Classics by the Beach, 04 October 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.

Clear Z lineage.

Until next time ...

U M P H

(uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au).

EJ or EH Holden? (Up-dated December, 2022)

EJ or the later EH? Several years ago, I posed the question: Can somebody please explain the difference between an EJ and an EH Holden ute or van? The response at the time wasn't overwhelming, so I did a bit of Googling and ferreting through my photos and came up with my own rough guide to EJ and EH identification. Sedans and wagons are easy to tell apart ; the EH's vertical rectangular tail lights are a dead give-away. However, the workhorse versions of both models share the rear-end treatment of the earlier EJ, making it harder to identify one from the other. No super obvious hints here. Or here ... . It turns out that the main clues are in the placement of the front H O L D E N lettering and GMH lion emblems, the style of the radiator grille and the width of the vents in front of the windscreen, with all EJs - sedans, wagons, utes and vans - having one combination and the EH line-up having their own . So what exactly are those diffe

Vick Auto Prima Fiat X1/9 Brakes: An Owner’s Assessment

At the end of 2022, I fitted a set of Vick Autosport Prima front brakes to my mildly worked 1.5 litre Series 1 Fiat X1/9 . I was fortunate, having picked them up at a very, very reasonable price, brand new but surplus to the needs of a fellow X1/9 Australia member who had imported them from the US. The kit included: New single pot callipers , new vented rotors (standard X1/9 front rotors are smaller, non-vented items), DOT approved stainless steel brake hoses, and all the necessary mounting hardware. They are a value proposition, being particularly well priced compared to other manufacturers’ packages - even at RRP - with everyone I’ve spoken to saying they’re made to a high standard, too. Here's a link to a piece that I wrote about them at that time, including some costings: https://uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com/2022/11/the-x19-gets-prima-brake-upgrade.html . Initial Assessment: I was a little underwhelmed by the brakes' performance, finding that although they had a tiny

Random # 301: Nanna-Spec KE36 Corolla

Once upon a time - six or seven years ago, actually - there was a lovely pale yellow GC Galant station wagon getting around Hobart. It was totally nanna-spec; its paint was umarked, the chrome work and hubcaps were immaculate, and its very original interior was pristine. Then someone stuck feathers in its dashboard. Next, the windows were adorned with Tibetan prayer flags. And a hubcap went missing. And the the rear bumper was pushed in, mangling the bodywork behind it. And a mudguard got dented. And rust set in. I fear for this sweet, innocent KE36 Corolla. Somebody please save it before it's too late. Nanna needs you to do it. U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.) Photos by GlamRock.

Upper Middle Petrol Head:

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