Upper Middle Petrol Head:

Expectations weren’t high for May, 2024’s, Classics by the Beach, given that it coincided with one of Tasmania’s biggest automotive events - the very, very popular Picnic at Ross.  Turns out there was no need for such pessimism; Sandy Bay’s first-Sunday of the month cars and coffee was extremely well attended, with numerous fabulous vehicles on display.    The weather might’ve had something to do with the strong attendance at the southern show, with sunshine aplenty and only a light prevailing breeze.  It could’ve also been that Ross was just too far away - or potentially too cold - for many attendees, or that some simply couldn’t be bothered negotiating the underwhelming goat track that remains the Midlands Highway after nearly ten years’ worth of “upgrades.” This 1932 Alvis was a study in elegance, looking absolutely superb with its deep green paint, glittering bright work - including the radiator emblem featured at the beginning of this piece - huge headlights, lo...

Two things really stand out about this immaculate Datsun 1600 photographed by local architect and semi-regular UMPH contributor Mark Drury:  Number one, it’s a two door sedan which, as far as the UMPH team are aware, was not a body style officially released here in Australia.  And number two, it’s wearing a grille not available Down Under, either.   Interestingly, there's a second variant of the1600 in two door form - also unavailable to Aussie buyers - known as the Bluebird SSS .  It was a JDM release, although several examples are known to have been imported into the US, as featured in this Petrolicious video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaJkJ1pNzSo . Today's example featured perfect paint, panels and chrome, a set of what might be Simmons wheels, some LED halo headlights and a neat chin spoiler.  The fore and aft side marker lights suggest that it's possibly an ex-US car (AusDM cars didn't feature said accessories, although JDM editions may have), a...

The organisers of 2024's Kingston Neighbourhood House Car Show must be really chuffed with the way the event turned out!  Not only was it very, very well attended with a wide variety of beautiful vehicles on display, the weather was unseasonably lovely for late April, too.    This stylish Fiat 124 CC proudly waved the flag for the Italian car industry alongside the Upper Middle Petrol Head X1/9.  They weren't the only Fiats present, though; there was another example, albeit heavily disguised ... . Admittedly, it was hard to pick it.  There was only one - four, in fairness - external clues to the mystery fourth Fiat’s identity.  Cromodora CD3s on a Morrie? Ok.  To actually call it a Fiat might be a stretch.  However, this gorgeous old Morris 1000 ute is arguably as much a Fiat as it is a product of the Nuffield Organisation - later Leyland - as it's running a 1600 cc twin cam engine, five-speed gearbox and the four wheel disc set-up from a Fia...