Classics by the Beach, 04 October 2015

- October 04, 2015

Maybe some of Hobart's classic car community were feeling a bit mournful after the day before's aerial ping pong grand final (surely even die-hard footy fans would have to admit that the game was as boring as bat faeces). Whatever it was, though, this month's Classics was a very quiet affair indeed.

Either way, it didn't diminish the quality of cars. UMPH was very excited to spot this pristine Valiant and the Series II Land Rover behind it as soon as he arrived.

Looking every inch the 'one careful owner; only driven to church on Sundays' that it probably is.

The Venetians looked great.

Bucket seats and a centre-shift automatic.

This Landy was brilliant! No-nonsense, go anywhere practicality with some subtle modifications.

If you're thinking of selling it ...

There are a surprising number of Jags - E-Types, in particular - in and around Hobart. This one, finished in deep, lustrous metallic Burgundy coloured duco, might just be one of the most beautiful examples UMPH has ever seen.

It took a while to get a clear shot of this beautiful Volvo P 1800, such was the interest it created. It was, in every way, a fabulous looking car and the absolute antithesis of the much-maligned boxy Volvos of the 70s and 80s.

Can anyone enlighten UMPH as to what the E in the rego might stand for?

Love the fins!

The lucky owner of this Ford GT40 replica only bought it three weeks ago. He told UMPH that it was originally built for the proprietor of a Brisbane Ford dealership, who bought it to race. It's powered by a 5.7 litre Windsor V8 which would doubtless make it a very potent machine indeed! The new owner says that the bulge in the roof's not all for show; headroom is tight, so the extra few mm ensures against a sore noggin if an unanticipated bump is encountered.

Note the bulge in the roof above the driver's seat.

A wolf in, well, wolf's clothing!

This rag-top E-Type, in classic British racing green, belongs to a mate of our lucky GT40 man. The owner imported it from the USA and had it extensively restored, swapping it from left- to right-hand drive, converting it from an auto to a manual transmission, as well as undertaking quite a bit of meticulous body work, during which evidence that it had once been fitted with a rear spoiler was uncovered. Some people! All that work was well worth the effort! It actually smells good, too; the waft of leather upholstery can be detected even with the roof down.

Hobart's home to a surprising number of original Fiat 500s, too. The one shown below was very tidy and had been finished in an opalescent off-white paint that really gave it a hint of class.

Former Classics blogger Swade would've loved this Lancia Fulvia. Unfortunately, UMPH missed seeing under the bonnet but, if the throaty growl it emitted as it drove off tells him anything, there was some serious carburation happening.

There are also a good number of Alfa 105s in and around Hobart. This one - a 1750 finished in metallic light green - is a real beauty. Its owner told UMPH that he doesn't get it out as much as he'd like to and that he also owns an Alfa Berlinetta.

Last but not least is Matt's Datsun 280ZX. Matt - who pretty much restored the car by himself, including learning how to spray-paint by watching YouTube videos - reckons it's a future classic, as there are only half a dozen or so left in Tasmania. It's a great-looking machine - the last of the svelte Zeds with visual clues back to the 240 and 260s - and it sounds meaty, too, as a lot of six-cylinder Nissan motors do. Unfortunately, these photos don't do the car justice, as they fail to show its two-piece targa-roof or its interior.