Sandman Register

[mauser]

Byron,

How many of each year/model sandman have you recorded in the register to date?

Mauser

[HK1837]

Haven'r counted them for a while now. I never even looked at models as there are too many, six in HQ alone. When I get bored one day i'll do it.

[mauser]

thanks, I guess it increases all our knowledge in this area.

On models I guess I dont get it. I thought HQ had a Belmont Panelvan and Kingswood and Belmont Utes.

Mauser

[HK1837]

HQ models that XX7 could be optioned on were:

0170 - 6cyl Belmont van
0180 - 6cyl Belmont ute
0270 - V8 Belmont van
0280 - V8 Belmont ute
0380 - 6cyl Kingswood ute
0480 - V8 Kingswood ute

HJ changed to a different model designation where 6cyl and V8 were the same model and engines became an option, so there were now only 3 x models upon which Sandman could be optioned (later only two when the Holden XU3/XX7 ute was dropped) :

M70 - Holden van
M80 - Holden ute (XU3/XX7 option deleted mid series)
N80 - Kingswood ute

HX and HZ only two:

M70 (XU3/XX7 dropped late 1979)
M80 (XU3/XX7 dropped early 1979)

[mauser]

Thanks Byron,

I guess I forget the 6cyl ones. Dont remember any of those when I was younger... probably didnt hear them so missed them altogether.

Did any of the 6cyl ones survive?

Stephen

[HK1837]

Yes, but not many. I've seen a few 6cyl's over the years. I have one set of HQ 6cyl XX7 van ID plates and a HJ set also, but no HX. I've recorded maybe 20 in total. Compare to well over 300 V8's.

[razsandman]

Thanks Byron,

I guess I forget the 6cyl ones. Dont remember any of those when I was younger... probably didnt hear them so missed them altogether.

Did any of the 6cyl ones survive?

Stephen

we have a 6 cyl hx sandman waiting for resto. its been off the road for about 10 years plus so its kind of still alive. its in not to bad condition the resto will be easy in comparison to others ive done. but you are right they dont sound like a sandman should.

[HK1837]

Remember though, "Sandman" was all about looks, not sound. It was a visual package only, never a performance package like option XU2 was on LH-LX Torana. The V8 engine was not part of the package, it was just an option box you ticked the same way you ticked "Sandman" ie XX7 HQ-mid HJ or XU3 late HJ-HZ (only exception is HQ V8 models where 253 was standard, but again the Sandman package had nothing to do with this, 253 was just the standard engine on a 0270, 0280 or 0480). It wasn't until HZ that the act of optioning XU3 governed the engine availability when V8 became standard when XU3 was specified. The only thing performance wise you might attribute to a Sandman is when XX7 became available late in 1975. This gave you passenger tyres and hence possibly a handling benefit over the normal Sandman or commercial vehicle.

[James]

What's the best way to send tag info to you for the "Sandman Register"?
Is there any other info you need as well?

[HK1837]

Either PM it or email to holden@monaroparts.com.

I record chassis and engine numbers, GVW, seat capacity, MM/YYYY, VIN, all BODY plate details, firewall numbers off Pagewood HQ vans and utes + Pagewood HJ-HZ vans, cowl numbers off Elizabeth HQ-HJ utes and vans + Pagewood & Dandenong vans with them, origional number plates if known and tyre placard numbers.

I modified the Databse a bit last night so it is easier to count. Numbers as of this morning are:

403 Sandmans;
28 possibles (ones I cannot pick or are for example metallic paint on a HQ but no XX7 on the BODY plate);
73 non-Sandman utes and vans (I record these too especially where they have their original engine number details);
2 specials (the E'wet and the other 350 powered HQ Kingswood ute).

Of the 403 Sandmans recorded):

HQ:

180 - 0
280 - 3
380 - 0
480 - 7
170 - 1
270 - 31
Plus 1 x XX7 ute, model unknown and 1 x XX7 but model unknown.

HJ:

Ute - 11
Van - 92
Kingswood ute - 24

HX:

Ute - 22
Van - 91

HZ

Ute - 22
Van - 97

Sort of shows you why I want a HQ or HJ Sandman ute, but finding a 308 auto example in the condition I want is near impossible with only 11 of each series recorded so far!