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Final Touches: The Dashboard Doctor Challenge, Part I

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The Galant resto is almost done, with only a respray for the bonnet, roof and boot, and  the dash-pad refurb remaining on the to-do list .  Enter, the Dashboard Doctor ( http://dashboarddoctor.com.au ) !   Above and below are the 'before' photos, showing a couple of major cracks and a few minor ones, too.  Stay tuned for the 'after' shots which will hopefully show the facia-fixing motoring medico's work at its best.  There will also be an unbiased - meaning unsolicited and unpaid - report on the quality and cost of the job. U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.) All iPhone images.

Readers' Photos # 13: Another Suzuki Mighty Boy

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Who'd have thought it?  Not one but two examples of the  Prince of Utes, the  Suzuki Mighty Boy    (please also see: https://uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au/search?q=mighty+boy ).  Thanks to the T as r anian   Connection for this pic. U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au) Smart phone image.

Random # 143: FJ55 Toyota Land Cruiser Wagon

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This now quite rare late 60s to 1980 Land Cruiser was spotted in Hobart's CBD on a sunny winter's morning.  Given the large front mudguard-mounted indicators and the big rear combined indicator / tail lights, it's towards the later end of the model range - probably a late 70s version.   Reference to Wikipedia ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Land_Cruiser )  suggests that it's an FJ55 , which is described there as the '... first "real" station wagon in the Land Cruiser series, thus marking the beginning of [that] branch ..." of Toyota's off-road line-up.  That's not to say, however, that it was their first ever wagon ; it just means that the FJ55  was Toyota's original wagon-specific model (ie: one that wasn't simply a four door variant of a commercial model).   All up, the one shown here was in pretty good nick, with only relatively minor rust (almost certainly the demise of most of these early examples), glossy pain...

Random # 142: Alfa Veloce Sprint

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The Alfa Sprint pictured here is the Series (or Mk?) II version of the small front-wheel drive hatch, if that's the correct nomenclature.  Either way, it's the second iteration of the model, sharing the same basic wedge shaped body with its predecessor but with plastic front and rear bumpers, and cosmetic front- and rear-end changes.    The car was in reasonable condition for its age, with some rust and paint fading but nothing drastic  The interior was pretty tidy.  It also appeared to feature all its original accessories, right down to the eight-hole tele-dial Alfa wheels. U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.) All iPhone images.

Random # 141: Triumph Stag

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This isn't this blog's only Stag and it's unlikely to be its last.  It looked great, especially with its hardtop attached.  What else is there to say?  Nothing, really.  Enjoy!   U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.) All iPhone images.

Random # 140: Morris Minor Traveller

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Same Bat-place.  Different Bat-car!  (Vale, Adam West!)  Not the same Bat-car as featured in this 'blog as a Transition Traveller , either ( http://uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au/2016/12/morris-minor-week-car-1-1956-1000.htm l) ; this one's a bit later, featuring a one-piece windscreen, whereas the former had split-style front glass with a vertical chrome joining strip up the centre. That he was! U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au .) All iPhone images.

Random # 139: Valiant Regal

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Regal by name.  Regal by nature!  This 70s Valiant is elegant and stylish, combining length and a presence that the two other 'big' Aussie manufacturers, Ford and Holden, couldn't match.  Mocked in their time as 'wog chariots,' I bet it's the lucky owner who's laughing now! U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.) All iPhone images.