Those of you that know UMPH will realise he's no fan of shaving. The greying beard probably gives it away, right? Yes and no. Yes, because he really does love his facial follicles but no, because in this instance he's actually referring to the strange practice of removing vehicles' external door handles and locks.
In its most extreme version - the 'Lo-Lux' look favoured by young skater types - even the door handles get removed. Devotees of the style like to ruin perfectly serviceable utes by dropping the rears so low the headlights point skywards, then weld and bog-up nearly anything that ever hinged or opened. How they even get into their faux-gangsta mobiles is a mystery. Electronic remotes, perhaps? What if the battery goes flat? Anyway, enough said about the pants half-way down their bums brigade and those stupid skater hats ...
This week's subject is more semi-shaved; an old-school bikini line rather than full-Brazilian, if you prefer, even if it has been waxed to perfection. (Minds out of the gutter, please!) UMPH's referring to his favourite automotive topic: 1975 Galant hardtops (please also see: http://uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au/2015/02/for-galantry.html).
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| Note the original style front grill. UMPH really wants one for his Galant. |
UMPH doesn't know a lot about this particular Galant and, unfortunately, he couldn't locate its owner for a chat. However, he believes that it may have originated from Launceston in Tasmania's north and he does know that it was for sale recently. He has an idea about the asking price but won't venture to say what he thinks it was for fear of getting it wrong. There was nothing on the car to suggest it was still available for purchase, so it's probably got a proud new owner.
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| The bonnet scoop adds a bit of menace. UMPH thinks the cardboard drip was only a precaution; all the other cars had them, too. |
The car in question was part of a Post Vintage Car Club display on Hobart's Prince's Wharf Number One (PW1 to the locals), home of the very popular and successful Taste of Tasmania (thetasteoftasmania.com.au) food festival and a Dark MOFO venue (www.darkmofo.net.au). It was one of several parked on the forecourt while, inside the covered part of the wharf, there was a very impressive collection of American cars (nice but not really UMPH's thing).
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| There's normally a lock at the rear of the boot-lid, midway between the lights. |
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| These wheels are what's really bringing out UMPH's green-eyed monster. |
As mentioned earlier, this Galant is semi-shaved; the exterior locks - on the doors, boot and fuel flap - have been removed but it has retained its door handles. The quality of its almost British racing green metallic paint is superb and it's been set off with some very nice 15 inch Superlite style wheels. Purists may not love the bonnet scoop but UMPH reckons it gives the car a bit of added attitude.
The interior may not be to everybody's taste. Acres of red leather, including the wrap-around racing-style bucket seats, really takes the eye. However, the attention to detail is first-class with 'GTO' themed gauges and embroidery on the seats and door linings. If UMPH's memory serves correctly, the centre console is from a Galant variant released in New Zealand and not generally available in Australia. It's got a really nice Momo steering wheel, too.
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| Yes. Acres. Even the seatbelts. |
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| The Momo looks like an up-dated Corse model. The matched white dials are a nice look. |
The green hardtop wasn't the only vehicle to Take UMPH's eye that day; the Datsun 1600 and Celica shown below were both great looking cars. According to a very handy placard provided by the owners, the Datto's a 1970 model with a 1.8 litre motor done to SSS specs, lowered 200B front struts and brakes, lowered rear end and a 5 speed 'box from a Stanza. Nice! UMPH loves how interchangeable 60s and 70s cars' components are; it's what makes them such fun for owner / mechanics.
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| Right from UMPH's favourite era of motoring - the 60s and 70s. |
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| A classic '3 box' design. Looked good then; still looking great! |
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| My best mate's mum, Wendy, had one just like this. How cool did we think we were when she let us borrow it! |
Anyone that's interested in cars like the ones featured above, or of any kind of classic vehicle, really, would do well to head to the Post Vintage Car Club's Picnic at Ross (postvintage-tas.org). It's easily the biggest get together of petrol heads in the state, featuring everything from yank tanks to classic Aussie and American muscle, early Holdens and Fords, British and European marques, campervans and caravans, and fabulous Japanese models like UMPH's beloved Galant and the one featured here. This year's event is being held on the morning of Sunday the 17th of May on the main oval at Ross, approximately 90 minutes' drive from Hobart and maybe a shade over 30 from Launceston, and entry is free.
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