Classics by the Beach: January, 2024

We've got a bit of an Italian theme happening for the first Classics by the Beach of 2024, starting with Darren's lovely 1980 Fiat Spider and ending, somewhat ignominiously, with some yobbo's* scabrous Fiat 128 3P. There's also a recently restored Alfasud and two classic Fiat 500s, before moving on to some other countries' marques: Lucky 13 Garage's magnificent Chevrolet truck, a fast-back GT 350 Mustang, a genuine ZZ/R Gemini and a beautiful XW Fairmont, plus a few other cars thrown in for good measure.

Darren's rightly proud of his Fiat Spider. So proud, in fact, that he's owned it twice, having sold it and then spent sixteen regret-filled years searching for it Australia-wide via Fiat forums, on-line car sales sites and through word of mouth, only to find it listed on GumTree a few years back. So, where was it all that time? Not twenty minutes' drive from his Eastern Shore home, tucked up in a collector's shed in Moonah!

This lovely Alfasud belongs to second generation Club Motori Italia member John, who rebuilt the car himself. It's a really, really tidy example of a car that has, sadly, become fairly rare. Fortunately, there are still some 'suds left; John's has a stablemate - his father's - pictured below in action at the Baskerville Raceway in 2021 (please see: https://uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com/2021/03/club-motori-italia-supersprints-march.html).

Troy's privately imported Isuzu Gemini ZZ/R has featured on this 'blog before (please go to: https://uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com/2023/05/picnic-at-ross-2023.html). However, this is the first time that we've been able to take a peek at its 1800cc twin-cam engine - a power-plant that was not available in Australian-built Geminis. But that's not the only component setting the high-performance JDM version of the car from its more prosaic cousins Down Under; Japanese ZZ/Rs also run close-ratio five speed 'boxes, four wheel disc brakes and limited slip diffs!

What you see is what you get. Other than the excellent paint, panels, tray and interior trim, there are no clues as to what else has been upgraded on this amazing Chevy, but it sure does look cool! We weren't sure what Lucky 13 Garage was but managed to find this website that seems to have some connection to the truck: https://lucky13garage.au/.

*Me.

U M P H

(uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.)

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