Sandman and sub cultures

[Sandaro]

I was fortunate (or maybe unfortunate in the eyes of the wider community) to grow up with a Sandman, my Dad got his new when I was 3 and a half, so many childhood memories centre on holidays in the van, me and my 3 sisters in the back (no seat belts) for road trips to Brisbane or country NSW (from Sydney). The Sandman has been in the family longer than my youngest sister.

As a kid in the late 70's I remember pestering Dad to put a transam front on it, wide mags, bonnet scoop and spoiler. He didn't give in to my demands. I recall by the early 80s vans were out, I still thought our car was cool, but I remember a kid at school saying his Dad's XE Falcon was way better.

Upon getting driver's licence (1989/90) common P plater cars of my mates where Mazda 808s, charger, xb falcon, hj-wb utes (for the country boys at our school- inc wbute), I drove my Dad's sandman every opportunity I could (this was the promised exchange for free work I did as his Plumber's labourer during my teen years).

Steve

[GNW1974]

I lived in the Mallee in WA in the very early 80's, there were 4 of us in our basketball team that all drove utes, i had my Q, another a dark blue 308 with Statesman front and trim (beautiful ute and a Z i think), a HZ 253 and one lad had his Dad buy him a brand new WB 202 4 speed. We had a lot of fun cruising the bush.

Farm utes were everywhere, many just used and abused until they were scrap.

[wbute]

Sandaro there were some cool cars when we were in year 12. XB(?) 351, XY Futura V8, lime green Charger 318, HJ Sandman Van. These were all school kids cars lol.

[Absinth]

Farm utes were everywhere, many just used and abused until they were scrap.

This is why there appears to be less Sandman utes around then vans, there is probably still a few sitting in sheds, paddocks or used to dam up a creek.