Upper Middle Petrol Head:

There's "factory" and then there's, well ... THIS, a car seemingly so perfectly restored that it's all but impossible to believe that it's not actually better than new.  And even if it had rolled off the regular Chrysler Australia production line as-is, it would have to have been a sweetheart deal for one of the workers with all his mates on the line chipping in to make sure that it was just right.  Oh, and nobody's dared to put the slightest blemish on it in the intervening 55 years since it was built! The paint, panels and chrome are immaculate, as is the interior.  All the badges and decals are present and correct, and in first rate order.  It's also wearing a pristine set of original hubcaps and the tyres appear to be era-appropriate, too.  *Since first writing this piece, I've been privileged to receive the engine shot below, because, as the justifiably proud owner says, he "... was not there to open [the bonnet] ... at the time of the p...

  I'm in no hurry to check-out, but, when my earthly tenure does expire, this stunning Maserati hearse-cum-Batmobile would make a suitable exit statement.  It’s definitely a step up from the aging Holden Statesman-based coffin-hauler I'll probably end up in, assuming petrol's still available when I do take my final gasp and that I'm not subjected to the indignity of riding to the pre-party in a Chinese EV. It's likely that this particular example - based on a Ghibli platform and captured by the Egg Man in Genoa, Italy - was built by Italian carrozzeria to the dearly departed Ellena ( https://www.ellenafuneralcar.com/veicoli-funebri/autofunebri/ ).  If so, it's the firm's stand-out design, with the rest of their mainly Mercedes-based offerings exhibiting about as much style as the grotesquely munted SsangYong Stavic.  Italian all the way is clearly the only way to go (out)! Did you enjoy this post?  If so, why not browse the rest of the uppermiddlepetrolhead ...

What had been forecast to be a very, very wet Sunday turned out to be a rather pleasant day at Sandy Bay’s Classics by the Beach monthly cars and coffee.  Not only did the predicted heavy rain not eventuate, the sun came out and provided a bit of warmth, just in time for the first calendar day of summer.   Photo by Gor.  Leon’s “Mimosa” yellow, Michelotti-designed Triumph Dolomite Sprint was just one of many, many wonderful cars in attendance but its colourful hue really did add to the event’s summer vibe.   Being a Sprint, it came standard with a nippy 2.0 litre, 16 valve, single overhead cam head (yes, a  single OHC engine with 16 valves),   and overdrive on third and fourth gears.  Upgraded front disc pads and larger rear drums were also part of the package, while a limited slip differential was an option. All this was put to good use several years ago when Leon and his son put the Dolomite through its paces in the Touring section of the iconic Targ...