Classics by the Beach: June, 2023.

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I don't need the planets to align to make me happy.  But line up four immaculate MGAs - a twin cam, a 1500 and two 1600s - well, that's another matter entirely!    

That's exactly what greeted me when I rolled up to June, 2023's, instalment of Classics by the Beach, Hobart's biggest and best free car show, held on the first Sunday of each month at Sandy Bay, 15 minutes' drive from the CBD.  It wasn't a coincidence, of course; the cars' owners clearly know a thing or two about presentation!

The blue twin cam has featured previously on this site (please see: https://uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com/2018/04/classics-by-beach-sunday-1st-of-april.html), while the remaining three have also made appearances in other UMPH coverage of Classics.  And whilst each one is a truly lovely example of the model, the effect of all four being together exponentially boosts their glorious appeal! 










This circa 1955 Series 1 long wheel base Land Rover ute definitely piqued my interest, as my family had one well into the 1970s.  The slab-sided Series 1s were about as basic as you could get but, hey, they got the job done!

This is a close-up of the driver's front mudguard, aft of the wheel, and reads "... Bros, Cooma."


















It wasn't all MGs and classic Landies, as this excellent 1968 Beetle shows.  According to its owner - VW expert and proprietor of the eponymous Andrew Robinson Automotive of Pearl Street, Moonah - it's a 1968 edition powered by a 1600 cc donk. 

It's only just been put back on the road, having been crashed in 1974 and been laid-up in a shed until very, very recently, when Andrew bought the car and worked his magic upon it.  It's got lovely duco, sits on slightly wider than stock wheels and has been lowered just a tad.  It's lovely in every way; the engine bay and passenger compartment are both as tidy as its exterior. 








Mate Nick wondered out loud if the Lotus Exige 410 Sport Targa Limited Edition was really a thing or a figment of someone's fertile imagination.  Wonder no more, Nick: https://targa.com.au/lotus-exige-sport-410-targa-edition/; turns out it's a collaboration between Lotus and Targa Tasmania and this particular car is just one of ten ever produced.  Nice!  










Thanks, as always, to all the owners who bought their cars down to the Bay for public consumption, and especially those who took the time to explain the finer points and histories of those vehicles.  It's hugely appreciated!

Did you enjoy this article?  If so, why not browse the rest of the uppermiddlepetrolhead site?  There are loads and loads of classic, sports and performance vehicles featured, as well as stacks of car shows and motorsports events.

Here's just one example: https://uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com/2023/05/upper-middle-petrol-head-drives-john.html, a short piece detailing a double road-test involving a Jensen-Healey and a race-prepped MGB.  It even includes a bonus video of dubious artistic merit but the sounds the cars make does mitigate the woeful editing just a bit! 

And if you do enjoy what you read and see, you can follow either the 'blog itself or do so via Upper Middle Petrol Head's Facebook page.  And please do feel free to like and share!






U M P H

(uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.)







Comments

  1. Anonymous5 June 2023 at 17:35

    Thanks for the great pics and write up. Looking forward to the next one. 😀

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous6 June 2023 at 19:13

    You utter , utter basket. How dare you throw down before me an MGA - in in my opinion, being the best of such brand with a chassis, then an early Land Rover! Haven't heard of such since my pappy's stories of his cousins farm down in Scone.



    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous6 June 2023 at 19:29

      I can only apologise for my utterly despicable behaviour! 🤣.

      Delete
  3. Anonymous12 June 2023 at 12:35

    Thanks a again for recognising our little MG A day at Longbeach
    Such incredible cars one by one, displayed together is sensational and photos are special
    How do I secure me a copy without breaching your rights

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous12 June 2023 at 17:33

    Thanks. As for securing copies, just email me on alastair.watson1463@gmail.com.

    ReplyDelete

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