Sandman and sub cultures

[HZ EVIE]

I grew up miles from the beach, in the bush well Nth of Melb. and there weren't many Pano's. However a friends brother had one in the late 70's (can't remember what sort, but blue and windowless) and Melissa and I used to use it as a cubby house, as it was so comfortable (matress and fully lined with a round entrance into the back) and fun. Until her brother caught us and gave us the what for. Obviously it wasn't cool to have your very little sister and friend playing in the Sin Bin!! From there I remember my older brothers friends owning a grey Pano(windowless HX, or HZ ?). Once again how cool was it, because he'd put a heap of people (my brother included) in the back and off they'd go (before seat belts were a big thing??!!) to party's, Drive In's, whatever. And of course they always sounded so god damn good!! So by the time it came to my turn for a first car, of course what did I want, but a Pano and yes all my friends were into utes, but I just thought that the Pano was far more practicle. Found a Blue (HZ I think - wasn't really good with the details back then) Pano, with a Statesman grill and side bubble windows. I was ready to start travelling and camping and of course get the mandatory dog to go with the package. Until the stops were put on it by my now husband and Dad. Couldn't see the problem with it at the time.
So all of these years later I got one!!!
Missed the whole Drive In thing though (my Dad was probably happy about that!!), a bit too young. :shifty:

[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.