Is a Sandman still a Samdman?????

[HK1837]

That is the first 1895-60V (Claret with Chamois trim) Sandman I have recorded. Nice one. The other three are black trim (19V).

[hxbunny]

Does the letter at the end of the chassis number being different mean anything ?

[HK1837]

Does the letter at the end of the chassis number being different mean anything ?

Different to what? The chassis number and the number on the ADR plate look the same to me: BHJ10949B.

[Rico]

Great conversation, I reckon everyone has come up with great and respectful personal angles. I agree with OZ and others that the plates and chassis should match to keep the cars original identity.

I dont think the original engine is important. Sure its the heart that pumps the blood and powers the body but its gunna get worn out and old and i reckon if you can put a new one in; why not? Of course others value the original engine and thats fine too. Different things are important to different people.

I also reckon as these vans get rarer we cant be too precious and turn them into museum pieces. Gotta get them out there in view of the general public and if that means replicas then why not. (long as theyre not passed off as originals) It all raises the profile. Look at Toranas. You hardly even see them anymore and no one cares if they are original SLRs etc. Just seeing one is cool.

In some ways I reckon the visual image of the crazy decals, GTS mags, blackouts and warm seventies colours are the soul of what a sandman is. Its all about the seventies. A more relaxed time, when people spent their spare money on holiday houses and speedboats. Not portfolios and investment properties. Life was lived in the moment and thats what the sandman was all about. Minimal planning, just jump in the van and go.

Everyones got a story about how many mates they had in the back etc.

If that makes sense....? So yeah, plates and chassis for value/originality/collectors but just getting out there in the van and keepin the dream alive by drivin it somewhere is where the soul is...

Hainzy- I couldnt have put it any better mate. well said! The 70's and 80's were indeed the Glory Days, when there was , i guess an innocence to Australia still, carefree summer days on the beach or surfing, standing round a bbq, drinkin a cold one, then along came the "recession that we had to have" and the uncertianty of the 90's, it would be good to see those days treturn, sadly they will not-things have gone too far. Then again, everyone is a genius in hindsight, if only thi9ngs had been different...who knows? the best thing we can do is restore these magical peices of history, preserve them for the future generations so that they may have an idea of the freedoms and i guess, "feel" of what indeed was, a simpiler time.

[hxbunny]

Different to what? The chassis number and the number on the ADR plate look the same to me: BHJ10949B.

Yeah, i just thought it was an S on the tag first look.

[hxbunny]

It is an S on the tag, i bet it purrrrrrsssss along Rhino

[adam perth]

Does the letter at the end of the chassis number being different mean anything ?

the letter at the front has nothing to do with the letter at the end
letter at front = series revision.. eg WB's ran for 5 years and start AWB,BWB, CWB,DWB and EWB,

the letter at the end represent the factory, A Adel, B brisbane, M melb etc


so a chassis with EWB12345A is an adelaide built WB that was probably built 1984...

is this what you meant HXbunny?

[hxbunny]

yep the letter of the tag is Sydney, but it's a xx7 with a brisbane chassis no.

[HK1837]

Look closely, it may be a B. The numerals are the same as the rails so it has to be either a B or a mistake. I can understand mistakes on any digit except for the last one, the Acacia Ridge plant should never have got an S mixed with a B.

BHJ10949S is also a 1/75 or 2/75 number at the latest. BHJ10949B is a 3/75 number. I reckon if you pulled the plate off and cleaned it it'll be a B.

[b-rock-05]

Since my thoughts on the number stamped on the cowel has been clarified as stamped by the factory, can anyone tell me how this relates to the car, as i cannot find this number duplicated on any of the compliance plates or chassis, and its not a body number as i dont belive the early vans if any had body numbers.