Upper Middle Petrol Head:

This superb XL Falcon ute was next level in terms of its condition and presentation!  It simply dazzled, quite literally, as these photos show.  Not only were the panels, paint and chrome perfect, its Fairlane-style hub caps, white-wall tyres, sumptuous red interior and exquisite wooden Mustang sports steering wheel added a touch of class that made it as good, if not better, than any similar era Falcon - be it a sedan, hardtop, wagon, van or ute - that I've ever seen.  Lovely! U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.) iPhone images  

  There seems to have been a real resurgence in the classic Japanese car scene of late, with plenty of tricked-up 60s, 70s and 80s Toyotas, Datsuns, Mazdas and Mitsubishis hitting the streets, resplendent with new paint, fat tyres on old-school 13" rims and forward-mounted JDM-style mirrors. Today's example - a circa 1975 KE35 Corolla, judging by the grille - is more street fighter than pretty boy, wearing its slightly bent nose and here and there battle scars with real attitude! Its black bolt-on flares and boot spoiler contrast very nicely with the yellow duco, as does the blacked-out bonnet, while the JDM exterior mirrors and "jelly bean" mags look a treat. I've seen and heard it once or twice on the street and am pleased to report that it sounds like it looks:  angry and ready to take on anything! U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.) iPhone images.

Today's excellent selection of cars was captured by Peter R, a former Tasmanian forensic photographer who's now a resident of south east Queensland.  He says that they're just a few of the confirmed 772 vehicles on display at the Bayside Vehicle Restorers' 2021 Australia Day Rally at the Ormiston State School. Extending the Tasmanian link is the fact that the first three cars - each of them quite rare and desirable - have had doppelgangers entered in Targa Tasmania.  For example, a version of the car shown above and below - A circa 1963 Jensen CV8 - participated in the 2009, 2010 and 2014 events, taking out first- and podium-places, as well as being similarly successful in the Targa High Country (Victoria) and Classic Adelaide tarmac rallies. Similarly, a "Kermit Green" example of this Renault 4CV participated in Targa Tasmania in the early 2000s, piloted by Colin Rose with Iain Watson doing duty as co-driver.  It might be the perfect example of the "driv