK-Jk . Enjoy! U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com .) All iPhone images.