Upper Middle Petrol Head:

When people are asked to identify their favourite American vehicles, most nominate muscle cars like Ford Mustangs , Chevrolet  Camaros or Dodge Chargers .   Others will cite Cadillacs or other full-blown 'yank tanks' as the automobiles that most float their boats.    UMPH's views are different, of course ; for him, the USA's best car is the American Motors Corporation's (AMC's) Rambler Hornet , as shown here with this magnificent example photographed in Hobart on a gorgeous early autumn morning.   According to Wkipedia: A total of 1,825 Hornets were built at the  Australian Motor Industries  (AMI) factory at  Port Melbourne  in  Victoria , Australia, between 1970 and 1975. [45]  The Hornet was sold in  Australia  as the Rambler Hornet, only in four-door sedan body style. [45]  It was fitted with either a 232 cu in (3.8 L) or 258 cu in (4.2 L) six-cylinder engine and with an automatic transmission. [45] While the Hornet was the least expensive

If a bit of paint crazed paint counts as patina, this venerable Morris 1100 is as patinated as all hell.   That being said, though, the car's actually in pretty good nick, with really straight, rust-free panels, nice chrome and a very neat and tidy interior.  All the hubcaps and wheel trims, badges and trim are present, too ; nothing seems to be missing.   The sticker shown above is unlikely to mean anything to anyone, unless they're:  a. well over forty years old;  b. from Hobart; and  c. listened to local radio station 7HO (now HOFM) during the late 70s and early 80s, but, if they are, it's likely to stir some nostalgic memories.   And, if you are over forty, a Hobartian and a former listener to 7HO, you will almost certainly enjoy this gem from Vinnie and the V8s (AKA Cooke and Moore): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmaNxPuS0dI . U M P H (uppermidddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.) All iPhone images.

Splendid is a fitting adjective for this truly magnificent Mark I - or, as they're also affectionately known,  Frog- or Bug-eye -  Austin Healey Sprite.  Actually, truly magnificent is also an adjective (and an apt one, at that!) but with a car this lovely (yet another one), it would be hard to over-use complimentary adjectives!!  U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.) All iPhone images

This 2.0 litre Alfa GTV, photographed in North Hobart, looked fabulous in gun metal grey and was nicely set off by a set of very stylish Momo alloy wheels.  The interior was very tidy, too ; the standard-fit Recaros, with their classic mesh headrests, were in really good nick without rips or major fading.  Very nice indeed! U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.co.au.) All iPhone images.

This is my 1975 GC  Galant hardtop, photographed on Rosny Hill, overlooking the River Derwent in Tasmania's capital city of Hobart.   It's finally finished after a five year incremental rebuild that culminated in an excellent respray at Kerryn and Bruce Payne's Talon Bodyworks at 110 Charles Street, Moonah (Ph: 6273 0959). I have owned The Galant since October, 1981, when I bought it in Hobart for $3,800.  This was a reasonable amount, considering that the average salary back then was in the vicinity of $6,000 per year.   It was originally equipped with a 1.6 litre motor and a four speed manual transmission, as were all Galants available in Australia at that time.   However, I fairly quickly converted it to full Japanese hardtop spec, swapping the 1.6 for a twin-carb 2 litre 4G52 and fitting an original (not ex-Sigma Borg Warner) JDM five-speed 'box. Mitsubishi badges are proudly displayed because, like all Galant hardtops, this car was manufactured in Japan