Upper Middle Petrol Head:

The Mk1 Volkswagen Golf was a total game-changer when it was released in the mid-1970s.  For VW, it was a huge departure from their roots, abandoning a long-history of exclusively air-cooled, rear-engined vehicles for a water-cooled, front engined format with front wheel drive. Many would argue that the sports version of the Golf - the GTi - also marked the birth of the "hot hatch," although Peugeot 205 GTi fans might argue that the Pug is the rightful heir to that accolade.  I won't enter into that argument but do observe that the Golf was first, and by several years, leaving Francophillic car fans to contest that the latter wins because it was hotter.  (Again, something I'll leave well alone!)  I suspect the owner of the example shown here wouldn't be offended if I observed that it was more survivor car than pampered classic but it is pretty straight and tidy, with its GT stripes perhaps alluding to its sportier GTi siblings.  Other than those strip

It's no secret that I'm a big fan of 1970s Japanese hardtops and coupes, with a particular love of Mitsubishis of that era.  Therefore, I could never not feature this street fighting LA Lancer, even if the race meeting at which I saw it was hosted by Tasmania's premier Italian car club, Club Motori Italia.   It's badged as a 2.0 litre but reference to the entrants' list states it's actually a   2.6 !  My own GC Galant hardtop features the 2.0 Astron and benefits quite nicely for the extra 400 cc over the standard 1.6 Saturn offering, so this car clearly flies, given that the smaller, lighter Lancers were adequate in stock 1.4 litre guise and quite gutsy when fitted with a 1.6 or 1.75 litre variant of that power plant.   There's no indication that the car's road registered, although it looks like it would pass a road worthy without any real difficulties.  It's fitted with a full cage, racing seat and a four- or five-point harness, a sp