I've been waiting to capture this lovely Saab 900 Turbo for a very, very long time, often seeing it while its owner does coffee not far from UMPH HQ and I simultaneously do something else that precludes stopping to make a closer inspection. Fortunately, the opportunity to properly ogle one of the most original examples of the highly innovative Swedish marque in Tasmania finally arrived at the February, 2022, installment of Classics by the Beach at Hobart's Sandy Bay.
The car is strikingly original, featuring the super-classic Saab snowflake wheels (I don't know if that's what they're officially called or colloquially known as, but how could they not have attracted that moniker?), TURBO badging, headlight wipers, a sunroof, rear spoiler, a nifty three-spoke steering wheel that's vaguely reminiscent of a Momo Monte Carlo, an unusual but not unattractive green interior and the quirkiest seatbelt buckles I've ever seen. The duco and interior are first rate, as is the car's entire presentation. I'm so pleased to have finally had a decent look-see!
This Dodge Kingsway is new to me and possibly the Sandy Bay gathering, although the SI rego number suggests that it's been around for a while. I love its art deco-inspired chrome work - especially the ram crossed with a lizard phallic symbol of a bonnet emblem - and the tail fins that were possibly added to lend a bit of currency to what was at the time an older design, just as such rocket-inspired protrusions were becoming all the rage for US-made vehicles.
If I'm not mistaken - yes, it happens! - this Wolseley 4/44 is effectively the same as an MG Magnette. It may even be that it's actually a triplet, as there was a lot of badge engineering going on in the 1950s British car industry, and I'd hazard to guess that there was also a Riley variant. If anyone would like to enlighten me on this, please feel free to leave a comment. I could google it but, somehow, it's more authentic if someone who knows his or her stuff does the explaining.
In my day job, I'm allowed to - and occasionally do - yell at people who stand between me, my camera and whatever it is that I'm photographing. This would be frowned upon at Classics by the Beach. Therefore, I let the throngs of people that gather around some cars speak to how popular those machines are, as was the case with this immaculately restored BMW 2002 Bauer cabriolet. Seriously, it was nearly impossible to get a clear shot of the car, such was attention it attracted. And deservedly so; it was absolutely beautiful, with immaculate paint, a perfect interior, an engine you could eat off, and perfectly matched alloy wheels. What a treat!
Three things tickled me about the gorgeous TC or TD MG. First, there was the unparalleled luxury of the padded armrest shown below; next was the beautifully embossed MG badge inside the door pocket, between the luxo armrest and the maps and other documents also visible in that same image; and, finally, there was the most impressive exhaust system exiting the passenger's side of the bonnet, Spitfire fighter plane style, and running the full length of the car. I'm not sure sure I'd be so impressed with the latter if I burned myself on it but it does feature some rudimentary heat-wrap.
Sam's Alfasud presents like a well-cared for ten year old Japanese car and not what is, quite tragically, one of the very most rust prone models by a famed maker of rusty vehicles from a country whose automobiles are infamous for rusting. It really is just lovely.
And from what I hear, Sam's nearly completed Fiat 128 Sports Lusso is similarly immaculate. There's a chance that it'll be making its debut at Classics in March, alongside my own scabrous but structurally sound 128 3P. I'm rather looking forward it!
If you've missed them, please have a look at some of the recent UMPH posts, including, but not limited to: Mrs UMPH's photos of an extremely cute Fiat 500, the Project 3P series (my aforementioned scabrous Fiat 128) and Mark Bradshaw's quite rare 1969 Pontiac 350 Firebird. There's also a soon to be published, very cool old school HK panel van from Victoria, captured as it toured Tasmania, as well as coverage of the recent Mustang gathering on the lawns of Parliament House, Hobart.
U M P H
(uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.)
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