Upper Middle Petrol Head:

It appears that the owner of this uber-cool  Kombi ute, pickup, flat-tray or whatever you might like to call it subscribes to the distressed look.  It could just be that it's a working vehicle and its owner isn't too hung up on aesthetics, but the decals that decorate the rear window and tailgate suggest that there's a tiny degree of disdain for the more mainstream classic car set.   That's not to say that the car's not well-maintained, though ; it's doesn't look like there's anything but some light surface rust, the body's straight and even the tyres are new.  UMPH's best bet is that this is a what you see is what you get kinda vehicle and that the patina is genuine.  Tell it like it is! Plastic ain't that fantastic! Either way, it's another great example of a classic car making Hobart's streets more interesting.  And that's what it's all about, isn't it? U M P H ( uppermiddlepetrolhea...

There is no Classics by the Beach post for May.  A camping expedition, a thunder-storm and a very soggy mattress put paid to UMPH's blogging plans for this weekend.  However, he does offer the following random instead: This mighty Valiant Regal hardtop was spotted in the heart of Hobart's industrial centre of Derwent Park.  From the windscreen forward, it's pretty much standard 1970s Valiant, sharing the nose, guards and bonnet of its Ranger and Pacer variant siblings in sedan, wagon, ute, van and Charger coupe guises.  With a 360 cubic inch (5.9 litre) V8, this one's likely to be a pretty hairy beast to drive!  It also features a floor-change manual 'box, which could only add to the fun, but the extra length and weight out the rear would probably make it a little less forgiving than the shorter, sportier Charger. Elegant and unique bodywork from the doors rearward. Unlike the Charger, the Regal hardtop used the same tail-lights as foun...