Upper Middle Petrol Head:

Once upon a time, way back many, many decades ago when Australia's automotive manufacturing future seemed to be assured, UMPH's aunt and uncle's engineering and production stamping company in Croydon, Victoria, was contracted to produce exhaust brackets for Datsun 120Ys.  And, in what might be an example of trickle-down economics, the teen-aged UMPH was briefly employed with his cousins to dip said exhaust brackets in some sort of tarry black paint as part of the finishing / rust-proofing process. So, there you have it:  UMPH's place in the history of the once ubiquitous Datsun 120Y.  Nothing startling, mind you, but a little factoid with which he amuses himself on the odd occasion he sees one, wondering if he might have contributed to its manufacture in a very small way. According to the owner of the 120Y shown here, it's been in his family since new, having been originally bought by his mother.  He still uses it regularly, often driving it from Burni...

Guilty as charged!  UMPH admits that he's cynically used these three gorgeous sports cars -  a contemporary Porsche 911  Carrera,  a lovely late 1960s' Lotus Europa , and, lurking in the background, a classic Austin Healey 100   - as unashamed 'click-bait' to draw in readers. Is this fair?   Absolutely!  It's cars like these - and many, many more, it must be said - that make the monthly Classics by the Beach gathering at Hobart's Sandy Bay beach so very special.  Read on and see if you disagree!     There are plenty of people who would assert that the Peugeot 205 GTi, like the one shown above and below, is the original 'hot-hatch'.  Of course, those people aren't Golf GTi aficionados but you wouldn't expect much consensus between French and German car fans, would you?  Either way, it's an interesting debate.  John's 1968 Jaguar XJ6 is a highly sought after, and quite rare, 4....