HQ Sandman hypothetical poll

**HK1837** · 20-03-2012, 07:48 AM

Originally Posted by Alien DNA

Yeah very true. Cant expect it to come to you without putting some hard yards in

Was buickzz's the best or one of the better examples you've found? Without the engine, do you still class it as a Sandman? It just seems that unless ALL the numbers match, its purity is diluted.

The one thing that has me confused is...
-Are the chassis all the same for vans across the whole HQ range? From base model to Sandman?
&
-Are the van shells more varied compared to the chassis? Eg, a base model van might not have the console mount, manual hole cut in the trans tunnel and hole in the dash for air con.

I only ask this, because, is it a fair assumption to say a shell is more closely related to a Sandman than what a chassis would be? If so, to have a Sandman chassis on a base model shell would be further from original than a Sandman shell on a base model chassis. Does that make sense?!

I know it sounds like i'm splitting hairs and at the end of the day, it will be a replica....but whats more desirable? I know it sounds like a 'how much can you polish a turd' kinda argument...but its one of those grey areas thats always confused me and people have different opinions on.

Buickzz's was an absolute cracker of a van body, and it had its original chassis. Engine doesn't matter all that much, especially to 173, 202 and 253 varities. Even then you'll only drop 10-15% of a possible peak value without the original engine, maybe you'll offset that by putting in a period correct 308 in place of a 173. Lose the original chassis and you might get 50% of what it would otherwise - not that much different to what a good replica will bring. Original chassis, body and ID plates is the key. This is no different to any collectable Holden, Torana etc.

For HQ there are at least 6 x different van bodies: Acacia Ridge, Pagewood and Elizabeth, with and without gills. They will all differ slightly. Having said that HQ Sandman van bodies are identical to other Belmont van bodies ordered with bucket seats and 4spd. Obviously a bucket seat column shift car will be missing the floor hole but that is it. The reason why HQ Sandmans are so hard to pick is that they have very few differences to a standard van or ute.

Sandman chassis are identical to their base vehicle all the way through (for all series). And utes and vans are the same chassis. But the chassis is different for all assembly plants, and there are changes along the way - we all know the obvious ones like upper control arm mount points late in HX. But there are others too, even down to how and where the chassis number is stamped which varies along the way with time and across assembly plants.

In summary, I reckon it would be a lot harder (near impossible) to pick a Sandman that has had its body replaced if the right body was used. Chassis is a lot easier to fix. If it was me and I found another really good HQ Sandman missing its original chassis, I'd use this to resurrect a rusted out Sandman that had its original chassis.

**Alien DNA** · 20-03-2012, 07:51 PM

Originally Posted by HK1837

Buickzz's was an absolute cracker of a van body, and it had its original chassis. Engine doesn't matter all that much, especially to 173, 202 and 253 varities. Even then you'll only drop 10-15% of a possible peak value without the original engine, maybe you'll offset that by putting in a period correct 308 in place of a 173. Lose the original chassis and you might get 50% of what it would otherwise - not that much different to what a good replica will bring. Original chassis, body and ID plates is the key. This is no different to any collectable Holden, Torana etc.

For HQ there are at least 6 x different van bodies: Acacia Ridge, Pagewood and Elizabeth, with and without gills. They will all differ slightly. Having said that HQ Sandman van bodies are identical to other Belmont van bodies ordered with bucket seats and 4spd. Obviously a bucket seat column shift car will be missing the floor hole but that is it. The reason why HQ Sandmans are so hard to pick is that they have very few differences to a standard van or ute.

Sandman chassis are identical to their base vehicle all the way through (for all series). And utes and vans are the same chassis. But the chassis is different for all assembly plants, and there are changes along the way - we all know the obvious ones like upper control arm mount points late in HX. But there are others too, even down to how and where the chassis number is stamped which varies along the way with time and across assembly plants.

In summary, I reckon it would be a lot harder (near impossible) to pick a Sandman that has had its body replaced if the right body was used. Chassis is a lot easier to fix. If it was me and I found another really good HQ Sandman missing its original chassis, I'd use this to resurrect a rusted out Sandman that had its original chassis.

Thanks HK1837...thats cleared up a fair bit for me. If this sale comes at a reasonable price, we'll see what happens. Thanks again

**sandasharpe** · 21-06-2012, 10:37 PM

This is like reading a good book only to find out the last page is missing. What happened Alien, did you buy it?

Reading through what you were looking for - something you could mod with modern running gear but still have a bit of that Sandman cred - this would have been pretty close to perfect.

If you did what your planning to a matching numbers car, some people might hunt you down. Saw a ripper HQ replica sandman with what looked like Lettuce alone paint and an injected 308. Was on a site - Vansw? Can't find it for you though.