Upper Middle Petrol Head:

The subject of today's post - an early 1980s Mercedes 500 SL - hails from the ancestral home of the UMPH mother-in-law.  Despite this unfortunate association, UMPH really loves the big, bold Teutonic style of this magnificent beast with its 5 litre V8 motor and imposing road presence. As an example of the marque, this particular car could hardly be faulted.  If it hasn't recently undergone a fairly comprehensive restoration, it has clearly been kept in first-rate condition ;  everything from its mohair roof through to its paint, chrome and interior were in near perfect condition. U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.) All iPhone images.

UMPH was born in the year of the EH Holden and grew up in the 1970s when, like so many cars of that time, they had become affordable for younger drivers.   The 70s were no different to today  when it comes to youths and their vehicles, in that cars often became the focus for personal expression and identity through modification. This absolutely immaculate EH Special , photographed in North Hobart,   therefore epitomises the late 60s and early 70s' 'hotted-up' look that is, for UMPH and others of his era, exactly what an early Holden of Ford Falcon should look like (only better).   Why better? , you ask.  Not only was the car bang-on for period features (Aunger mags, a wooden three spoke sports steering wheel, a dash-top tacho and a great exhaust note), its emerald green duco, glittering chrome and perfect interior would easily exceed the quality of any young yobbo's ride back in the day! UMPH was able to grab a few quick words wi...

This extremely tidy Mazda RX3 was spotted recently in Launceston in Tasmania's north.  Unfortunately, rotary Mazdas seem to have all but disappeared from the state's roads, popping up only very rarely, whereas RX2s, RX3s and RX4s were once common.  UMPH can't even think when he last saw an R100 or an RX5 and even Series I & II RX7s have dropped off the radar a bit. U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au). Image courtesy of Andy Beard.