Upper Middle Petrol Head:

Unfortunately, work commitments precluded UMPH's full participation in February's classic car drive.  What he did manage to do, however, was slip up to the starting point - the Rivulet Cafe, Anglesea Street, South Hobart - grab a cup of coffee, catch up with a couple of friends and capture a few of the cars present. As is usual, British vehicles were well represented, with a whole array of MGs, several Austin Healeys, a Mini and a Stag, to list just a few.  There were also a few European marques and a very nice looking Datsun 280 Z , too.  Enjoy! U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.)

Ford's global reach is undeniable.  However, other than the Mustang, there arguably isn't a single vehicle in their line-up that represents the the American giant in the same way as, say, a Beetle does Volkswagen.   Or is there ... ?  Ford's ubiquitous F-truck has been around since the 1950s and has certainly made its mark in Australia at least, with easily more F100 s, F150 s and F250 s in this country than there are Mustangs.  And that trend doesn't look like ending any time soon, either ;  big F-trucks are still at the top of the large ute / truck food chain. Moreover, the F-truck's evolution has been slower, with each subsequent model building on, but still being linked to, earlier versions.  An F-truck has a recognisable look whether it's a 1950s edition or a current version.  That's less so with the Mustang, the style of which got a little lost during the 1980s, even if it's been reestablished with a vengeance with their latest rei

This imposing looking BMW 3.0 S , photographed in Moonah, Tasmania, really does have style. From the classic BMW grille and 'back-slash' profiled nose, through to its big, glassy cabin and squat, perfectly proportioned tail, every line and detail combines to deliver a car of absolute elegance and beauty.  There are far too few 3.0s on Tasmania's roads, with the last one UMPH can remember seeing with any regularity being service station proprietor extraordinaire Gloria Willing's fabulous 253 cubic inch Holden V8-powered black version but he hasn't seen it for more than fifteen years.  This particular car looked to have been resprayed and restored to a very nice standard, with good quality chrome and a tidy interior, too. It was nicely finished with some classic multi-spoked alloy wheels with BMW 'spinning propeller' centres. If anyone knows what happened to Gloria's 3.0, or can shed any light on the history of this car, please

This very tidy Beetle, photographed in West Hobart, appears to be a daily driver.  However, that's not to say that it isn't a cherished car, given the condition it was in. Once upon a time, people drove older cars like this because they were cheap.  That's less of a consideration now, though ; if cost were the only issue, Hyundais and other bargain marques would fit the bill as knock-about family hacks, as they do for many uni students and first-car owners.  The very fact that someone has looked after this particular car and chooses to drive it when there are so many cheaper, yet better equipped, (possibly) more reliable and arguably safer options available speaks volumes for the allure of classic cars. UMPH knows what he'd rather drive if given the option of a Beetle or some horrid, soulless Korean appliance of a vehicle.  Long live classic cars and all who drive in them! U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blospot.com.au .) All iP

Waves of 1970s nostalgia washed over UMPH at the sight of this absolutely lovely Mazda 1300 sedan, photographed in Elizabeth Street, North Hobart, on a late summer's day. UMPH has fond memories of his grandmother's 1300, in exactly the same colour and featuring identical interior trim, and the time the poor old dear did a burn-out entering an intersection in some particularly heavy traffic. UMPH would like to point out that Grandma was not a hoon ; the road was wet and slippery, the car was running cheese cutter cross-plies and she was mortified (what if one of the other bowling ladies had seen her?!). However, UMPH, his brother and cousins were delighted - street-cred to Grandma!! The particular car seen here couldn't have been in much better nick ; the paint, chrome and interior were very nearly flawless, and even the hubcaps were original and unmarked. So here's to the 1970s, burn-outs and bowling ladies, and to whoever it is that's ke