Classics by the Beach: March, 2020

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As a photographer and avowed sports and classic car obsessive, it's always gratifying to be able to present a few cars that haven't previously featured at the Classics by the Beach gathering held on the first Sunday of every month at Hobart's Sandy Bay.  Fortunately, there is always something new, a car never seen there before or some progress on a project under restoration.







I'm sure that Ford's new line of Mustangs has earned itself some well-deserved fans but, for me, the original is always the best.  And of those originals, the Shelby GT350 is the absolute best of the best!






Whilst the US muscle car scene has been reinvigorated by the likes of the new Mustang, GM's Chevrolet Camaro and (Fiat) / Chrysler's Charger models, there's being biblically known's chance that one of Australia's greatest-ever cars - our own take on the Charger - will ever see such a revival.  Oh how I wish that our local manufacturing sector hadn't been allowed to go mammalians-up!    




Like I said before, original is best!  Granted, this isn't the very first of the Corvette Stingrays but it has to be one of the most strikingly beautiful cars to have ever come out of America.  






Another example of a magnificent Australian car, our own version of the Ford LTD.  This one is genuinely in show-room nick with barely a mark on it anywhere.
















Pop quiz:  Classic or BMW's admittedly quite clever take on the original Mini?  I think you can guess where I stand.  Mr G Woodheap's pretty pleased with his recent purchase, too.    








For sale:  $6,500.  Some assembly required.  



Given the small size of the Jensen-owning community in Tasmania, it's a fair bet that the Jensen Healey shown here and John Regis' red example - to feature in this coming Wednesday's UMPH post - are quite rare in the island state.  This one looks magnificent with its blue duco, cream interior and Superlites.  






This XY Fairmont wagon was one of my favourite cars of the day.  It appears to be unrestored, featuring lustrous, apparently original paint and chrome, a lovely interior and nice period accessories, including bumper over-riders, twelve-slot wheels, a sun visor, Venetians and a hearse-style roof rack.  It's a V8, so I imagine it'd be the perfect cruiser.  Nice!








Another never to be repeated Aussie classic!  Plenty of people know that the later Commodore-based Monaros were sold in the US, badged as Pontiacs, but how many realise that early versions, like this one, were sold in South Africa and Indonesia wearing Chevrolet nameplates?  Now that the Holden name has been euthanised, we won't even get to see some sort of re-badged GM variant pretending to be a Monaro.  Sad.  Very, very sad indeed.  







U M P H

(uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.)

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