Upper Middle Petrol Head:

As far as I know, the 4C is Alfa's only ever mid-engined road car and, sadly, looks like being the company's last ever sports model (gasp!), with an announcement from Turin that future manufacturing will focus SUVs and - wait for it - electric cars (groan!). That makes the 4C a contemporary classic, given that there isn't even a glimmer of a hope that it'll be replaced or even updated, spelling the end of one of the world's most revered sports car lineups.   That said, what a way to exit the scene! The 4C is classically Alfa with a signature heart-shaped grille that's particularly reminiscent of those of the 1950s Giulietta , bold five-hole wheels and all round Italian flair, although in terms of concept, it's more akin to Fiat's X1/9. Inspiration from the 1950s The cars not just sexy Italian-styling, though ; it's built around a carbon fibre monocoque chassis that keeps its weight down to a bee's penis plus or minus 1...

The Mk1 Volkswagen Golf was a total game-changer when it was released in the mid-1970s.  For VW, it was a huge departure from their roots, abandoning a long-history of exclusively air-cooled, rear-engined vehicles for a water-cooled, front engined format with front wheel drive. Many would argue that the sports version of the Golf - the GTi - also marked the birth of the "hot hatch," although Peugeot 205 GTi fans might argue that the Pug is the rightful heir to that accolade.  I won't enter into that argument but do observe that the Golf was first, and by several years, leaving Francophillic car fans to contest that the latter wins because it was hotter.  (Again, something I'll leave well alone!)  I suspect the owner of the example shown here wouldn't be offended if I observed that it was more survivor car than pampered classic but it is pretty straight and tidy, with its GT stripes perhaps alluding to its sportier GTi siblings.  Other than those str...

It's no secret that I'm a big fan of 1970s Japanese hardtops and coupes, with a particular love of Mitsubishis of that era.  Therefore, I could never not feature this street fighting LA Lancer, even if the race meeting at which I saw it was hosted by Tasmania's premier Italian car club, Club Motori Italia.   It's badged as a 2.0 litre but reference to the entrants' list states it's actually a   2.6 !  My own GC Galant hardtop features the 2.0 Astron and benefits quite nicely for the extra 400 cc over the standard 1.6 Saturn offering, so this car clearly flies, given that the smaller, lighter Lancers were adequate in stock 1.4 litre guise and quite gutsy when fitted with a 1.6 or 1.75 litre variant of that power plant.   There's no indication that the car's road registered, although it looks like it would pass a road worthy without any real difficulties.  It's fitted with a full cage, racing seat and a four- or five-point harne...

This was Iain Watson's Land Rover Forward Control, featuring a custom made camper unit, with a pop-top, that continued the horizontal lines from the front doors all the way down the length of the tray-sides, mimicking the regular IIA utility's cargo area in style and width.  The entire camper part of the vehicle was designed and built by Iain in the early 1980s at Dodges Ferry, south east of Tasmania's capital city of Hobart. Has anybody seen it recently?  It was sold and reportedly went to mainland Australia in the late 1990s but, distinctive as it is, I've never been able to track it down.  Any info would be appreciated - or, failing that - please feel free to share this post about within the Australian Land Rover and broader four-wheel-drive communities.  Please leave any tip-offs or leads in the comments section of this post. U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au). Photo from Iain's private collection.

Under normal circumstances, I wouldn't open a photo sequence with a car's badging.  However, it's not often that bright work is as evocative as the example of art deco capitals and sexy cursive script shown above.  To me, the stern upper case KARMANN  is a metaphor for the car's Teutonic manufacturers while the curvaceous nature of the lettering used for  Ghia suggests its freer, more liberated Italian design origins.  Or I could just be being a bigger w⚓than I am normally. Either way, I am totally enchanted by this car!  The Karmann Ghia is easily Volkswagen's most beautiful creation, a collaboration also involving German coach builders Karmann - who made the bodies - and Italian carrozzeria Ghia.  Its style, elegance and presence easily eclipses anything from fellow German brands Porsche, Mercedes or BMW. Not only is the Karmann Ghia the jewel in VW's crown, this particular example is as lovely as you could hope to s...

We car people would appear to be setting a great example to everyone, because I don't reckon I've seen a classic, sports or performance car on the road since this whole Covid-19 nonsense reared its annoyingly restrictive head.  So in order to bring some automotive colour to a very drab world, here's another six of the best from Sandy Bay's Classics by the Beach.  Enjoy! U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.)

Sure, new cars have got lots of stuff.  Safety stuff.  Comfort stuff.  Connectivity stuff.  Stuff for the sake of stuff.  Stuff 'em, I reckon!  Gimme this ultra cool 1965 VW Beetle any day!   U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.) Photos by CACT