Upper Middle Petrol Head:

It surprises UMPH that more car makers haven't embraced the Fiat X1/9 concept, by which he means creating a mid-engined sports car from essentially stock mechanicals. In the case of the X1/9, Fiat took a 128 motor, gearbox and other running gear and slotted it into a sexy little coupe body. It's arguable that Toyota took their lead from Fiat, given the first of the MR2s follows that same concept - and, quite obviously, the styling - from the Italian manufacturer's iconic model.  Mechanically, the second series of the MR2, like the one shown here, follows the same basic formula, again using what is essentially a front wheel drive Corolla drive train but this time fitting it to a slightly Ferrari-esque coupe body. The third of the MR2s - a spyder-style sports car - again followed the same convention and took its componentry from the same source, although its styling is more reminiscent of a Porsche Boxter than its predecessors. The example shown he...

Highjacked Upper Middle Petrol Head: Celebrating Penang's Classic Car Culture. Look at this little beauty. A celebration of the Malaysian car industry from the early 90's. On 15 August 1992, the Proton Saga Iswara was launched (to the dismay of the world). It shares the older Mitsubishi platform used in the original Proton Saga, but its exterior and interior styling are unique to Proton (as it started to rust when leaving the factory). The Saga Iswara was widely used as taxicabs in Malaysia during the 1990s and 2000s, and many continue in service (doubtful). On 21 May 1993 the Proton Wira was introduced, a car which was better equipped and larger than the Saga and Saga Iswara (still rubbish). The Wira is based on the fourth-generation 1991 Mitsubishi Lancer (god help us) and was sold in a four-door saloon guise at launch. The Proton Wira Aeroback, a five-door hatchback variant featuring a Proton-designed rear-end, joined the range in 1994. The Wir...

This lovely Mustang was spotted by UMPH correspondents Matt and Marita during a recent trip to the Land of the Long White Cloud.  It's a leftie, so, like so many Mustangs seen here in Oz, it's almost certainly been imported to NZ from the US.  Nice! Do you have car photos you'd like to share with UMPH readers?  If so, please feel free to email them to alastair.watson1463@gmail.com. U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au)

The Dash Board Doctor has acquitted himself very well so far ... by doing nothing! Well, that's not actually true ... . He took the time to phone, explain that the dash pad that had been sent wasn't quite up to scratch (cracks aren't a problem but shrinkage and warping is) and warn that, given its sad condition (it is warped and it has shrunk), the final result may not be as good as had been expected. It was agreed that a halt-work was in order. The doctor clearly cares about his work! A rare beast (a spare GC/D Galant dash pad). Fortunately there was a Plan B involving a secret cache of Galant parts hidden away where only the true cognoscenti might know where to look. However, the dash pad from that treasure trove also presented a few problems ... . It might be fine as a boomerang but it's not quite the crowning glory of Galantdom it was intended to be! A rare, but slightly imperfect, be...

Is it humanly possible to ever, ever get tired of looking at E-Type Jags?  Of course not!  Enjoy!! U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.) All iPhone images.

If Roy Orbison ever drove a ute, it would have been this one:  the Valiant Wayfarer.   This particular example, photographed in North Hobart, was magnificent! Every aspect of the vehicle - its duco, chrome, badging, interior and accessories - was first rate. Its whole look was nicely finished of with some apparently standard wheels, shod with contemporary radials, featuring red centres and neat chrome outer rings. U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.) All iPhone images.

The Galant resto is almost done, with only a respray for the bonnet, roof and boot, and  the dash-pad refurb remaining on the to-do list .  Enter, the Dashboard Doctor ( http://dashboarddoctor.com.au ) !   Above and below are the 'before' photos, showing a couple of major cracks and a few minor ones, too.  Stay tuned for the 'after' shots which will hopefully show the facia-fixing motoring medico's work at its best.  There will also be an unbiased - meaning unsolicited and unpaid - report on the quality and cost of the job. U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.) All iPhone images.