Quote Originally Posted by Absinth View Post
Hmm, interesting thread.

I always thought arm rests were standard in Sandman but then I remembered they were an optional extra on the HQ SS which is basically the sedan version of a Belmont Sandman. So it stands to reason they were probably optional on the Sandman as well.


This console (top pic) was removed from a HQ Kingswood ute quite a few years ago and is the same style that was in my Barbados Green HQ 202 Sandman back in 81. My van was completely original when I bought it off it's original owner. It didn't have inertia seatbelts but did have arm rests. Note I have swapped over the lid and shifter surround with the HX Statesman console (bottom pic) as I wanted a HJ Sandman console.



Interestingly though, my boss back in 81 bought a HQ one tonner off his Cabinet maker mate that was ordered new from the factory with 253 and manual console shift, sports dash, carpet and arm rests. The tonner didn't have inertia reel seat belts but it did have the long slot style console in it.... I distinctly remember however that it didn't have the floppy buckle release belt but rather the stiff wire type like later HJ,HX,HZ.

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Are you sure about the vinyl floor mat???? Part of the Sandman package was carpet. Byron can confirm this but I recall that if a console shift was ordered then floor carpet was a standard inclusion.

On another note...... is the black lid console correct for a Sandman ???? or should it have the chrome fishscale finish the same as SS and GTS ???? Byron?? I really can't remember what finish was on the console of mine way back then..... the HQ Sandman brochure pic shows the fishscale but it could be a pic from the GTS and just used in the brochure for the Sandman.
My ute definatley had Black Carpet and the colour of the door trim colour looks the same colour as the ute I had, (even though they had been retrimmed). The dash pad colour looks identical as well. I did buy a new fascia from Dempster Holden in Esperance WA as the original one had some holes drilled in for the spotlight switch and looked untidy. I can quite clearly remember ordering it because I thought the parts would be unavailable even then. It was just the plain Black fascia but under the dash lights at night had a beautiful sheen to it from the pattern on it. (i think it cost about $115)
I also bought 2 of the Hex bolts for the horn pad and remember the cost, $1.15 ea which I thought back then was outrageous to a lad on about $200 per week.

The seat belts were black, but in the identical format as the photo.