Cars on the Coast (Triabunna Oval): 11th of November, 2018

80s' music legends Devo probably said it best in their anthem Freedom From Choice:

"In ancient Rome, there was a poem about a dog who found two bones. He picked the one. He licked the other. He went in circles... ."

(https://www.streetdirectory.com/lyricadvisor/song/coowla/freedom_of_choice/ .)

So, gratuitous alt-rock references aside, WTF am I bangin' on about?

Yes - that's a turbo-charger!

I am making an oblique, if not down-right obscure, reference to Sunday the 11th of November, 2018, when southern Tasmanians were spoiled for choice with not one but two excellent car shows to choose from. There was the Claremont Girl Guides' Trash to Treasure swap meet and Shannons' Cars on the Coast on Triabunna's footy oval.

Dear Wife and I decided on the latter, as the X1/9 was long-overdue for a good country run. However, all evidence suggests that either event would have been equally satisfying if the social media posts from, and shared by, various members of the local car community are anything to go by.

There was an awesome collection of classic and muscle cars, as well as some motorcycles, assembled on the Triabunna oval, with a distinct Aussie and US flavour about it. There were vehicles from all the major Australian manufacturers, including your Fords, Holdens and Valiants, a whole convoy of F-Trucks, plus a few American Mustangs and Camaros, too.

British, Japanese and even Swedish (a mad Chevvy V8-powered Volvo) marques were also represented. I personally believe that I took out the Best Italian Sports Car award, as the X1/9 was all by its lonesome in that category!

Thinking of awards (sadly, there wasn't really an Italian sports car category), this unbelievably perfect XA GT hardtop took out one of the classes and deservedly so! It truly was absolutely perfect!

For me, the classic early model Datsun Skyline hardtop shown here was a real stand-out. This particular model was never officially imported to Australia. However, they have attained cult-status amongst the JDM community throughout the world. Today's example was particularly nice; it was in fantastic condition, with near flawless duco, an unmarked interior and period-correct accessories.

Here's the Chev-powered Volvo mentioned earlier. There was a very similar beast - featuring the same era Volvo sedan and a Chevrolet V8 - built by Hobart-based mechanic and American car aficionado Bruce Reynolds back in the mid- to late-1980s. It could, just possibly, be the same car. If it is, however, it would appear to have had a very thorough and recent refurbishment.

There were quite a few of the ever-popular EHs present. This one, featuring dazzling white duco, had a certain something that, for me, made it the best of the model on the day.

This totally stock early Model Corolla was absolutely brilliant! It was so original, and in such great nick, that it was impossible not to love it!

I always knew there had been a tent-option - or Hatch Hutch - available on the lift-back Toranas but, until today, I'd never actually seen one. It was an idea that never really took off but to finally see one for real was an absolute treat!

The beautifully presented HR featured above and below is bound to stir fond memories for my now nearly-90 year old father-in-law, who had one before his XD Falcon and his slow automotive decline into Toyota Camrys and, eventually, the Mazda 1 he currently shares with Dear Mother-in-Law (the ignominy! The car and having to share it!!). According to Dear Wife, this one's nearly identical to JTM's with the same external and internal colour schemes, and the same front bench seat with an ashtray built into the back.

This Mk I Lotus Cortina replica features a host of genuine Lotus parts, including the twin-cam 1557 cc motor, twin side-draft Webers, close-ratio 'box and the entire interior. The only readily identifiable clue to it being a replica is the extra bracing visible above the rear wheel arches - an Australia-only modification to help strengthen the car for our more agricultural roads - and, even then, they can only seen from inside the boot. As a later version, it would have never been fitted with the earlier editions' coil-sprung, trailing arm A-bracket rear suspension that proved to be problematic and was therefore dropped in favour of leaf springs. Genuine Lotus Cortinas also had a number of lightened components - body panels plus alloy gearbox and diff castings - but it's not possible to tell if this car has them fitted.

As mentioned earlier, there were quite a few EHs present. I reckon that made the EJ shown here even more special and that's not to say it's not a fabulous car in its own right.

Who doesn't love an FX - or, as they're more correctly known - 48 215 Holden? I've heard a story - apocryphal, perhaps - that 48 215s were not actually built in Australia but arrived, at least partially assembled, from Canada and that they were heavily based on a pre-war Chevrolet design. Comments, anyone? (Like I said, it's just a story ... ).

Another winner! I'm not sure exactly what award this 1957 Chevrolet took out but it won something, as did the Brock Commodore at the bottom of the page. A red HJ - HZ ute won a prize, too, but sadly I didn't hear what it was for, either.