HQ Panelvan Needing Verification

[eskimo]

Hi all,

I'm needing a little help. I bought my HQ van 12 years ago as my first car. I bought it off the original owner who had it for about 27. The last few of them in which it was mainly garage.

I have always had it garaged and have mainly driven it for enjoyment. For the last few years I have had it under sheets due to being OS. Since I have been back I got it out, and started having people asking me lots of questions regarding it, having answers to none of them. I found this site which has been unreal and has helped me with a lot. But I am now hoping that I am able to get some answers as to what option my van is as the questions have been based around the GTS options it came with and being a V8.

It is a HQ 253 M20 Belmont. No rust. It has interior light switches on doors, cabin headlining (not back of van) GTS dash and stripes up bonnet and around guards on van, arm rests on doors, head rests on both sides of bench seats. I understand that Sandman has bucket seats but I did notice that there could be exception to the rule as bucket seats could be ordered as option so bucket seats were not the only factor for ID of sandman. It is also stamped 4/73 so I am also assuming not a sandman. I could not verify on Body ID plate for XX7 or XU3 as the plate as been sprayed over when I got the little bit of spot rust plated under passenger windscreen, I am having the plate cleaned to original condition to see (any suggestions to remove the paint also welcomed). The chassis number in the owners manual also matches the safety compliance plate.

Even if not a sandman, I am still wrapped to this day that I bought this van, and that it was my first car and I still have it!

Any advice would be great, looking forward to responses!

[HK1837]

Definitely not a Sandman. Too early, bench seat, A trim, no fluted guards and no XX7 on the BODY plate of an Acacia Ridge build. But the closest you could get to one pre 1974. It is an original HQ V8 Belmont van optioned with 4spd and by the sounds of it the full instrument dash. Speedo is probably 120mph or 200kM/h. Nice van too.

[playwme]

Seating capacity of 3 pretty much tells you it isn't a Sandman. It's still incredibly cool though. It's obviously had a bit of custom paintwork like the blackouts and bonnet stripes. Nice looking windowless Van.

[hxbunny]

Nice looking van, drive it with pride.

[eskimo]

Thanks for the great info on the van!!! And yes, it has 120MPH on full GTS instrument speedo. Ive had offers on the van but never had a price to go on. I'm not interested in selling at moment, but granted that its not a sandman, what price range could you ask for? I always only get people who say what do you want for it? And I don't even have a guide, as I have not thought about it.

[Vombil]

gorgeous van dude and welcome

[V6HQUTE]

nice van mate

--- Updated ---

what size rims on it, i like dragways and white writing

[Q set]

Get in and drive. There's never enough HQs on the road to give hearty wave to, let alone the vans.

[eskimo]

14x 7 Dragway rims. ordered centre caps and wheel nuts from Dragway factory in Melbourne