Upper Middle Petrol Head:

Every so often, a bloke finds himself in the right place at the right time, as was the case when UMPH and GlamRock happened upon this very original, very tidy VB Commodore just out of Hobart's CBD.  UMPH had just finished taking a few iPhone snaps when its owner approached and asked if they'd like to hear it fire up.   Naturally, the boys were keen to take up the offer and also ask a few questions.  So, with the glorious burble of its 308 cu (5.0 litre) V8 as a backing-track, this is what they learned: It was delivered new by southern Tasmanian Holden dealers Motors Pty Ltd and spent the first four years of its life as the company car of a senior Purity (now Woolworth's) supermarket employee, before its current owner bought it.  He drove it for about twenty years, then mothballed it for ten or so while he drove something "more economical."  It's only just been re-registered. Unlike most SLEs (then top of the line, preceding the  Cal...

Telling some Holdens apart is an arcane skill that's beyond UMPH.  What's the difference between an FB and an EK, for instance, or an EJ or EH ute or van?  (Please see www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7165367970551834236#editor/target=post;postID=4212372442506037272;onPublishedMenu=posts;onClosedMenu=posts;postNum=5;src=postname  .)   The same can be said of the HT and HG ranges ; the cosmetic differences are subtle and hard for a non-expert to decypher.  However, this immaculate Kingswood appears to be an HG or at least features the grill from one.  There are almost certainly clues in the styling of the tail lights, too, but nothing that means anything to UMPH.  (Please feel free to leave a comment if you know what those clues might be.)     An Aussie built 253 or, in new money, a 4.2 litre V8. U M P H ( uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au .) All iPhone images.

If, in the early 70s, UMPH's mum was doing the school run in a Morrie of similar vintage to the one shown below, it would be much like getting around in a circa 2000 Corolla or Pulsar today, wouldn't it?  That's probably fair but it does seem a bit odd ; the idea that the then family hack has become a collectible classic has the disconcerting effect of making UMPH feel a tiny bit old, too. Competing feelings of nostalgia and impending old-age aside, this black example is a great looking car.  UMPH is confident (hopes, anyway!) that the owner wouldn't be offended if he ventured to say that it was in largely un-restored condition, by which he means to be complimentary about the way it's been maintained.   It looks very original and complete, right down to its cheese-cutter cross-plies. U M P H ( uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au .) All iPhone images.