Upper Middle Petrol Head:

This excellent Datsun 1600 was spotted in North Hobart on an uncommonly balmy and pleasant early winter's day, having just participated in some action at Tasmania's southern circuit, Baskerville Raceway.  Its blue and red on white livery was reminiscent of 1970s / 80s Datsun competition colours, while the full roll cage, racing seats, black alloys shod with semi-track rubber, drilled discs and rorty induction / exhaust note made it clear that it was the real deal.  Nice!     U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.) All iPhone images.

The older the car, the fewer of them you're likely to see about.  Not early Ford Falcons, like the immaculate black XL ute pictured here, it seems!  There are at least three three similar era sedans in and around Hobart, as well as a two or three coupes, a rare left-hand drive convertible, another ute and a really tidy green station wagon.  The only variant that UMPH hasn't seen, however, is a van but that's not to say there isn't one somewhere in Tasmania's south. The ute featured here is, quite simply, perfect.  The paint, panels and chrome were all first rate - probably better than new.  There just wasn't a flaw to be seen ; even the interior looked brand new.  It easily rivals the gorgeous yellow XM version seen in Lakes Entrance, Victoria, and featured in Random # 58: XM Falcon Ute ( http://uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au/2016/10/random-58-xm-falcon-ute.html ). Fans of early Falcons could do worse than check out a few of the fo...

This classic poo-brown HQ "floater" wagon comes via international correspondents Matt & Marita, who were holidaying in Nelson, New Zealand.  Love the bucket hat!  The car's pretty cool, too!! U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.co.au) iPhone or maybe Samsung Galaxy image.

UMPH almost wasn't going to photograph this amazing McLaren, seen in inner-city Hobart on Targa weekend, 2017, because, strictly speaking, it's not a classic car.  But then he thought it's not like you'll ever find McLarens stacked six high at the local wrecking yard, Hyundai Excel -style, so they might reasonably be considered to be instant classics.  That and the fact that this one's so darned sexy, curvaceous and sculptural, that he could resist! U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au) All iPhone images.

UMPH is going to keep taking photos at David Short's North Hobart specialist British car workshop for as long as he can.      Which will probably be when David finally gets the restraint order served. Until then, fabulous cars like this tidy Triumph Dolomite  will continue to grace the pages of this blog. There are a few examples of Dolomites  in Tasmania. However, there are certainly more 2000 s,  2500 s and Stags ,  and probably a greater number of  Spitfires ,   getting round the island state than there are of these smaller Triumph saloons. The one depicted here was in really good, apparently original, condition with only some slight signs of faded paint and a few stone chips. The interior was in good nick, too ;  the woodwork around the dash and on the door tops was really nice and the velour rear seat, whilst slightly faded, was without rips or obvious wear.  All its accessories ap...

The Glimar Man, AKA Robi Glimar, is a mural artist and the owner of this magnificent Fargo truck, photographed in Hobart's historic Battery Point on a late autumn day.  It's been a common sight in and around southern Tasmania for several years - one that's been on UMPH's radar quite a while. It's a difficult vehicle to categorise.  Is it a restoration?  Sort of but not quite.  A rat rod?  That's underselling it a bit.  A hot rod, then?  That's probably going a tad far ... .       There certainly isn't any pretense about the truck's finish ; the unapologetically rough-welded and riveted front guards, coupled with the matte black paint job, are both rugged and practical, as well as lending it a hint of ... street cred (?).  The magnificent grille, seen above, puts UMPH in mind of Sigourney Weaver's Alien nemesis.    There are, however, enough original features to keep even purist Fargo fans h...