Upper Middle Petrol Head:

Thanks go to UMPH reader Carckle for providing these fabulous images of this immaculate early- to mid-1920s Tipo 28 Bugatti, photographed during a fuel-stop on Tasmania's east coast.  It turns out that this particular car was but one of a whole group of Bugattis touring the south-eastern Australian state of Victoria and the island state of Tasmania (which, despite rumours to the contrary, is also part of Australia). The car's Jaeger instrumentation took Carckle's eye, prompting him to mention it to the owner, who said that he had actually driven his other Bugatti to Jaeger's factory in Le Sentier, Switzerland, because of the association between the two manufacturers. That was his other Bugatti, you might note! Even better than Carckle's photos was the tip-off he provided UMPH that the Bugatti road-show was en route to the historic former penal colony of Port Arthur, south east of Tasmania's capital city of Hobart, and was due to arrive there with...

This fabulous XM Falcon sedan, photographed outside the uber-fashionable Born in Brunswick cafe, North Hobart, was a treat to behold!  Enjoy! U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.) All iPhone images.

The Fiat 124 Spider is one of UMPH's favourite ever classic roadsters.  To his mind, it's a better looking, more technologically advanced car than the MGB or the smaller Spridget ; nothing from the Triumph stable can match its European good looks ;  it's prettier than the post-boat tail Alfa Spiders ;  it's more elegant than the Lotus  Elan ;  the styling and mechanicals of Datsun's Fairlady are  agricultural by comparison ;  and it has much more character than the first two series of Mazda MX5s (after which they stopped having much character at all!).     Now that all the owners of the cars listed above are thoroughly ticked off with UMPH, he'll back-pedal a bit and try to explain himself.  It's not that he doesn't love, and wouldn't wish to own, each and every classic he's just dissed (he really did think his own Sprite was a hoot) - all he's saying is that he loves the Fiat more. This particular version, photographed outs...

This magnificent Pontiac Firebird convertible is the very essence of the 'Coke bottle' design, as evidenced by its curvaceous side profile.  It's not Hobart's only Firebird , either ; readers may remember the gorgeous bright orange coupe featured in an earlier post ( http://uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au/2017/01/random-93-1967-pontiac-firebird.htm l). The fabulous, apparently unrestored condition of this car belies the fact that it's very nearly fifty years old.  Every aspect - its paint, chrome and interior - was in first rate condition.   The 'Coke bottle' profile. U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.) All iPhone images.

The owner / constructor of this extremely rugged 1970s Suzuki Stockman , Jim,   is clearly an exponent of the school of thought that if something's worth doing, it's worth overdoing!  Every last feature on his cleverly re-engineered short wheelbase ute has been carefully thought out and executed with great care.  It has  a very neat front bumper / crash bar with  a winch; tastefully reshaped early Jeep-styled front guards; Toyota Landcruiser wheels, modified from six to five stud fitting;  heavy-duty suspension;  integral rock-sliders welded to the chassis;  a custom-made tray with a hard-top canopy; and amazing approach and departure ramp angles. The engine was totally rebuilt and the entire drive-train was carefully aligned to ensure that it worked properly with the vehicle's raised stance, and t he electrics are served by neatly bundled, easily accessible wiring harnesses. 800 'Jim-hours' went into the chassis-u...