Upper Middle Petrol Head:

According to Google's very, very clever image search facility, this is a Mercedes W111, meaning that it was built between 1959 and 1971, although I suggest this one's from towards the beginning of that period.  Wikipedia informs me that its German nickname was the Heckflosse , which is a reference to its tail-fins that took their influence from contemporary American cars. Car geek that I am, and as interesting as those snippets are, that's not what's got me hooked.  I surmise - and that's all that this is, an educated guess, at best - that it's possibly an ex-Rhodesian / Zimbabwean embassy or consulate car, or possibly belonged to a diplomatic official from that country serving in Australia.   Why?  1.  Rhodesia became Zimbawe in 1965, half way through the W111's production run;  2.  There's a sticker on the rear window advertising John ...'s Auto Exhausts (the print is slightly damaged), with branches in both the Zimbabwean capital, Harare, and the

Today's car comes from Martin, whose doubly blighted childhood includes a sibling property dispute involving an item of Skippy memorabilia - crockery, I believe - and a father who owned not one but two Leyland P76s!  The first was " a really attractive beige ... V8 and then a bright yellow gutless 6 cylinder that was prone to losing door handles or anything manufactured to be useful," he says. The Upper Middle Petrol Head editorial team salutes you, Martin! Like D K Schnitzer, you, too, have experienced a unique slice of Australia's auto manufacturing history. U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.) Photo supplied.  

Regular readers will no doubt remember Joseph's Alfetta Sportiva tributo, which appeared in this blog as Readers' Photos # 93, along with his Lancia Fulvia Zagato Sport and super-beautiful Alfa Montreal (Readers' Photos #s 94 and 95, respectively).  If so, they'd likely recall that the Canberra Correspondent ascertained that the tributo would soon be making way for a genuine Sportiva and be as pleased as me to see that the real deal has now arrived! It's another lovely example of the marque and seems to have retained all its  Sportiva accoutrements, i ncluding the original decals and stripes, a Momo steering wheel and four what are possibly  Campagnolo  alloy wheels (?).  I am, however, a bit confused as to what series it is, as the rectangular headlights suggest a second generation car but I've seen others on the internet, also described thus, but with the quad round light front ends.    Whatever series it is, it's a very, very handsome car and will comple

This superb XL Falcon ute was next level in terms of its condition and presentation!  It simply dazzled, quite literally, as these photos show.  Not only were the panels, paint and chrome perfect, its Fairlane-style hub caps, white-wall tyres, sumptuous red interior and exquisite wooden Mustang sports steering wheel added a touch of class that made it as good, if not better, than any similar era Falcon - be it a sedan, hardtop, wagon, van or ute - that I've ever seen.  Lovely! U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.) iPhone images  

  There seems to have been a real resurgence in the classic Japanese car scene of late, with plenty of tricked-up 60s, 70s and 80s Toyotas, Datsuns, Mazdas and Mitsubishis hitting the streets, resplendent with new paint, fat tyres on old-school 13" rims and forward-mounted JDM-style mirrors. Today's example - a circa 1975 KE35 Corolla, judging by the grille - is more street fighter than pretty boy, wearing its slightly bent nose and here and there battle scars with real attitude! Its black bolt-on flares and boot spoiler contrast very nicely with the yellow duco, as does the blacked-out bonnet, while the JDM exterior mirrors and "jelly bean" mags look a treat. I've seen and heard it once or twice on the street and am pleased to report that it sounds like it looks:  angry and ready to take on anything! U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.) iPhone images.

Today's excellent selection of cars was captured by Peter R, a former Tasmanian forensic photographer who's now a resident of south east Queensland.  He says that they're just a few of the confirmed 772 vehicles on display at the Bayside Vehicle Restorers' 2021 Australia Day Rally at the Ormiston State School. Extending the Tasmanian link is the fact that the first three cars - each of them quite rare and desirable - have had doppelgangers entered in Targa Tasmania.  For example, a version of the car shown above and below - A circa 1963 Jensen CV8 - participated in the 2009, 2010 and 2014 events, taking out first- and podium-places, as well as being similarly successful in the Targa High Country (Victoria) and Classic Adelaide tarmac rallies. Similarly, a "Kermit Green" example of this Renault 4CV participated in Targa Tasmania in the early 2000s, piloted by Colin Rose with Iain Watson doing duty as co-driver.  It might be the perfect example of the "driv