Upper Middle Petrol Head:

  Nice ol' truck, I hear you say.  But is it?   There's zero doubt that it's nice!  I'd say awesome, actually.   I'm just not so sure that it's old.  Or maybe that all of it's old. Why?  As best as I can tell, this is a J40(ish) - also possibly known as a "40 Series" - 'Cruiser, or at least looks like one.  Our friends at Wikipedia ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Land_Cruiser , accessed 24 JUN 22) tell us that the J40 was built between 1960 and 1984 and - as an amusing side note - that they were called the "Macho" in Venezuela.   As macho as this 40 Series is - and it truly is quite the hairy brute - there was never to my knowledge a coil-sprung version, as this one clearly is, during its near quarter century of production.  It's almost certainly possible to modify the vehicle to take coils all 'round.  However, my best bet is that this one's a J40 cab sitting atop a much, much newer chassis.   Either way, the qual

Two things made me fall instantly in love with this super-sexy Alfa Spider , recently captured by the Canberra Correspondent in suburban ACT:  its fabulously 1970s' green paint job and those Momo Vega wheels.  I concede that the duco could be contentious, being as it is almost hi-vis, but no one drives a classic Italian sports car to fly under the radar, do they?  And red's probably a bit of a cliche, eh?  I wouldn't hesitate to add it to the UMPH garage!       The Vega was made for cars just like this Spider, as well as really suiting Alfa 105 and 115 Series coupes, and the subsequent Tipo 116 Alfetta GTVs .  They also look outstanding on Fiat X1/9s, quite likely because the eccentric hexagonal "holes," or as my architect mate refers to such voids, "negative spaces," complements the X's side profile angles, especially those of the integral roll-over structure.   The Canberra Correspondent reports that our feature car has has been owned by one person

This HR sedan is just perfect!  Seriously, it is a study in good taste and restraint, having absolutely nailed the balance between originality, sympathetic restoration and era-appropriate modification. The classic 1960s' Holden paint scheme is immaculate, as are the bright work and interior.  The "jelly bean" wheels are bang-on, the wood-rimmed steering wheel couldn't have been better chosen, and the floor-change shifter and front discs (usually Premier-only?) hint at subtle upgrades that speak to the quality and usability of the car's upgrades. Did you know that UMPH also features cars from all around Australia?  Recent examples have included a sinister-looking C2 Corvette Sting Ray ( https://uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com/2022/06/from-seqc-circa-1963-c2-corvette.html ), an EK ute ( https://uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com/2022/05/from-canberra-correspondent-ek-holden.html ) and even an amazing Maserati Sebring ( https://uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com/2

The 1963 C2 Corvette Stingray was an absolute stylistic tour de force - equal parts Batmobile and Darth Vader on wheels - but, sadly, the model became progressively blander with each iteration up until the C6 of 2005.  Whilst 2014's C7 and the mid-engined C8 of 2020 did step up the aesthetics significantly, there has never been a 'Vette that has quite captured the same level of showy menace that is so evident in the C2. As luck would have it, my YouTube feed recently offered up a video from Classic Motorsports featuring an interview with the designer of the prototype C2 - known as the Q Corvette -  Peter Brock.  This Peter Brock is obviously not Australia's own legendary racing car driver of the same name but there's an interesting symmetry that we'll get to in a minute. I n the video ( https://youtu.be/bZ6cJjNiTh4 ),  American Mr Brock reveals that the C2's design was hugely influenced by that of the original Alfa Disco Volante ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki

Todd would have you believe that his very, very nearly perfect Alfa GTV isn't finished quite yet.  To be fair, I could see what he was talking about ...    but only when   I  put my specs on and looked really closely!   I won't disclose the hideous blemishes that blight the car's otherwise near-showroom quality restoration.  What I will say, however, is that it's not the panels or duco, it isn't the super-fresh chrome, the grille with recently sourced "whiskers", the glittering NOS headlights, the mirrors or tail lights, nor is it the genuine magnesium alloy Campagnolo wheels, either!  It would be hard to find anything wrong with the lovely interior ; the steering wheel, seats and carpet are also in great nick.  There's barely a detail on the car that's not pristine.      But apparently there is.  Just ask Todd! You can rest assured that these abominations will soon be banished, because that's the level of detail that's been lavished upon t