Upper Middle Petrol Head:

This art deco inspired 1948 Studebaker Champion is one of the most interestingly - quirkily, perhaps - styled cars that I've seen in a long, long time.  Its front end is reasonably consistent with other designs of the era, save the fact that it's quite ornate in a few areas, such as the inverted front overriders with decorative pressings, cleverly integrated park and indicators lights and the torpedo-esque bonnet adornment. However, the four-piece wrap-around rear window lends the car an almost aeronautical look that's truly unique.  This is further enhanced by the long, sloping rear profile that makes the car look like it's thrusting forwards, even when stationary, and the rear mudguards are reminiscent of an animal of prey's powerful rear haunches. Of course, many American cars had strong styling and took their cues from aircraft and even rocket designs but this one, hailing as it did from just a few short years after the cessation of World War Two...

I normally try to keep a handle on when the various Hobart-based car clubs' annual displays are on.  However, I only happened upon the Post Vintage Car Club's Parliament House show by accident and I'm really pleased that I did!   For those who don't know about the PVCC, they're the group who organise what's almost certainly Tasmania's biggest, and arguably best, car display - the Picnic at Ross ( http://www.postvintage-tas.org/picnic-at-ross/ )  - usually held on the 3rd Sunday of May each year on the local oval.  This year's event, scheduled for Sunday the 28th of April , is going to be located in the town centre, so it's atypical on two fronts! I've already featured one car from the PVCC's 2019 Parliament House display - Eddie's magnificent Monza red Mk 1   Lotus Cortina replica ( https://uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com/2019/01/mk-1-lotus-cortina-replica.html?q=x1/9 ) - but there were plenty more cars I could have...

This phenomenally fabulous Mk 1 Lotus Cortina replica is an example of a vehicle that's actually better than it was ex-factory, with a finish and quality that could hardly have been conceived of when it was new.  Interestingly, the last time I made a similar comment about a car it was a magnificent MGA painted in the most beautiful light blue that had many so-called experts - including a couple of MG concours judges - making unfounded comments about the colour's originality and suggesting that it wasn't a kosher MGA hue.   Everyone knows that all Mk 1 Lotus Cortinas are white (possibly more correctly described as cream) with green stripes, right?  Wrong!  Just like the MGA example above, there's a bit more to the story than is commonly 'understood.'  I thought I was a bit clever knowing that there were some done with blue stripes but this car's owner / builder, Eddie, soon put me right about the range of colours available. Fact # 1:  A...

Just when I thought I had nothing to post for a Friday, I happened across this exceptionally beautiful Valiant Wayfarer ute.  To say that it was perfect would be to undersell it by a chunky margin ; the subtle metallic two tone paint, dazzling chrome, pristine whitewall tyres and stunning interior - complete with varnished wooden inlays and seats trimmed to match the exterior colour scheme - were magnificent! Did you enjoy this post?  If so, please feel to have a look-see around the rest of the uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au site.  There's a search facility in the top right corner of the page that allows you to find any of the hundreds of classic, sports and performance cars from Tasmania and mainland Australia, as well as many, many car shows and motor sports events.  It's like an on-line car mag but for free!  Please share!!  U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.) All iPhone images.

The first Classics by the Beach post for 2019 kicks off with this awesome Austin A30, which might just give Phil Blake's Fiat 600 Abarth and Fiat OT1600 replicas a run for their money in the cool retro-racing car stakes.  I've never seen it before but the Historic Racing Car Club of Tasmania sticker on the rear window suggests that it's been around for a while.  Of course, it's not the only A30 being campaigned in local motorsports ; one of Targa Tasmania's most consistent entrants over many years has been the grey Dilmah Tea sponsored version featured in numerous Targa-related UMPH posts.   Believe it or not, this immaculate HG Holden panel van features a heads-up digital speedo!  Some clever person has mounted the display unit facing upwards on the dash and fitted a square of mirror-surfaced tape on the inside of the windscreen, just in front of the steering wheel, reflecting the read out back to the driver.  Inventive or what?! ...