Upper Middle Petrol Head:

Other than the Pagoda and some of the Panzer-like 450 SL and 450 SEL range, I'm not much of a Mercedes fan.  It's not like I hate them; they just don't really do it for me, if you know what I mean.  Even the famed Gull-wing is, to my tastes, a bit ho-hum (although I appreciate their engineering).   It was rather surprising, therefore, to have found myself drawn to this presumably late 1950s / early '60s sedan.  At first glance, it is sort of stodgy.  However, the more I looked at it, the more seduced I was by its imposing presence and interesting mix of rounded styling and subdued tail-fins. Personal taste aside, it was also in rather good nick with clean, glossy paint, good chrome and a tidy interior.  It certainly was a good looking car considering its age and a credit to its owner. U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.) All iPhone images.

I reckon the best way to refer to this magnificent XB Falcon is to call it GT-themed, as the paint scheme, colour-coded bumpers, driving lights built into the grille,  Bathurst Globe wheels, GT-style petrol cap and adjustable boot spoiler are all very GT.  However, there's not a single GT badge on the car and it doesn't have a three-spoke steering wheel, as available on the GT and GS lines, either, so it doesn't seem to be intended as a full-on replica.  There aren't any clues as to what donk's been fitted; it could be a 351, 308 or even a six (but I doubt it!).  It's running rear drums (not sure if all GTs featured four wheel discs or not, though).  The bucket seats and centre console surrounding its T-bar auto-shifter suggest that it may be a Fairmont .  Either way, whoever owns it is no pretender (w⚓) and knows that he or she's got a great looking car in its own right.  And good on 'em for that! U M P H (uppermiddlepet

Today's post is book-ended by two of the nicest Leyland P76s that you could ever hope to see.  Not only was each one in absolutely amazing nick, they were all but identical, having both been finished in the same deep golden-orange duco and featuring the same interior trim, as well as being fitted with the 4.4 litre V8 engine option.  The only obvious difference that I could see was that the car featured above was wearing some period-appropriate five-spoke mags, complete with very cool 76 logo centre caps, whereas the one that ends the post had original hubcaps instead. There can be no denying the sheer classic beauty of the Dino.  It is as graceful, elegant and sleek as any car that has ever been and is truly timeless. I'm reasonably confident that this Renault Caravelle is a long-term Hobart car, having featured at quite a few local French car shows.  It's in lovely condition, with beautiful sky blue paint, straight, rust-f