Upper Middle Petrol Head:

UMPH has a no comment policy in respect to E-Type Jaguars, because there's nothing left to say.  Enough said? U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.) All iPhone images.

Every so often, a Ford F Series truck finds its way into this 'blog.  UMPH isn't sure if this early pick-up from Ford is actually an F or not ; it's certainly of right the general size and configuration but its styling suggests that it's an earlier offering, possibly before the moniker was coined by their marketing people.  It's a lot rounder than the classic F s tended to be, too.  Can anyone out there shed some light on what it might actually be?    U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.) All iPhone images.

Be under no illusion, people!  This now relatively benign-looking circa 1985 Nissan Pulsar ET Turbo was one of the absolute kick-arse cars of its day.   During the mid-80s, there were really only two hot-hatches within the price range of UMPH and his mates:  the ET and the Mitsubishi Cordia Turbo.  That's not to dismiss the V8 and rotary  performance   options of the day, of course ; it's just that the Subaru WRX and Mitsubishi Lancer Evos hadn't even been thought of back then, and the Golf GTi was a bit pricey, meaning that the range of small but properly quick cars was pretty limited.  UMPH has fond memories of driving his friend Fur's ET a couple of times.  Rather than dob himself in, he'll just allude to the time he parked it in Salamanca Place, smoke pouring off its four-wheel discs, and having a passing taxi stop to offer him his fire extinguisher.  Let's just say it was outrageously quick! Another mate, Norm, bou...

I have just had my fourth, and final ever, article published in Tasmanian Living. I think most people know that I have been a proud contributor to the magazine since its first edition. However, I no longer feel that I can write for them, given that one of their editors has seen fit to re-punctuate my work with humiliating results.  Anyone who knows me will understand how absolutely mortifying I find it to have school boy errors such as it’s (a contraction of it is) rather than  its (the possessive of it) being inserted into my work, as well as the most egregious of errors, feral apostrophes (the plural of Subaru and Nissan being rendered as Subaru ’ s and Nissan ’ s). There were other edits that I was less than chuffed with, too. Why did he or she do it? I am at a loss to understand how anyone with an editorial role could be so ignorant of basic English. As pretentious - or petty, perhaps - as this may sound, I take my writing too seriously to have it ruined ...

At first glance, there wasn't anything particularly different about this immaculate MG TD .  However, closer inspection revealed that it was a left-hand-drive version and, judging by the car club badges adorning the car, it was from Canada's British Columbia.  If it is an ex-BC car, it's sure to be at home in Hobart, given the similarities between Tasmania's capital and the Canadian west coast province's largest city, Vancouver.  Both feature stunning mountains as backdrops - Hobart's being  kunyani /  Mt Wellington, while Grouse Mountain is Vancouver's equivalent.  Each was sited to take advantage of their proximity to the open sea, with Hobart having been built on the shores of the River Derwent and Vancouver situated  alongside the Straight of Georgia and English Bay.   Parks, markets and an abundance of outdoor spaces are common to both cities, too, as is a thriving cafe, pub and dining culture.  Hobart's Salamanca is argua...

This stunning 911 Turbo looked for all the world like it had just emerged from its lair, ready to pounce on some unsuspecting prey!  It had a menacing appearance with its unblemished black duco, wide wheels and whale-tail spoiler.  Perfect!    U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.) All iPhone images.