Upper Middle Petrol Head:

UMPH's cup runneth over!  First his previous post's MGA then, minutes later, this spot-on early Golf GTI in Elizabeth Street, North Hobart. Hard to believe that it's 35 years old! According to its current owner, it was an original UK car that accompanied the chap that used own it to Victoria, Australia, when he migrated about ten years ago.   It ended up not being driven that often and was sold to our Tasmanian friend a few years later.  These original Pirelli wheels look great! Now the lucky bloke's got two Mark 1 GTIs, which isn't a bad effort seeing that they weren't ever commercially available here in Australia.  It's thought that there are maybe only ten or so in the whole country.   U M P H. (iPhone images.) ( uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au ).

This magnificent MGA was seen beautifying Argyle Street, Hobart, on a lovely summer's afternoon.  Enough said?  Please enjoy! U M P H. (iPhone images.) (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au).

The latest installment of Targa Tasmania - the 25th anniversary of our island state's iconic motor sport event - is being held from Monday the 11th to Saturday the 16th of April, 2016 ( http://targa.com.au/tc/page_standard.asp?asset_id=1624 ).   This fully caged-out Lancia HPE was spotted outside EuroTech in North Hobart, which, given the timing and the car's location outside a well-known Italian car specialist's workshop and race-gear supplier, suggests that it might be an entrant.  iPhone image. iPhone image. For those of you who aren't able to make it to Tasmania to watch, here's a taste of what you'll be missing out on from 2015:  http://uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au/2015/04/targa-tasmania-tarraleah-stage-friday.html  . Please also keep an eye out on this 'blog for a pictorial of some 25th anniversary Targa action (due mid- to late April).   Good luck to all entrants and safe, happy viewing to the many spectators that will...

Today's Random features two Pontiac Parisiennes, a couple of Chevrolet Impalas and a Cadillac, all out for a cruise on a very pleasant summer's evening in Hobart. UMPH would like to extend a thank you to the ladies and gents who allowed him to snap the photos featured here, and for readily consenting to their being uploaded to his 'blog. He hopes that they enjoyed the evening as much as the many on-lookers clearly appreciated the spectacle that their beautiful cars provided. Cheers, U M P H.  (All iPhone images.) (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au).

If you're more into five-spice than five-speeds or twice cooked duck rather than twin-cams, here's the UMPH Compendium of Enjoyable Drive-to Lunch Venues.  Each post includes cars to a lesser or greater extent, but they all feature an at least half-decent lunch within 45 minutes' or so drive from Hobart.    The Lotus Eater, Cygnet: ( https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7165367970551834236#editor/target=post;postID=1789515365344557423;onPublishedMenu=posts;onClosedMenu=posts;postNum=33;src=postname ). The Dunalley Fish Market: ( https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7165367970551834236#editor/target=post;postID=474950151775218502;onPublishedMenu=posts;onClosedMenu=posts;postNum=32;src=postname ). The Strathgordon Lodge:  ( https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7165367970551834236#editor/target=post;postID=6152892856685900244;onPublishedMenu=posts;onClosedMenu=posts;postNum=31;src=postname ). Home Hill Restaurant and Winery,  Rannel...

The term car-porn will hence forth no longer appear in UMPH posts.  Why?  Bemused by the sudden spike in page-hits for his previous entry Random Car Porn # 1: Volvo P1800 ( www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7165367970551834236#editor/target=post;postID=8348989909250527120;onPublishedMenu=posts;onClosedMenu=posts;postNum=2;src=postname ), he innocently Googled the term and discovered a whole new genre of nudie-sex-romp pictorials, their only car-related feature being that said naked action occurred in, on or around parked vehicles. Random Car Porn # 1  has  probably left quite a few punters a little disappointed with UMPH's rather demure depiction of a Volvo not festooned with cavorting couples in various stages of dishabille.  Given the Swedish connotations, it may have put some readers in mind of some sort of blonde-on-blonde post-sauna antics...  But UMPH digresses.   The subject of this week's quickie-post - from now on to be known...

Body image is a serious problem.  It's not just an issue for teen-aged girls, either ; it has also been known to afflict those of middle-age.        Some, like this lean and mean XB GT Falcon, have got chiseled bodies that belie their advancing years.  It takes a lot of work to keep a body looking this good!  Others are ... more, umm, rounded , shall we say?  Take for example this immaculate looking Beetle.  A whole lotta work has gone into this body, too.  (Damned pole!) So why should we feel insecure about our bodies?  The owner of an identically rounded vehicle - one could say curvaceous , depending on your perspective - couldn't bring himself to park his amongst the main pack.   Vehicles don't have to be exquisitely restored or highly regarded exotica to hold a place in the pantheon of classics.  So, whether your car is of a rare and highl...