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Mercedes 280 SL "Pagoda"

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The Mercedes Benz W-113 series “Pagoda,” assigned that sorbriquet because its removable hardtop resembles the rooflines of classic Asian temples, is a study in elegance and simplicity.  It’s no surprise, then, that this beauty caught the eye of semi-regular UMPH contributor and well-known Hobart architect Mark Drury. It's a 1968 version, being towards the end of the series' production run (1963 to 1971) and sports the larger of the three six-cylinder engines available - 2.3, 2.5 and 2.8 litres - giving rise to the imaginative model designations of 230 SL, 250 SL and 280 SL, respectively.  According to Wikipedia, the 230 was built between 1963 and 1967, the 250 came along in 1966 and was available until 1968, and the 280's run spanned the years 1967 to 1971 ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_W113 ). This particular car, finished in immaculate gold duco with colour matched hubcaps, is a magnificent example of the model.  Every last detail is flawless, from the br...
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The Editor-in-Chief goes H O O G E ! (a Caterpillar 793C Haul Truck & 994 Wheel Loader)

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  There are trucks and then there are TRUCKS!  Today's example - a "square tray" Caterpillar 793C Haul Truck, photographed  as part of a working set  at the Hannans North Tourist Mine in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia - is very much of the latter variety. Some stats: - Size: 6.43 m (H) x 7.41 m (W) x 12.87 m (L); - Weight: 113.51 tons, loaded / 376.49 tons, empty; - Fuel capacity: 3,790 of diesel; - Number of cylinders: 16; - Displacement: 69 litres; - Power: 2,300 hp / 1,715 kW; - Speed: 53.6 km/h, empty / 11 km/h, fully laden;  - Tranmission: 6 speed auto with reverse; and - Cost per tyre: $30,000 but this can vary, dependent on the price of rubber at the time of manufacture. (Hannans North Tourist Mine /  https://www.cat.com/en_AU/products/new/equipment/off-highway-trucks/mining-trucks/116620.html , accessed 11 NOV 25.)   Other QI facts: - The driver's deck (above) is big enough to host a BBQ for a dozen burly miners;  - In today's money, it's v...
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Tamara the Frog Lady’s MGB GT

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  700 or so long, often hot kilometres southeast of Perth, Western Australia, lies the beautiful seaside town of Esperance.  It’s a mainly tourism, agriculture and fishing hub, and its car fleet - lots of Toyota Prados and 200 Series ‘cruisers towing caravans, motor homes of every size and description, plus battered 4WD utes - reflect that focus.  Unless you’re Tamara the Frog Lady*, that is.  No need for the generously oversized parking spaces that surround the local Woolies complex for her.  Tamara’s 1969 anuran green MGB GT defies the local norm, occupying only a fraction of its allotted parking and sitting so low that it was almost lost amongst the other vehicles present.  It’s as stylish as it is seemingly out of place and very beautiful, too. And Tamara would also appear to love frogs.  So, whilst classic British sports cars and amphibians mightn’t be the commonest of bedfellow-interests, we at UMPH think she’s pretty damned cool! Did you enjoy t...
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Our Editor-in-Chief takes a Sabbatical: a 350 cu V8 Chevelle

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  You may have noticed that a fair chunk of UMPH staff have just done the big f*ckoffski, taking (un)fair advantage of their overly generous leave entitlements.  With personnel currently spread from Italy to Canada , the editor-in-chief has not only had to pick up his own coffee, he’s had to pay for it himself, too! Working on the premise that what’s good for the gooses* is even better for the gander, our E-i-C decided a bit of tax-deductible travel is just what the company accountant - had we such a person in our employ - probably would’ve ordered and has taken a sabbatical to Cottesloe Beach, Western Australia .   Why Cottesloe beach?   One word - or acronym - really:  FIFO !  Or drug money, possibly .   There are more noveau Porshe 911s and Ferraris than our beloved E-i-C has seen outside of anywhere but Monaco, plus a constant parade of Brock / HSV Commodores, classic Aussie GM, Ford and Chrysler muscle - his absolute faves being a patina-spec HT...
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From Our Man in Tuscany: a Citroen Dyane

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I initially thought Our Man in Tuscany - who's now visiting Rome - had gone artsy on us, tilting his camera to add dynamism and a slight sense of claustrophobia to the lead photo.  And maybe it was intentional.  But a look at his subsequent images suggests otherwise; the way the Polo's jammed in behind OMiT's subject - a charming Citroen Dyane - speaks volumes for the genuinely confined nature of   Rome's  la strada and the resultant  scarcity of parking .  The Dyane is, basically, an upgraded 2CV that was built to take on rival French manufacturer Renault's R4, examples of which OMiT has fortuitously already sent us: ( https://uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com/2025/09/from-our-man-in-tuscany-renault-4.html and  https://uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com/2025/09/from-our-man-in-tuscany-another-renault.html ).  Although a not insignificant 1,443,583 Dyanes were manufactered in France, Spain, Iran, Yugoslavia and Portugal, their production run sta...
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From Mrs OMiT: a Fiat 500 C Belvedere

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  When in Rome ... ?  Take pictures of Roma-registered classic Italian cars, of course! This absolute gem - brought to you by Mrs OMiT - is a Fiat 500 C Belvedere, which predates the better-known and comparatively newer 500 Bambino  (1957 - 1975, as shown below) by two years (1936 - 1955).  There are three models with only fairly minor styling updates, the A, B and C, with Mrs OMiT's example being the latter. Image courtesy of the Italian Corrispondente ( https://uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com/2018/09/the-italian-corrispondente-4-fiat-500.html ). The original 1930s' 500 was affectionally known in Italy as the Topolino ,   which translates as little mouse in English.  Unlike the more famous 500 Bambino , it was a front-engined, rear wheel drive car and came in two-door sedan, convertible, station wagon (Belvedere) and van configurations.  There was a Zagato-bodied  Panoramica version, too ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat_500_...
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Classics by the Beach: October, 2025

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Opinions are often divided when it comes to the Datsun 120Y / B210, with some in-period drivers bemoaning their lack of power and somewhat tinny construction, while others fondly recall good times had behind the wheel and enthusiastically recount stories of the marque's near indestructibility.  As one punter put it, "they might've been cheap but you couldn't kill 'em with a stick."  Sounds about right to me.    Even the non-fans would have to admit that this example - a rarer lift-back photographed at Hobart's first-Sunday-of-the-month cars 'n' coffee, Classics by the Beach - is pretty damned cool!  The JDM wing mirrors and 13" vintage Japanese alloy wheels, its B210 badging and Momo Indy steering wheel all really suit the car, while its blue duco is pure 1970s' magic. This stunning Alfa 105 Series 1750 GTV is new to Tasmania, having just been purchased from NSW.  It genuinely is perfect, looking as near as possible to being brand new as ...
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