Upper Middle Petrol Head:

Interesting factoid:  the Renault Fuego's rear hatch glass is putatively the same as those fitted to Porsche 924s, 944s and 968s, but reversed so that the rear edge becomes the top front. There's further goss - apocryphal, perhaps -  that the Fuego's tail lights found their way onto the TVR Wedge (reference to Google didn't really help settle this). This may not be unrealistic, though ; a joint-venture Peugeot / Renault / Volvo   V6 engine did power the GMC Delorean , so why not? When I was a kid, I didn't much like the Fuego. I don't know why ; it strikes me now as quite a nice looking car, in a Gallic sort of way.  This particular example - snapped by the Alfa Male at a rowing event down Franklin way - looked really good. The paint and panels looked really fresh and it was set off beautifully by a set of tasteful alloys. The bold-looking plastic side mouldings are, in my opinion, way better executed than the ones on the Alfa 75, wh

The last time we saw this Alfa, it was on the back of a trailer and off for some finishing work.  It's now done and, IMHO, looking pretty damned good.  Its owner thinks so, too.  However, the painter's obviously a discerning fellow because, despite what others might think, he's not happy with it.  So, it's out with the fine grits for another rub back before it's repainted.  Again! U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.) Images stolen from the owner's FB page to save you from its Genesis- and footy-related content!

Today's post comes via the West Coast Correspondent and is a bit of an enigma.  It's badged as a Datsun 1200 and, whilst a check of Google images does show some similar ute versions from circa 1960, they're all single-cab models, almost exclusively fitted with separate trays. As you can see, this one's a crew-cab with an integral tray, making it a bit of a rarity.  It could be that it was custom-made, possibly having been based on a station wagon.  However, it's so well finished that it seems more probable that it's ex-factory. Either way, it's a fabulous looking car with amazing duco and chrome, that's complimented very nicely by a set of six spoke alloys.  And if it is a Datsun original, it might just be one of the earliest examples of a crew-cab ever. U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.) iPhone image.

Despite its Zapparian appearance, this item is not a First Church of Appliantology* fetish-satisfaction device.  It is, in fact, a highly-advanced Fiat X1/9 weight reduction machine! How so? , you ask.  Without giving away too much, there are cables and hoses, hot water and suds.  Plus a whole lotta suction.  Not at all fetishistic!      Forty one years is a long time, so the state of my Series 1 X1/9's upholstery is actually amazingly good.  Sure, there were four decades' worth of surface grime and stains but there weren't any tears, almost no scuffing and very little fading, either.   My X does, however, have its own unique smell**, quite possibly due to some sort of insecticide or other biological control agent sprayed into the car's erstwhile shipping container home when it was criss-crossing the world as a great big delivery box.  Sometimes I think I can feel my cells mutating just by breathing in its vapours!   Above and below:  driver

Today's photos come courtesy of Winnie, who snapped them recently in the Honda Museum in Montegi, Japan.   Ironically - sadly, more so - they appeared in my in-box the same day that the car's famous driver, ex-Mitsubishi WRC boss Andrew Cowan, passed away. RIP, Andrew Cowan, motorsports legend. U M P H (uppermioddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.) Photos by Winnie.

I'm no Kombi expert.  However, this lovely example would appear to be one of the earlier versions, being as it is fitted with only a single rear brake / tail light lens per side.  It's as basic as they come, featuring sliding front windows and a very spartan interior.  Just how I like 'em!  U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.) All iPhone images.

This very, very funky Triumph Herald was an absolute treat, having been fitted with some cool Bathurst Globe  wheels, a lovely wooden sports steering wheel and a touch of faux ocelot (a big cat of some description, anyway) on its driver's racing harness.  It was straight, clean, rust free and looked great with deep, lustrous cream over maroon duco and red and white interior.     U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.) All iPhone images.