Upper Middle Petrol Head:

UMPH could bang-on about the sheer beauty of this FJ Holden sedan, spotted in Moonah on Hobart's northern fringe.  Or he could suggest that you check out this nostalgic Aussie youtube video from Bob Hudson instead: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yXinPYK-Jk . Enjoy! U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com .) All iPhone images.

There was a nano-second or so when UMPH thought it might be fun to survey readers to see which one of all the Fiats on this blog was the most popular.  But then he decided that there was probably no contest, because the magnificent 2300 S  coupe featured here would almost certainly win.   It's not that the others - including several X1/9s, two or three classic 500s, a couple of 850s (Phil Blake's excellent Abarth replica included),  a 125 and a 127 - aren't fabul ous.  It's just that the Ghia-styled 2300 S has so much early 60s style, such abundant appeal, that UMPH can't imagine why anybody wouldn't be totally captivated by it.  He is!   Anybody who's interested in the history of the model could do worse that take a look at the attached wiki-link:   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat_2300 .  If anyone can shed any light on the history of this particular car, that would be hugely appreciated, too. U M ...

Queensland's Noosa has a surprisingly vibrant classic car scene, with many really nice vehicles in regular use.  The 1960s seem to be particularly well represented ;  UMPH spotted quite a few cars from that decade, including VWs, Valiants, an early Ford F-truck and several Holdens.  This very clean and tidy EH was parked towards the swankier end of the strip on a road running parallel to Hastings Street. U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com .) All iPhone images.

UMPH was very pleased to make a return to Sandy Bay's Classics by the Beach after an extended mainland break.  Adding to his enjoyment was this, Daniel's lovely GC Galant hardtop, which has only been in Tasmania for a few weeks. According to Daniel, who also has a four-door GC Sport-Pack  and has owned other Galants, the car is a genuine two-owner affair that he bought, sight unseen, from New South Wales.  All he's done to it so far is to give it a bit of a spruce-up, had new brake reservoirs installed and fitted the cool white-walled tyres seen in the photos above and below.  The car's first owner - a classic 'little old lady,' apparently - only sold it about six years ago to a bloke that had intended doing it up.  However, it ended up sitting in a shed, unused, so he on-sold it to our lucky Tasmanian. And what a buy it was!  UMPH is a bit of a Galant-nerd himself, having owned his 1975 hardtop since 1981, so he can spot a strai...