Upper Middle Petrol Head:

This very tough looking Torana, photographed against the backdrop of Queensland's Alexander Headland, may or may not be a genuine SLR 5000 / A9X .  It appears to have been freshly repainted, which obviously isn't an indicator of authenticity.  However, the bonnet scoop has been moulded into the metalwork - as opposed to having been secured with allen-head bolts - and the SS badge on the grill doesn't seem quite right, either.  Had UMPH remembered, he would've checked to see if the car was fitted with rear discs, as genuine  A9X versions were so equipped but even that's not a fool-proof way telling a replica from the real deal, as it is possible to fit disc brake rear ends into later UC Sunbird shells. Torana fans might also enjoy: https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7165367970551834236#editor/target=post;postID=5206218543508516822;onPublishedMenu=overview;onClosedMenu=overview;postNum=20;src=postname , featuring a very nice re...

Isn't that the truth!  What's more, the driver of the Austin 1800 in the following photos is living his or her own bumper sticker.  This is definitely not a boring car. Spotted on Hobart's Queen's Domain, it looks to be in very original condition with what appears to be factory-applied duco and all its period accessories present and intact.  It even features a genuine the car of the century sticker on the rear window, just like they came out with in the late 60s.   Everything, right down to the badges shown above and below, were in place.  All the panels, chrome and interior were in great nick, too. The 'floats on fluid' is a reference to the car's unique Hydrolastic suspension. U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au .) All iPhone images.

UMPH struggled for an adjective with enough gravitas to describe this early 70s Ford LTD .  Stately didn't quite do it.   Imposing didn't work, either.   Elegant ?   Not quite but nearly ... .   Regal might have done the trick, had Chrysler not already taken it as the name for one of its Valiant variants.    Eventually he settled on  venerable , as in deserving of respect due to age and character.  And let's face it, that does sum up the car quite well, given that it's forty five-odd years old and has a rather individual - one might say  characterful - face.   It's often seen around Hobart being driven by an elegantly coiffured lady who, if UMPH's recollection is correct, has been at its helm since the early 80s.  It has always been beautifully kept throughout that time and presents as a much, much newer vehicle than it is. LTDs were the top of Ford's Australian line-up, sitting above the Fairlane but sharing the s...

This flash red Morris Minor ute belongs to pastry chef Alistair Wise, who some say is Tasmania's answer to Adriano Zumbo (but better!).  Alistair also owns Elizabeth Street,  North Hobart, institution  Sweet Envy ( http://www.sweetenvy.com )  and  operates the classic ice cream truck  Big Bessie , which is a regular at Hobart's better festivals and events.  Alistair and Big Bessie (internet image) U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com .) All iPhone images.

Identifying some Holden models is a bit esoteric for UMPH.  Take, for example, the FB and EK series, which to the untrained eye are very similar. Reference to Holden Heaven ( http://www.holden.org.au/model/ek-holden/ ) suggests that this is an  EK , as the earlier FB is said to have had wider-spaced front indicators (hard to tell from photos alone) and, more tellingly, didn't feature the red badge built into the chromework shown in the magnificent example depicted here.  Please feel free to leave a comment if UMPH needs setting straight.  It's also hard to fathom is the logic of Holden's model designation.  It's quite widely accepted that in normal people's alphabets the letter E  precedes the letter F .  It would therefore seem reasonable that an EK would be the version that came before the FB .  But no, not in Holden-Land ; GMH's interpretation has it the other way around!  ( E H s are later than E J s, too.  Is there ...