Little Red Tiara: checking out a Japanese classic

You all know I’m a car nut – have been since I was knee-high to a Matchbox car. Well, today on the phone my man told me about a little red car that I should go and see, so after finishing my lunch I did just that. 

This early ’60s Toyota Tiara has been owned by a local mechanic for a decade or so, but he finally decided to let it go to someone who might actually get around to restoring it. Happily, it was purchased from a nearby town, so hopefully we’ll see it around again. 

Check out the dash…push button auto! But where are the turn indicators? This tricky bit of design actually has them integrated with the horn ring. Beep beep tick tack!

Redder Than Santa: Robert’s red Inter

Cruising through Ararat, my eye was bludgeoned by a brilliant red truck, and I thought to myself, Santas in red suits notwithstanding, that’s got to be the reddest thing I’ve seen all day! 

So, we pulled up so I could get some shots, and while I did the owner came over from his shed for a chat. Robert has owned the International R190 for eight years, six of which were spent restoring it. He takes it along to a few shows, even attending one in Alice Springs, which must have been an amazing and, frankly, uncomfortable trip – which is an odd thing to write, I suppose, given that this was a ‘king of the road’ in its day, and would have been used for long distance haulage, but I still doubt it was comfortable! Robert’s next project is a trailer to complement this beauty.

I love meeting classic vehicles and their owners, they’re usually more than happyto have a chat about their pride’n’joy, sometimes even willingly posing for a photo. Thanks Robert!

Fujifilm X30.

Classic Citroen Club: 15 Lights

Fujifilm X30, shot with Classic Chrome in-camera filter, converted to BW and warmed in Snapseed app.

Classic Citroen Club: reflectable

Do you remember the Mel and Kim song from the late ’80s, ‘Respectable’? When I saw this photo, that song popped into my head, substituting ‘reflectable’ for ‘respectable’. My mind goes to some strange places…

Anyway, I particularly like how the light coloured Citroen 2CV is reflected in the panel and side window of the dark coloured 2CV. How very reflectable.

W.A.C.K. Car Show: the classic cruiser

I found this post languishing in my drafts folder, quietly awaiting posting. This photos was taken in March this year at the WACK Car Show in Horsham, when I took my new secondhand Fujifilm X30 compact camera for a test run. My first strong feeling about the camera was how addictive the electronic viewfinder (EVF) is – looking through it was like seeing everything in hyper-realism!

Beneath the Silos: Austin truck at Goorambat

Taking a late afternoon detour led us to the hamlet of Goorambat, north of Benalla in Victoria’s northeast, where this lovely old Austin truck awaited our arrival in the deep shade of grain silos.

Pinned Butterfly Collection: Buick purple people eater (4 photos)

While on a trip into Ballarat I spotted a big, purple beast with long fins, and naturally had to cross the road for a closer look. It resolved into a left hand drive Buick Century, a new species for my collection. As an added bonus, the nearby flowering gum had strewn its petals prettily into the road.

Sony Xperia Z1 Compact phone, Vignette app.

Geelong Revival Motoring Festival: Corvette reflected

Can’t resist a pretty reflection.