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Classics by the Beach: October, 2023

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We're working our way from small to big today, starting with this diminutive Austin Healey Frog Eye Sprite and ending with a straight-eight cylinder Buick behemoth.  Along the way, we'll visit a couple of Jags, a pair of almost matching XB Falcon utes, a lovely Morris Eight, another Austin Healey - the larger 100/4 - as well as a Mazda RX4, and as clean and tidy a VH Commodore as you're ever likely to see.   Sadly, that's the sum total for our coverage of October's instalment of Sandy Bay's first Sunday of the month cars 'n' coffee event - held at Long Beach from around 9:00 to 11:00 am - as some sudden squally weather put a premature end to the show, sending many of the open-top contingent scuttling for cover.  It's a pity that a few more didn't brave the short burst of wintriness, as it cleared up within ten minutes or so, leaving plenty of vacant car spaces and quite a few disappointed spectators.   Did you enjoy this article?  If so, why ...

Random # 335: 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS

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  This left-hooker American muscle car is even better for not being a Mustang, Camaro or Corvette.  Sure, they're all really great examples of the genre but when it comes to exclusivity, this mid-sized Chevell Sport Sedan has them beat, with very, very few - if any - gracing Tasmania's roads.  Today's car featured stunning gun metal grey duco, flawless chrome and a pristine interior.  The only non-stock items visible were a set of super tasty multi-spoke alloys shod with low profile rubber. I won't bang on about crap I know nothing about, so here's a link to the Chevrolet Chevelle Wikipedia page:   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Chevelle .  It's no doubt more accurate, and informative, than I could ever hope to be.   If the Chevelle nameplate has piqued your interest, below are links to two further examples, both photographed a few years back in Darwin and available on Upper Middle Petrol Head: https://uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot....

Readers’ Photos # 128: Aston Martin DB5

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Cue the music!   The Aston Martin DB5 is one of just a handful of cars that comes with its very own soundtrack, along with other screen greats the Batmobile (the proper Adam West version!) and Agent 86's Sunbeam Tiger.  Hell, I'm not sure that even the nitro-sucking "last of the V8 Interceptors," with its Phase 4 heads and 600 horsepower, rated its own recognisable tune. I know sod-all about today's magnificent DB5 - bought to us courtesy of the Master Blaster - but it is a great excuse to link a couple of really interesting Aston Martin YouTubes, one of which is presented by none other than The Stig:  https://youtube.com/watch?v=69WlGUp-D0c&si=-ffDPufxSqHqGt1U   https://youtube.com/watch?v=kkP_RYkUW2U&si=XokKEAVwD56-o5HY And, just because I know you'll love it: https://youtu.be/VpDLeo4lcCg?si=oGaupTl-JRW0aFWs . U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.)

From the Former Chief Canberra Correspondent: Morris Major Revisited

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Regular readers may recognise this uber-cool Morris Major from the Upper Middle Petrol Head Classics by the Beach series ( https://uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com/2022/09/classics-by-beach-september-2022.html ).   And those of you that do follow this 'blog would know that we try very, very hard not show cars that have already been featured. But in our defence, today's car has received a nice upgrade since we last saw it and now sports a set of "jelly bean" alloys, as well as wearing a number 6 decal that's an artefact from its recent successful run at Club Motori Italia's Lufra hillclimb.   Woof! That and the fact that the former Chief Correspondent's are just so damned good! U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.) Photos by former CCC Lt Dogwash, RANR.