Classics by the Beach: Sunday the 2nd of December, 2018

Another first Sunday get-together at Sandy Bay Beach, Hobart, Tasmania, and another amazing fleet of classic cars, many of which I'd never seen before.  The depth and breadth of people's vehicle collections is a source of constant wonder to me. 

Take, for example, this fabulous Buick with its innovative side-hinged bonnet and imposing American styling.  It appears to be largely original, except that it seems to have been fitted with some wider than standard chrome rims and a possibly newer Chevrolet engine (although Buick and Chev are both GM products, so that may not mean anything much).  

The lovely V8 HZ Premier featured below was a real treat, having either been kept in pristine condition or recently been subjected to a very thorough restoration.  The panels, duco and chrome were all first rate; the interior - including cargo-area Venetians - was in excellent nick, too.

I'm reasonably confident that this is a Fiat Topolino.  Please feel free to correct the record if I'm wrong!

According to the helpful blurb the owner of this World War II Jeep provided, it is a Ford-made example of the legendary four-wheel-drive.  The demand for Jeeps during the conflict saw them manufactured by both Ford and Willys, often to be provided to the battle front in was was effectively kit form, to be assembled on-site.  Probably the most ironic thing about the Jeep - seeing that the original WWII versions are still reasonably common - is that they were considered to be an almost disposable item when they were first built.     

Yes, this is a two-door XT Falcon (or perhaps not, depending on what they were called in the US market where this one almost certainly originates from).  Even more surprising is that the car shown here is one of two that occasionally attends Classics, with this example being right-hand drive but the other - an immaculate white version - a left-hooker. 

This excellent 1975 Galant hardtop is just magnificent.  But, then again, I may be a bit biased.  The new 15" Rota wheels do rather suit it, though!

You'd be hard-pressed to find a better Alfa 105 than this one.  Sure, you might find another that's as good - the light yellow one featured a couple of times in earlier editions of this 'blog being an example - but 105s are the sort of car that that people tend to lavish lots of love and extra attention on, so they do tend to be extremely well maintained. 

It's probably fair to say that this, Nigel's Mk I Austin Healey Sprite, also falls into the good-as-they-get category.  However, the hard-top roof adds a little something that makes it that bit special, as do its sports steering wheel, front disc brakes and Minilite wheels.

U M P H

(uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.)