Upper Middle Petrol Head:

It almost seems strange that this boxy, yet very cool, Fiat 128 forms the mechanical base for the X1/9.  Although the 128 range - including two- and four-door sedans, a station-wagon (never available in Australia) and two coupes, the SL and 3P Berlinetta - are all front-wheel drives, the X1/9 took their engine and four-speed transmission and mounted them mid-body to drive the rear wheels.  The X1/9 is, however, still very much part of that broader 128 family.     Earlier 128s were equipped with 1100 cc motors and four-speed 'boxes but were upgraded to 1300 donks, which were shared with Series 1 X1/9s.   Later X1/9s were fitted with 1500 cc engines that were, essentially, an evolution of the 1300 design that remained the largest fitted to other members of the 128 family.  Almost all later X1/9s also featured a five-speed transmission, other than what was a fairly limited run of "Series 1.5s" - a 1300 / four speed version that is believed to hav...

This circa 1980 Toyota Corona wagon, photographed in inner-city Hobart, was in great nick.  The wide Sunraysia style wheels gave it a squat, slightly aggressive stance while the forward-mounted mirrors lent it an air of the JDM.   It was otherwise ostensibly standard, save the inner headlights, which had some sort of prismatic thing happening that showed as a rainbow effect behind the lenses.   If, as all evidence suggests, it's an Aussie-built car, it will almost certainly feature a Holden  Star-Fire 4 engine, as fitted to that manufacturer's four cylinder Torana and Sunbird models (the latter being the name later adopted to differentiate four cylinder Toranas from the six- and eight-cylinder siblings).  Only the fully-imported Corona lift-back of that era featured a Japanese motor.   Sedans and wagons were further set apart from the liftbacks, in that the former were equipped with four-speed manual 'boxes whilst those in the better specced lat...

A lot of excitement surrounds the new Mustang.  But is it better than this, the classic 1960s original?  Sure, Ford's stylists lost their way and produced some cars truly undeserving of the Mustang name-plate (think 1980s and 1990s models).  The new one is, arguably, just a correction - a return to form - if you like.  UMPH will leave it up to you to decide if the intervening fifty years has seen a marked improvement to the iconic model or, as he believes, the original is still the best! U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.) All iPhone images.

What's the bet the original owner of this nearly pristine Toyota Cressida was proud as Punch of his luxo Japanese ride?  Its current owner should be pleased with it, too ; the tasteful wheels and sports steering wheel transform it from a middle class gentleman's car to one that's got just enough attitude to be cool without trying too hard.  Nice! U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blospot.com.au.) All iPhone images.

UMPH wasn't he only photographer covering the Club Motori Italia's Lufra hill climb.  Fellow lens-man Matt Osborn was also busily snapping away, choosing to shoot from a position slightly further uphill, using a shorter lens but getting closer to the action.  Please enjoy Matt's photos, too.   U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.)