in need of some opinions on this van

**abncraig** · 07-05-2010, 07:58 PM

There used to be a xy gtho in the unique cars mag a couple years ago completely original full ground up rebuild for $500,000.. I think it was no. 1 build or something. but really what is completely original about it. Full ground up rebuild would suggest absolutley fuck all, that was my argument but everyone else thought I was being rediculous. for a price like that you'd want never driven original rubber, spark plugs, oil.. the works.. so the definition of original is your interpretation I guess

Gas On · 07-05-2010, 08:38 PM

Originally Posted by Absinth

I didn't say anything about re-selling the car and claiming it has it's original engine.... I said no one would ever know it's not the original engine... IE if you entered your car for judging you wouldn't lose points for a non original engine.

If your chassis originally went down the assembly line an hour earlier or 4 hours later than it did the engine number would be different to the one it did get. Same with the body.

There is not really such a thing as a matching numbers Sandman, the engine number does not match the chassis number or the body number and the body number does not match the chassis nmber. At best you can say your car is all original from factory and matches the numbers on the vehicle identification certificate.

The value of a restored car is in the attention to detail, the closer it is to how it came from the factory the more it is worth. A body swap is neither illegal or immoral as bodies were available direct from GMH as a complete assembly to replace ones that were uneconomical to repair due to extensive damage. It is quite possible that your 1975 HJ Sandman had a tree fall on it in 1976 and the panel shop ordered a new body shell to carry out the repairs...... you'll never know..

zzzzzzzzz..... Just woke up

Gday,

Intersting opinion you have there Absinth.

So. Those selling their van should advertise as "Restored Sandman".

Cheers

**Absinth** · 07-05-2010, 08:55 PM

Originally Posted by Gas On

So. Those selling their van should advertise as "Restored Sandman".

Huh....

**kaido17** · 07-05-2010, 11:17 PM

i think if it has genuine sandman tags and is restored properly little things like that dont matter? i would just enjoy driving it and not worry about the little things like: is the colour the same as it was bought with, is it the same engine that came from factory,has it got the correct glovebox lock or correct coloured mirrors or so on, but at the same time i love to see a sandman that looks like it rolled off the line two days ago. but we all know that will never happen that is why they are worth what they are when restored properly. i love them either way. and are still the best looking car ever made period...even better than my 400hp ss ute and that cost me 30 grand