Upper Middle Petrol Head:

Was the EH a turning point in the evolution of Holden?  It certainly was a departure from some of their earlier cars, ditching the rounded lines of the "FX" (48-215) and FJ through to the FE and FC, as well as moving beyond the fifties' tail-fins of the FB and EK. And even though it was an evolution of the EJ, its squarer overall look was significantly more modern and, arguably, attractive.  What's more, the EH saw the introduction of the "red" motor which was Holden's first major upgrade over the "grey" donk that powered all their previous cars.   Somehow, the EH's successor, the HD of 1965-66, never had the same following.  It wasn't until the very popular HR - an update of the HD in the same way that the EH followed the EJ - came along that the public really embraced Holden's six-cylinder offering again.  It's arguable that the HR was also a milestone car for Australia's GM arm. Today's example - photographed by Mikey

  What can I say about this  a m a z i n g  Maserati?  What can anyone say, really??   It's Monaco on a summer's evening.  It's Sophia Loren, big sunglasses, hair in a scarf, filmy dress and heels.  It's Aperol spritzes at a harbourside bar and then off to the Casino de Monte Carlo.  Aah!     U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.) Photos by the CC at Auto Italia, 2022.

  I realise that, technically, this is a Lancia Fulvia Sport .  However, the Sport variant is almost universally known as the Zagato, in honour of the design house that built and manufactured the car for Lancia, based on the Fulvia coupe platform.   The Sport shown here - photographed by the Canberra Correspondent at Auto Italia, 2022 - is absolutely immaculate.  Its low-slung, rakish lines are also a huge departure from the aforementioned coupe with its quite upright look - and its frankly boxy in-house designed four door - or Berlinetta -  sibling, which is a testament to Zagato's styling genius.    One of the most comprehensive guides to the Sport can be found on UK You Tube channel Harry's Garage ( https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIB5XXHNAWWzTOw6guIMYCg/videos ) , which charts the trials and tribulations of what started as a light freshen-up but ended up being a total rebuild of the eponymous Harry's own example.  One of the most fascinating aspects of the restoration

According to Google Lens, this is an Iso Rivolta Lele.  Further Googling revealed that early versions were powered by a 327 cubic inch Chevrolet V8, which was a very Iso formula shared by the Grifo and the larger Fidia.  Everybody's favourite font of knowledge further explained that the Lele was named in honour of the founder's son's wife - Rachelle - it was produced between 1969 and 1974 and that it was styled by Gandini - he of X1/9 fame - who was working for Bertone at the time. Spot the Fiat 124 AC taillights?  The CC did! The red car below is also a Lele , although I'm not sure if it's an earlier or later version compared to the example above.  If it is a later edition, it's likely to be Ford Windsor V8-powered, as Iso cracked the sads with GM when they started demanding up-front payment for their engines, resulting in a switch to Blue Oval donks.   The GM versus Ford engine thing is also a nice segue to introduce the striking  Pantera parked alongside the

Sadly, not my car!  Sort of the same colour, though. While the eponymous Jeff, of Home Built by Jeff , shoe-horns a Ferrari V8 into an Alfa 105 coupe, and fellow  YouTube  maestro of metal  Elin, of Elin Yakob's Rusty Beauties , resurrects various classic Triumph sports cars from little more than munted iron-oxide, here at Upper Middle Petrol Head I've repainted a mirror!  But not just any old mirror!  It is, afterall, a Cromodora Astro, as fitted to no less than the [Ferrari] Dino 208, 308 and GT4! Yes, folks!  That's 841 Euro Dollars.  Let's not tell the Ferrari people what we pay for ours! It also was standard equipment for the Fiat X1/9, 127, 128 3P and early 131.  But let's keep that to ourselves, shall we, seeing that  € 841 converts to a whopping $1,230 Australian!  Research suggests that there are three variations to the Astro - the I, II and III - although what the differences are eludes me.  There's an all-chrome version, one that's black with a ch

  Author Philip Blake I used to think myself lucky to have met Philip Blake and indeed I was.  However, having read his autobiography, S**t, That Was Close!  A Life in Near Misses , I now know that it was Phil who was lucky to have survived long enough to have met anyone at all, let alone to have led the life of adventures that he has! Take a ride, quite literally, with Phil through his seemingly death-wish infancy and youth, to his motorcycling, rock climbing and ongoing motor-racing careers as he cheats a premature demise and manages not to take any of his co-adventurers out with him.  From his birthplace in Ireland to Tasmania, Australia, this is one hairy tale told with the typical wit and charm that those who know Phil have come to enjoy so much. Published by Forty South,  S**t, That Was Close!  A Life in Near Misses , is available at any good bookshop or newsagent throughout Tasmania, at Shannon's Insurance in Murray Street, Hobart, or, if you're really, really lucky, fro

Local motorsports identity Phil Blake has taken possession of a number of rare and / or older windscreens that he's hoping to sell, including:      Late Bellette, x 2      Renault 8/10      Renault unspecified      XA/XB  Falcon (presumably fits XC, too?)      Valiant      Alfa?      Corolla 1000?      Renault 16, x 2      Peugeot 403      Mazda 1200/1300      Datsun1600      HQ Holden (probably also fits HJ - WB?)      Mitsubishi Colt      310/312 Datsun Bluebird in plastic, or not, x 4 (one is 312/314)      Toyota Crown RS 50.      Some unknown. Bring a template. If you, or anyone that you know, is looking for any of the above, please give Phil a call on 0409 803 316 .  The Falcon, HQ and Datsun 1600 'screens are likely to sell fast.  At a mere $50 each, you'd be mad not to snap one up as a spare! Located in southern Tasmania Please share because, as we know, there's probably some poor bugger out there tearing his or her hair out trying to find one of these very items