Upper Middle Petrol Head:

Like the fabulous RX3 of a few posts ago, this Mustang was spotted in Launceston by correspondent Mr Beard. If you've got any classic car images you'd like to share, please feel free to do a Beard and send them to UMPH via alastair.watson1463@gmail.com. U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.)

Minor mishap:  driver's side mirror went west!  The friendly owners of this lovely Stag are living the life, touring Tasmania and taking in its fabulous sights, eating our amazing food and driving our very, very driveable roads, having just arrived in Hobart from the west coast. And what a great car to be doing it in:  a four-speed manual with an electric overdrive on 3rd and 4th gears, coupled to an original Triumph 3.0 litre V8! Stags' reputations were initially sullied by shoddy British Leyland assembly that saw them suffer from over-heating, amongst other quality control issues, resulting in many owners fitting 3.5 litre Rover V8s to their cars. However, this particular example's cooling system was carefully rebuilt and now runs without problems, easily coping with 30 degrees-plus temperatures encountered near Canberra at the commencement of the trip. These days, Stag owners have a wealth of accumulated knowledge on overcoming the BL-rel

The subject of today's post - an early 1980s Mercedes 500 SL - hails from the ancestral home of the UMPH mother-in-law.  Despite this unfortunate association, UMPH really loves the big, bold Teutonic style of this magnificent beast with its 5 litre V8 motor and imposing road presence. As an example of the marque, this particular car could hardly be faulted.  If it hasn't recently undergone a fairly comprehensive restoration, it has clearly been kept in first-rate condition ;  everything from its mohair roof through to its paint, chrome and interior were in near perfect condition. U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.) All iPhone images.

UMPH was born in the year of the EH Holden and grew up in the 1970s when, like so many cars of that time, they had become affordable for younger drivers.   The 70s were no different to today  when it comes to youths and their vehicles, in that cars often became the focus for personal expression and identity through modification. This absolutely immaculate EH Special , photographed in North Hobart,   therefore epitomises the late 60s and early 70s' 'hotted-up' look that is, for UMPH and others of his era, exactly what an early Holden of Ford Falcon should look like (only better).   Why better? , you ask.  Not only was the car bang-on for period features (Aunger mags, a wooden three spoke sports steering wheel, a dash-top tacho and a great exhaust note), its emerald green duco, glittering chrome and perfect interior would easily exceed the quality of any young yobbo's ride back in the day! UMPH was able to grab a few quick words with the proud owner, det

This extremely tidy Mazda RX3 was spotted recently in Launceston in Tasmania's north.  Unfortunately, rotary Mazdas seem to have all but disappeared from the state's roads, popping up only very rarely, whereas RX2s, RX3s and RX4s were once common.  UMPH can't even think when he last saw an R100 or an RX5 and even Series I & II RX7s have dropped off the radar a bit. U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au). Image courtesy of Andy Beard.        

This is a third generation, or A70 in official Toyota terms, Supra.  It was therefore manufactured somewhere between 1986 and 1993, and marks the first time that the model diverged from the Celica on which the earlier two versions were based.  When the two lines split, the Celica changed to front-wheel drive while the Supra, which had always been fitted with a larger six-cylinder motor, retained the front engine, rear-wheel drive configuration previously common to both. The car featured here, seen in Tasmania's capital city of Hobart, was in great condition and was nicely modified, too.  It was fitted with a very tasteful set of five-spoke alloy wheels, slotted brake rotors, Brembo calipers and what appeared to be an after-market exhaust system.   Supras were considered to be sports / GT vehicles and this one, fitted with a turbo-charged 3.0 litre engine, would easily fit that category.  Although there were European vehicles in that class available in Australia during

This HZ Holden Premier , photographed in inner-city Hobart on a gorgeous summer's day, was absolutely original, with no signs of modification, repaired crash damage, rust or anything but the lightest wear and tear.  The only deficit was the passengers' side rear door was missing the plastic strip that prevents door-to-door damage when parked beside other vehicles.   Being a Premier , the car featured up-market extras like quad quartz-halogen headlights, front and rear bumper over-riders, fancier hubcaps and extra badging.  Inside, there were velour-trimmed bucket front seats, a T-bar auto shifter and a full console, as well as a higher-spec radio / cassette player. The HZ was the last of a series of large six cylinder and V8 vehicles that included 1971 - 74's HQ, the HJ of 1974 - '76 and the HX, with a production run that spanned 1976 - 77.  The manufacture of HZs ended in 1980.   All models from the HQ to the HZ shared the same basic body and range of