Sandman Battle Off

[Rolla]

On account of an interesting little debate starting up in another thread in relation to best looking sandman, I've taken it upon my self to create this thread.

Best looking/performing Sandman? Gives reasons. A debate is always enjoyable...

Let the 'Sandman' battle off begin...

[Blocker]

Just create a poll 'cause that would be definitive

[HK1837]

Best looking will always be the subject of personal taste. I reckon there will be no consensus ever on this.

Best performing, as in acceleration - easy: HQ or HJ 308 4spd ute, probably with optional 3.55:1 diff.

Best handling - HZ ute.

Nicest to drive, HZ van or ute.

These are all as standard of course.

[mauser]

HQ... the GTS guards and mean looking front which is by far the best - right up there with an SS Chevelle. The spartan interior is simple and clean. The eeire glow of the dash lights at night... Who can forget the Night Rider pushing his skank in the face and driving in barefeet... handled like a bathtub and the black seats burnt your arse... best looking backouts on the GTS4 by far.

HJ's were the nothing car to me. Vans and Utes were ok, Sandmans still had the guards. HJ GTS4's were the plain jane. That vinyl strip on the seats.. my god. The two-door coupes with the honeycomb wheels were alright but very thin on the ground.

HX went like a dog... bloody hell .. they were lucky to idle. The first "look at me" stickers made this a standout from the average work truck/van. On the GTS4 the GTS up the side looked ok on some colours but still the bloody stripes inside.

HZ are the most comfortable to drive and steer... who could forget the glorious tartan seats on the GTS model... only a car a mother could love... heehee all class with the dual headlight front. This was the Caprice!!!


Mauser

[jennie285]

Although of course we are both partial to HZ's I actually do like HJ's as well because I love GTS guards on Vans and Utes, we didn't put them on ours because we want to stick with originality. Our son and I want to do a jamaican lime HJ ute one day...or an Orange ute, either way it will have the GTS guards on it....

[stickthis]

I like the HZ. Why because of the following:

NO GTS guards - they are tacky!
Better Dash (yellow needle)
Twin Front
RTS
Palais White is available!!!!!!!!!!!!! lol (biggest reason of all)

[Blocker]

I like the HZ. Why because of the following:

NO GTS guards - they are tacky!
Better Dash (yellow needle)
Twin Front
RTS
Palais White is available!!!!!!!!!!!!! lol (biggest reason of all)

Spoiler is tacky.
White = original.
Twins for old people who cannot see well at night.
RTS = overrated.

[stickthis]

Spoiler is tacky.
White = original.
Twins for old people who cannot see well at night.
RTS = overrated.

haha

[wbute]

Surely I am not the only one in Australia prepared to go into bat for the HX!

They were the first to have the decent stripes on them and I am prepared to say that is what paved the way for Sandmans popularity today! Long live the HX.

HX HX HX Oi Oi Oi

[HK1837]

HX will always be the poor cousin; always the least popular. The engine and grille let them down as a series in my opinion. Luckily the Belmont and HOLDEN models except Sandman and tonner didn't get the ugly duckling grille. In my opinion HX Sandman and GTS both had the ugliest decals of their kind, maybe only eclipsed by a HZ GTS with full stripe treatment. There were some major redeeming features though introduced in HX: Combination switch, RTS suspension geometry, Lukey mirrors and more blackouts to name a few. The HX HOLDEN Sandman was a much better featured vehicle than the HQ/HJ Belmont/HOLDEN Sandman, much closer to the HJ Kingswood Sandman in features. The HX probably had the most visually pleasing interior of any Holden yet, especially with 60A trim on a red or dark blue exterior. 18V with the silver dash was very nice too. Still though the HZ sort of rounded off what the HX started. Engines were better sorted, handling was fixed. I just wish they'd kept the silver dash and single headlight front! At least with HX and HZ you could order DL7 stripes too!